Chiktan

Chiktan or Chigtan is a village in the Kargil district, Ladakh, India. It is also the joint headquarters of the Shakar-Chiktan tehsil. It is situated on the right bank of the Sangeluma river, a tributary of the Indus River, which it joins opposite the village Dah. It was the capital of the Cig-tan principality of Ladakh for several centuries.

The Chiktan Fort, also known as Chiktan Khar, is a fort above the Chiktan village.

Far up in the Himalayas, a couple of hours drive (75 km) from the border town of Kargil, further north from the grand Srinagar-Leh Highway lie the ruins of what once was a majestic fort. Rumored to be taller and older than its famous cousin – the Leh Palace, the Chiktan fortress is shrouded in many mysteries. Legends of its making, numerous sinister and violent events, magical tales of wondrous creations and a heart-wrenching tailspin of destruction and apathy encompass the story of this fabulous fortress set in an almost fantastical location.

Initiated By Tahtah Khan, Prince of Baltistan who ran away after a failed attempt was made to kill him. He took Shelter in Chiktan area, He was awestruck by the place and decided to construct a fort here in the 8th century but managed to build only a small palace.

Built in the 16th century by Balti craftsmen, the castle served as a royal residence for centuries despite shifts in rulers as the region was amalgamated with neighboring kingdoms. Today, the neglect and natural forces have reduced the fort to rubble.

Chiktan Castle is located deep inside a valley, by the Indus river, with the mountains in the background. It is composed of rammed earth and stone masonry with mud mortar. Following the designs of architect and carpenter Shinkhen Chandan, the castle used timber to support the ceilings of the structure as well as to frame the doors and windows.

The Palace was one of the Masterpieces of Ladakh and Tibetian Architecture which was famous across Lhasa, Tibet. It reportedly had a rotating room which used to rotate with support of air blowing.

The Chiktan Palace was Inhabited by the King until Dogra King of Jammu annexed the area, He tried to suppress the Influence of King and started destroying the fort.

Prepared for impending attacks, Chiktan Castle was a symbol of unity, strength, brotherhood, and community for the peoples of the region. The castle was attacked several times during its history, but was not abandoned until the late 19th century. Neglect and natural elements have left the castle in an advanced state of decay. Large portions of the outer walls have collapsed, partially due to the removal of stone in the mid 20th century for a local government hospital which was Sanctioned and allotted for the Royal Family to construct but Father in Law of the King decided to keep the money and decided to use bricks of the wall of the fort beside the Wood Carving.

Seeing the Negligence, people of Village started using wood as resource which slowly destroyed the Fort. Stories of Hauntings were spread to stop people from exploiting the Fort

As the capital of the Chiktan region, the castle was a significant political center and military fortification, and remains an important symbol of shared history and culture in the region.

References

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Forts in Jammu and Kashmir
Kargil district
Tourism in Ladakh
Buildings and structures in Ladakh