Herat Citadel
Herat’s Citadel dates from the early 14th century. Malik Fakhruddin was the architect of the castle. This fort was erected on the site of an earlier fort built by Alexander the Great. The current construction has been subjected to barbaric attacks by numerous warriors, including Chengis Khan, Seljuks, Ghorids, Mongols, Timurids, and others. Today, the fort serves as a reminder of the country’s turbulent history.
Masjet-e-Jam
This Afghan treasure and Herat’s largest edifice is also known as the Friday Mosque. This is one of the country’s most important religious sites, dating back over 800 years. It was the vision of Ghorid Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din. The mosque is well-known for its gorgeous blue tiles as well as its remarkable Islamic architecture. It was extensively rebuilt in 1943 to restore the mosque’s former splendour.
Mousallah Complex
The Mousallah Complex in Herat is noted for its aesthetically spectacular features, which include a mosque, minarets, and a medressa. Some of the structures in the complex were built in the early 15th century by Queen Gaur Shad, Shah Rukh’s wife and Timur’s daughter-in-law. Near the medressa, you may also discover the queen’s tomb, which is ornamented with magnificent tiles. Only three of the twelve minarets that once stood here exist today, with the rest having been demolished over the years.
Minarets of Sultan Baiqara
These are the four minarets that exist at Sultan Baiqara’s Medressa in Herat. A road divides the site in half, leaving two minarets on either side. The blue tiling work that was the prominent feature of the minarets is mostly gone.
Tomb of Poet Jami
The Tomb of Poet Jami is located approximately a half mile from the Baiqara minarets and belonged to the 15th century Persian Sufi poet Nur-ud-din Abdurrakhman Jami. Following the poet’s death in 1492, his tomb was built within the mosque complex. The mausoleum is located in the mosque complex’s garden and is shaded by a pistachio tree. A great crowd gathers at the poet’s tomb to pay their respects.
Gazar Gah
Gazar Gah site, which dates from the 15th century, is located approximately 5 km east of Herat. The location is famous for housing the burial of noted Sufi Khoja Abdullah Ansari, an 11th century mystic and poet. The Main Court, Haft Qalam, Khana Zarnegar, and the holy water pond are among the significant buildings at this site. Most of these structures were erected by King Shah Rukh and featured exquisite tile work. The mausoleum of Amir Dost Mohammad, a prominent king of the nation, is also located here.
Chahrsuq
Chahrsuq refers to the four main marketplaces of a city, which are located in the city’s centre square. Herat’s four bazaars are recognised for their vibrant atmosphere. There are many shops on the streets of these four marketplaces where people gather to buy everyday items. There is also a large reservoir here that dates back to the early 17th century and was built to supply water to the citizens of the city.
Chisht-i-Sharif
The Chisht village, around 177 kilometres from Heart, is noted for two destroyed structures with gumbads or domes. It is unknown if these structures acted as mausoleums or were part of a larger complex. However, the damaged terracotta brick work in these constructions can still be seen today. The architecture and décor of the structures show that they were built under Ghiyas-ud-din Ghori’s reign in the 12th century.
