Gahkuch

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Gahkuch
گاہکوچ
City
Top left to right: Gahkuch Fort, Sumal Valley, River Ghizer and Gahkuch Valley
Gahkuch is located in Gilgit Baltistan
Gahkuch
Gahkuch
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Gahkuch is located in Pakistan
Gahkuch
Gahkuch
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Coordinates: 36°10′25″N 73°46′00″E / 36.17361°N 73.76667°E / 36.17361; 73.76667
Administering countryPakistan
Administrative unitGilgit–Baltistan
DistrictGhizer District
Elevation
1,899 m (6,230 ft)
Population
 (1998)
 • Total
10,142
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (Pakistan Standard Time)

Gahkuch (Urdu: گاہکوچ) is the capital city of Ghizer District in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, in the disputed Kashmir region.[1] Surrounded by mountains, it lies 72 kilometers northwest of Gilgit, the capital of the Gilgit-Baltistan region.[1] The city lies on the way to Ishkoman.[2] 1998 Pakistani census recorded the population of Gahkuch as 10,142.[3]

The Gahkuch Bala Fort, situated atop the rooftop village of Gahkuch Bala in Gilgit-Baltistan, is a historic fortress dating back approximately 400 years. Notably, it is the second-largest fort in Gilgit Baltistan underscoring its significance in the area's architectural and cultural heritage. Historically, the fort served as a stronghold for the influential Ayesho Family, whose ancestry is intertwined with the ruling family of Hunza, as evidenced by the fort's architectural similarities to the Altit Fort in Hunza. The fort is currently under the possession of the Ayesho Family, and serves as a District Headquarter of Ismaili District Boy Scouts Association Punial. It also served as the first Jamatkhana within the region from 1885 till 1957. The fort's design, featuring defensive towers, suggests that these additions were made to protect against enemy attacks, highlighting the strategic importance of the location. The fort's proximity to the Ayesho Palace and the ancient polo ground further underscores its historical significance, providing valuable insights into the region's social, cultural, and military history. As a testament to the region's rich cultural legacy, the Gahkuch Bala Fort remains an important landmark, warranting preservation and further study.[4]

References

  1. "Gahkuch". visitgilgitbaltistan.gov.pk. Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department.
  2. "Gilgit Valley". www.tourism.gov.pk. Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  3. "Gilgit-Baltistan: Districts & Places — Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  4. "SITES AND FEATURES IN THE VICINITY OF FORT RELIANCE", Fort Reliance, Yukon, Canadian Museum of History, pp. 102–111, doi:10.2307/j.ctv16z81.13, retrieved 2024-09-23

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