Hissar

Located in the heart of the Hissar Valley, just 18 kilometers west of Dushanbe, lies the town of Hissar, a central hub of the Hissar district in Tajikistan. To the north, the Dushanbe-Termez highway serves as a vital link between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The town is also bisected by a railway line featuring the Khanaqa station, both of which are crucial international routes. The western part of Hissar is graced by the Khanaqa River, while the Great Hissar Canal, constructed in 1942 and the largest in the country, flows through the town.

A mere 7 kilometers south of Hissar stands the Hissar Fortress, one of Central Asia’s most significant architectural landmarks, embodying over 3,000 years of ancient Tajik culture. The town’s climate is sharply continental, surrounded by the Hissar Range to the north, the Gazimalik Range to the south, and the Babatag Mountains to the southwest.

Hissar today remains deeply connected to its ancient namesake, a city once thriving with craftsmanship and military presence as early as the 11th century. Historically, it served as the administrative center of Eastern Bukhara until 1921, enjoying a degree of autonomy under the Samanid Empire. 

At the entrance to Hissar, visitors are greeted by a colossal melon style building stretching 100 meters in length, easily visible even from the air. This giant teahouse, accommodating 2,300 guests, was constructed between 2011 and 2013 to celebrate Hissar’s 3,000-year anniversary.

Today, an extensive historical and cultural reserve, established in the late 1960s, preserves the legacy of ancient Hissar. This reserve encompasses a fortress with a grand archway, the Registan square, both old and new madrassas, a caravanserai, the Chashmai Mahi Mosque, the Sangin Mosque, the Mausoleum of Makhdumi Azam, and a historical museum, among other sites.

Located 30 kilometers from Dushanbe and just 4-5 kilometers from the town of Hissar, the Hissar Historical and Cultural Reserve stands as one of Tajikistan’s premier attractions. This expansive site, covering approximately 86 hectares, is home to archaeological and architectural marvels from various eras.

The reserve is situated in the vast intermountain Hissar Valley, traversed by the Kafirnigan, Karatag, and Shirkent rivers. Human habitation in this area dates back to the Stone Age, between the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE. Over time, the valley became part of Bactria, and later the Greco-Bactrian and Kushan kingdoms, as evidenced by archaeological remnants of ancient settlements, now reduced to rounded mounds known as «tepa.»

During the Middle Ages, Hissar was a bustling city renowned for its crafts and market activities. By the 18th and 19th centuries, it had evolved into the Hissar Bekdom, one of the 28 domains of the Bukhara Emirate. From this period, the Hissar Fortress remains, now an open-air museum.

In the late 1980s, a unique historical and cultural reserve was established in Hissar, incorporating several key sites:

• Hissar Fortress with Archway: This manually constructed fortress dates back 2,500 years. Its main gates, built in the 16th century, have been fully restored.
• Old Madrassa: A medieval educational institution built in the 16th century, covering 2,250 square meters.
• New Madrassa: Another significant educational establishment.
• Caravanserai: A brick-built inn from 1808, used as a hotel during the reign of Saidbi Atolik.
• Chashmai Mahi Mosque (Stone Mosque): Originally constructed in the 8th century, with verandas and a tower added in the 14th century, now fully restored.
• Sangin Mosque: Another historic mosque in the area.
• Mausoleum of Makhdumi Azam: A 16th-century monument built over the grave of Khoja Muhammad Khayvaki, covering 609 square meters.
• Historical Museum: Housed in the Old Madrassa, displaying over 3,200 unique artifacts uncovered during excavations in and around Hissar.