As part of the programme of events, participants of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly on Social and Cultural Affairs, held in Dushanbe on 24-26 September 2026, visited the historic Hisor Fortress.
During the visit, the guests were provided with scientific and ethnographic information about the history and cultural significance of the fortress.
The guests were informed that the Hisor Fortress is located to the northwest of Dushanbe and has a history spanning more than 2,500 years. According to historical accounts, the fortress was constructed by hand.
The fortress consists of three main parts. The upper section served as the residence of beks and amirs, while the lower section was used as a camel stable. The main section served as accommodation for soldiers.
The fortress was surrounded by a high, crenellated defensive wall. The wall was approximately 3.5 metres high above the level of the fortress and about 10 metres wide at the top. Access to the fortress was possible through its gates. The gates were built in the 16th century and have since been completely reconstructed.
Following the conquest of Central Asia by Tsarist Russia at the end of the 19th century, an agreement establishing the subordination of the Emirate of Bukhara, including the Hisor Bekdom, to the Russian Empire was concluded. As a result, traders, travellers, scholars, researchers, officials, and Russian and European military personnel gained opportunities to travel, conduct trade, and carry out research throughout the region.
The rich and mysterious heritage of Hisor Shodmon became known to European researchers in 1875 through the Hisor Expedition. Subsequently, researchers visited the region to study its flora and fauna, natural water resources and mineral deposits, underground resources, as well as the political and cultural life and living conditions of the local population.
The guests also visited the Central Friday Mosque in Dushanbe, named after Abu Hanifa, Imam Azam, Nu'man ibn Thabit. The guests expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to discover the country's rich historical and cultural heritage.
