Khaplu Palace (Yabgo Khar), Restored Royal Residence of the Khaplu Rajas

Khaplu Palace, also known as Yabgo Khar, was the royal residence of the Rajas of Khaplu, built in 1840 blending Tibetan, Balti and Kashmiri architectural styles. Restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and reopened in 2011 as the Khaplu Fort Residence (Serena), it's now one of Pakistan's most celebrated heritage hotels, and open to day visitors even if you're not staying overnight.

The palace anchors the wider Khaplu Valley, itself one of Baltistan's greenest and most fertile valleys, roughly 3 hours from Skardu city.

History

Built in 1840 as the residence of the Khaplu royal family, the palace fell into disrepair through the 20th century before a major restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, completed in 2011, returned it to its original grandeur as both a heritage site and a working luxury hotel.