Traveling to the city of Herat, a large and ancient castle will attract attention. The castle, which is attributed to Alexander the Great and is known as the Citadel of Herat or the ” Qala Ikhtiaruddin”, is a very valuable ancient monument. This historic site has been destroyed several times by civil war and natural disasters, but has been rebuilt by a number of institutions.
The historical Herat Citadel has two parts, west and east. The harem of kings is located in the eastern part and the lower castle is in the western part of the military base. The area of this historic citadel is 5,000 square meters and has 21 towers.
The lower castle, which is more prosperous than the upper castle, has 105 gutters, all of which are made of pottery and are very basic and strong.
Recent restoration
Herat Citadel was completely renovated between 2006 and 2011. The latest restoration involved hundreds of Afghan artisans, funds from the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation, and approximately $2.4 million from the governments of the United States and Germany. About 1,100 items from the Herat region are stored inside. At a ceremony in October 2011, US Ambassador Ryan Crocker said: “Thirty-five years ago, tourists from all over the world came here to experience the heritage, history and unparalleled landscape of the country. We look forward to the day you can come, learn about Afghanistan's rich history, and enjoy the wonderful hospitality and beauty that this land and its people have to offer." Afghanistan expert Nancy Dupree was also in attendance. , she said: "I've been here many times and it was crumbling... this is impressive... I think the most exciting thing is to see something finally achieved Because I've seen a lot of half-hearted things."