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Kahchana appears to be ‘Khache Khar’
part of the rock on the Nunsuk side and is now in desolation.
1. KHARAMANG FORTS.
Thirty seven forts were existing in
Baltistan at that time and many of them were constructed by Ali Sher
Khan in the Kharmang Valley. Because of this fact it came to be
called ‘Kharmang’ meaning many forts’ and in course of time Kharmang
supplanted the original name of ‘Khrtakhsha’. Khani Khan
Nizamul-mulk has alluded to these forts, that the country of Tibet
consists of 21 ‘Parganas’ in which there are 37 forts. Owing to
excessive number of mountains and paucity of plains the agricultural
produce is scanty.”
2. POLO GROUND.
The present polo ground was
constructed during the reign of Ali Sher Khan. Its site was so
selected as to enable the ladies of the ‘Haram to witness Polo and
other functions from the Ghori Changra, the centre of Hilal Bagh.
Even today the ladies of Baltistan assemble at Ghori Changra to
witness Polo match. The old polo ground covered the area between
Boto Bazar and the end of the boundary of Sekimaidan in the south.
It is worth noting that a Chinar tree is still to be found on the
south of Sekimaidan. Besides this, the oldest royal Polo ground was
in Thayu, (Shagri Kalan).
3. WALL FROM SHAGHARTHANG
TO THORGU AND SUBSIDIARY LINES.
On return from his conquest of Gilgit
and Chitral, Ali Sher Khan constructed the great walls stretching
right from Shagharthang village in the West to Thorgu in the east,
over mountains and rocks etc. having forts and watch towers in which
troops were garrisoned. A subsidiary wall was also constructed
extending up to Parkuta. It is the most famous of all Balti
achievements. The wall taken along the top of the mountains
separated the Deosai Plateau from the low land of Skardu valley.
Remnants of the wall are still present near the Satpur Lake, Olding,
Broq and Burgey Nullah.
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