Khapalu Fort, centuries old, in Baltistan, Pakistan. Set in autumn beauty. This extremely remote area in the high mountains of North Pakistan was once a small isolated kingdom not too far from the current India/Pak border. Still remote, with road access frequently severed by land slips or snow, this more conservative area of North Pakistan has changed so much in 24 years, when we first visited. We saw no women publicly, ´schools’were for boys only, with teachers sitting under trees with slates and chalk giving basic instruction. Now there are lots of schools, well educated girls going on to universities, women and girls out and about the streets. All of which is brilliant to see.
The old fort was in a state of disarray and has been taken over by the Aga Khan Foundation and sympathetically restored using local craftspeople. It is now part of their Serena Hotel chain, but is also open to tour or eat in the restaurant.
It looks so lovely nestled in the mountains with the autumn foliage.
Have a super Friday, and a peaceful and happy weekend