Queen Victoria Monument

Karakoram Highway


The Queen Victoria Monument at the top of the rock face behind Karimabad can be reached in an hour from Baltit. Take the channel path above the polo ground. Five minutes out, cross the channel and climb stone steps beside an old watchtower. At the top of the village, scramble over to a shallow cleft with some very large boulders. Go straight up to the base of the cliff before crossing over to the monument; avoid a diagonal crossing of the face because the top Ultar water channel spills down it.

Thought to be erected by Nazim Khan, in Burushaski, the monument is called Malikamu Shikari (ma-li-ka-mu shi-ka-ri).