![Discover the Majestic Shigar Fort [Local Guide]]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Shigar_Fort_by_ZILL_NIAZI_22.jpg/960px-Shigar_Fort_by_ZILL_NIAZI_22.jpg)
Shigar Fort is known as ” Fong Khar ” in the local Balti language. The word “Fong” means “huge stone” & “Khar” means “house or Bangalow”. The fort is located in the beautiful valley of Shigar in Skardu. The whole fort was built with stone and wood. Beautiful artwork has been designed on doors & windows by hand.
The fort consists of more than 20 rooms with an attached common room & bathroom. The rent of each room per night can be seen on the Official Serena Fort Website.
History Of Shigar Fort
Shigar Fort was built in the 17th century by the king Amacha of Raja Shigar. In 1999, the fort was given on lease to the Agha Khan Foundation for more than a decade.
The AKF has spent till now approximately US$1.4 million to renovate the fort and turn it into both a museum and a five-star hotel, serving both local and international cuisine & dishes.
Location Of Shigar Fort
Shigar Fort is located in the region of the world’s 2nd highest peak, K2. There is only a 30 to 40-minute drive from Skardu. The whole valley is covered with lush green valleys, and white snow covers the mountains and meadows.
You can also watch K2 from this region & every year, hundreds of domestic & International tourists come to conquer K2. If you are still confused about the fort location, then hire a local tourist guide who will guide you through your whole Gilgit Baltistan trip.
How to arrive at Shigar Fort
If you are coming from Punjab, then you have two choices. If you are fond of traveling and want to visit other places like Naran and Kaghan Chekas, then you can take local public transport, which can cost you a maximum of 2000 to 3000.
The road trip from Islamabad to Shigar is above 24 to 28 hours. But if you want to escape from the trouble, then take a 1-hour flight from Islamabad to Skardu with PIA. The flight usually costs 30k to 50k during peak tourist season.
Activities to do at Shigar Fort
The following activities can be done in Shigar Fort:
Photography: Capture the beautiful fort's stunning picture in your camera lens and make your tour more memorable.
Museum Visit: The Shigar administration has established a museum in one portion of the fort and preserved all the old Balti traditional things.
Visit to the garden :
After visiting the fort, spend your leisure time in the Seerena Fort’s beautiful garden and enjoy nature.
Taste Local Foods :
You can also order local famous dishes like prapoo, Marzan, and Balay.
Outdoor Activities
Fishing
Visit to nearby villages
mountaineering
Shopping in the local market
tracking
Horse riding
bike \ jeep safari in Sarfarana desert
Best Season To Visit Shigar Fort
The best season to visit Shigar Fort is June to August. In these seasons, the temperature usually remains 17 degrees to 18 degrees, and the whole Shigar valley is covered with beautiful greenery, with glacier-melted water coming from the mountains making the valley more charming.
Entry Ticket
The entry tickets vary for domestic & international visitors. Usually, the fort administration charges 700 to 1000 for domestic visitors, and for international visitors, they charge between 1000 and 3000 per person.
Which season is best to visit Shigar Fort?
June to August is the best season to visit the Shigar fort
How far is the distance from Skardu to Shigar?
There is a distance of 10 to 15 km from Skardu to Shigar.
What are the opening hours of Shigar Fort?
The Serena Shigar fort is open 24 hours during the summer season, but during winter, the fort closes for 3 to 4 months.
What materials are used to build the fort?
Stone and wood are used to build the Shigar Fort.
Author
Adil Balti
Founder · Balti.pk
Muhammad Adil Balti is the Founder of balti.pk, the only platform connecting tourists with local tour operators, guides, hotels, restaurants, and transport services across Skardu and Gilgit-Baltistan, helping promote the region’s tourism and local economy.