Altit, a village located at the foot of the 1100-year-old Altit Fort, had been partially deserted by its residents. Nearly a third of the homes had been abandoned, and new construction was using up valuable arable land. To address this and pre-empt the socio-economic consequences expected from a tourism boom, we undertook the village rehabilitation before the Fort. Introducing water and sanitation facilities has proven vital to the revitalisation of the traditional settlement.

We have kept the Fort as an empty shell. This shows off the resilient traditional engineering techniques that have allowed such structures to cope with tremors in a fairly active seismic zone. Most conservation works relate to mending structural defects, stabilising and repairing existing walls, replacing some roofs, treating wood decay and providing appropriate lighting.

Altit Fort is open to visitors, while its splendid undulating garden is a welcoming haven of tranquillity and nature. The KhaBasi Café situated in the garden re-uses the Mir (Ruler)’s colonial era winter residence and serves local traditional dishes. Entrance fees are charged for both the Fort and the rehabilitated historic village. A portion goes to the Altit Town Management Society, which also collects fees for sanitation and water services from the community for operation and maintenance of these services.

Following its completion in 2010, Altit Fort was recognised with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction in 2011.