It was originally home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state who carried the title of 'Mir', although they moved to the somewhat younger Baltit fort nearby three centuries later.

[1] Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 1100 years old,[2][3] which makes it the oldest monument in the Gilgit–Baltistan.

The Altit Fort was in great disrepair, but has recently been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme and the Government of Norway.

[4] According to the local elders white Huns from the soldier of Alexander started human settlement in Altit when they were on way back from China.

Presently, majority of households of this tribe are living within the old cluster settlement known as Burum Khan.

The origin of different tribes and sub-tribes reveals that people from different regions migrated to Altit and permanently settled down.

According to oral traditions some people from Rome migrated to Bakhtar in Eastern Iran where they ruled for about 3–4 years.

After that they had a battle with the troops of central government and thus left the area and entered in Afghanistan and to Hidukush region.