Culture & Heritage

Lord Kitchener Tower

This memorial tower locates in between Sarat and Gulmit on the old pony track and dated back to 1902. The tower has been erected in the memory of the late Horatio Herbert Field Marshal Earl Kitchner of Khartoum. K.G.K.P.G.C.B, G.C.MG.S.I, G.C.I.E for whom this pony track was constructed when he visited this valley in August 1902.

The site is located on the north side of upper Hunza river at a distance of 3 km on the east side to Sarat village of Central Hunza bordering with Gulmit. The site is located above the pony track which has been constructed on the steep slopes of the mountain. The site can only be approached from the river in winter through a vertical fracture, which is located west of the tower at ten meter distance. Semi dressed stones are set in mud mortar for the construction of the rectangular base, the square form on top and lotus shaped structure made of mud as a crown is placed on top of the two structures. The east face has the plauque with Persian description of Late Kitchner visit and the south facade has the plaque wit English version of the visits description.

This tower represents the political era in which the tiny kingdoms of the mountains were united under the British flag.

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