Hisor Fort
Hisor Fort is one of the most beautiful historical sites in Tajikistan, located along the Khanaka River in Hisor Valley. The structure has undergone numerous reconstructions, repairs, and expansions. Hisor has a fort dating back to 1000 BC, according to historical archives. The fort's most recent records date from the time when Cyrus the Great established the Persian Empire (around 550 BC). Unfortunately, hardly much of the old fort has survived the test of time. Different buildings were erected in different eras, making it difficult to date the modern fort. A wedding ceremony building was recently constructed inside the fortification. The arched gate, which dates from roughly the year, is the oldest remaining section of Hisor Fort.
The construction of Chasmai Mohiyon Mosque began around 700, about the same time as the construction of Sangin Mosque, although it was not completed for nearly 1,000 years. The four bottomless jugs placed beneath the dome's walls to increase the hall's acoustics are a notable feature of Sangin Mosque. Several components of the fort were built in the 1500s, including the main gate wall, the Old Madrassa, the Makhdumi A'zam Mausoleum, and various improvements to the Old Mosque. A caravanserai, built in 1808 as a safe haven for Silk Road traders and their camels, is one of the most recent constructions nearby to the fort. Only the lower part of the caravanserai remains, as the top layer was taken by the Soviets to build a theater in Dushanbe.
The majority of the buildings have been refurbished. A museum exhibiting relics from Tajikistan's rural past and Soviet souvenirs is housed in the Old Madrassa. On the other side of the road, there are several old horse stables. Hisor is located approximately 16 miles west of Dushanbe. There is lots of public transportation to get there, but finding the correct bus stop downtown Dushanbe is difficult. Taxis are the quickest and easiest way to get to Hisor, and depending on your haggling skills, they can be inexpensive. If you go to Hisor Fort on a Sunday, you're almost certain to run into a wedding or three.
