With the introduction of Islam in Hunza, around second half of 16th century AD, it became a fashion/ status symbol with elite families in Hunza to build a MASJID adjacent to their houses accordingly Wazir Asad Ullah Beg built this MASJID close to his house in the vicinity of Baltit Fort home of the Mir of Hunza.
His son Mohammad Raza Beg was allotted lands in Haiderabad Hunza where the fort like house was built. After the 1891 invasion and subjugation of Hunza he went first to Calcutta as Head of Hunza delegation in March-April 1892 and then for a MULAQAT to Bombay with the Ismaili Imam Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III. During the MULAQAT, Imam asked him to render religious service as well subsequently he started receiving TALIQAS/ FARMANS so he built a FARMAN KHANA on top of his house in Hyderabad he however, shifted to Baltit around 1898 where he had built a new house - the one in which we his progeny are living now - and shifted the Asadullah Beg Masjid from its old location to the present location in1316-AH (1898-AD) and started using it as the new FARMAN KHANA in Baltit.
After renovation of Baltit Fort in 1996, AKCSP arranged repairs to this FARMAN KHANA. Ever since it has become the second most photographed structure by the huge number of tourists. His progeny is now responsible for the upkeep after the currency of modern Jamati Institutional system since 1969, when the safe custody of Farmans was transferred to the office complexes.
Twin Water Mill Baltit :
Wazir Asadullah Beg, was the architect and sponsor for BARBAR water channel. As part of a strategic necessity he felt that the Construction of a water-mill was essential for the residents of walled village of Baltit as in case of a prolonged adversary siege, it would not be possible to get the life-line grain ground through the water mills located in Harrchi. This structure had an important defensive function against attacks from the adversaries as it incorporated defensive and observation positions for the watchmen and fighters. This fort like building was built around 1850 from the wood retrieved from the house of Prince Yusaf Shah s/o Shah Sultan’s – the house was demolished as part of a punishment meted by Mir Ghazanfar to the prince for his role in the murder of Prince Abdullah Khan s/o Mir Saleem Khan. The mill has remained the family property of Asadullah Beg’s elder son Wazir Hamayun Beg.
It has been restored by AKCSP and has become a tourist attraction in this age.
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