Hisor Fortress
Қалъаи Ҳисор
A historic fortress ruin about 30 km west of Dushanbe. Its restored city gate, medieval madrasas and caravanserai reveal the local seat of power under the Emirate of Bukhara.
Hisor Fortress is located in the Hisor Valley, about 30 km west of Dushanbe. For more than 3,000 years the area has been a crossroads of trade routes. The surviving citadel was the seat of the governor (bek) appointed by the Emirate of Bukhara in the 18th and 19th centuries. The most striking feature is the restored double-towered Great Gate. Beyond it lies the citadel ruin on the hill. Across from the gate are the old and new madrasas, the old one now a small local museum, along with the remains of a caravanserai and a shrine to a holy man. The site is protected as a national historical and cultural reserve in Tajikistan. Tickets cost about a dozen to a few dozen somoni. A taxi from Dushanbe takes about 40 minutes, and the site is often combined with a city tour for a half-day trip. There is almost no shade in summer, so bring a hat and water.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Kokhi Navruz (Navruz Palace)
- Imam Abu Hanifa Grand Mosque
- Rudaki Park
- Dushanbe Flagpole & Palace of the Nation
- National Museum of Tajikistan
- National Library of Tajikistan
- Ismoil Somoni Monument
- National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan