By the initiative of the culture-preserving policy of the esteemed Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, during the period of independence, the tangible and intangible cultural values of the Tajik people have been duly presented to the international community.
Today, on July 12, 2025, at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Paris from July 6 to 16, the nomination dossier of “Khuttal-i-Qadim” was officially approved and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The “Khuttal-i-Qadim” dossier includes 11 historical, cultural, and archaeological monuments located in the Khatlon region:
The Ajinateppa Buddhist Monastery, Hulbuk Fortress, Hulbuk Settlement, Manzaratappa Village, Zoli Zard Fortress, the Mausoleum of Mawlana Tojid-din, Halevard Settlement (Kafir Kala), Zoli Zar Settlement, Tahir Caravanserai, Shahriteppa Settlement, and the Buddhist Monastery of Khishtteppa.
It should be noted that the preparation of the “Khuttal-i-Qadim” nomination dossier began in 2022 by order of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan appointed as the responsible body for its preparation.
A working group was established, which studied over 200 monuments in the Khatlon region, selecting 11 monuments for inclusion in the nomination dossier.
Consequently, the “Khuttal-i-Qadim” nomination dossier was submitted to the UNESCO Tentative List on July 12, 2024.
One of UNESCO’s key requirements for inscribing a nomination dossier on the World Heritage List is the in-person evaluation of the monuments by a representative of ICOMOS. Accordingly, from September 9 to 16, 2024, Mr. Jean Yasmin, an ICOMOS expert, visited the Republic of Tajikistan to assess the series of monuments included in the “Khuttal-i-Qadim” nomination dossier. The working group implemented the recommendations provided by the ICOMOS representative and submitted the final dossier to the World Heritage Committee for review.
Thus, during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the “Khuttal-i-Qadim” monument complex was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Press Center of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan
