Hisar Range

Hisar Range

Hisar Range

In the south of Uzbekistan, between the Amu Darya and Zeravshan rivers, there is the Hisar Range found. It belongs to the western part of the Pamir-Alay mountain system extending into the territory of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Hisar Range is considered to be the highest mountain range in the country, its length is about 200 km, and the highest point is in the border zone and makes 4643 m. The peak used to be called the Peak of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party. Today, it is called Khazret Sultan in honor of the Sufi poet Ahmad Yasawi.

Rocky canyons, sai rivers, and hilly slopes create a picture of relief stretching east to west across the northern part of the Surkhandarya Region of Uzbekistan and the Hissar District of Tajikistan, northwest of the capital city of Dushanbe.

In the central part, there is a reserve of the same name which is larger than all other protected areas of Uzbekistan.

The animal world is represented by species included in the IUCN Red List: snow vultures, golden eagles, white bears, snow leopards, and typical Central Asian Turkestan lynx.

The flora on the hillsides is full of subtropical tall grass steppes with alpine low grass meadows on the tops, green stalks of feather grass, sedge and sheep's fescue, xerophilous bushes, juniper trees, and fast-growing ash trees. In late March, maple groves, tulips, and wormwood begin to bloom.

The Hissar Range on the territory of Uzbekistan has historical monuments and picturesque natural sights, but they are not in great tourist demand due to their location far from the "Golden Ring" of the country.

However, it is the absence of massive touristic flows that attracts researchers and enthusiasts of ethnic tourism to immerse themselves in the original life of local peoples, to study their customs, traditions, rituals, and crafts as here they are subject to minimal influence of modern trends and preserved in virtually original form. Baysun village can be called the ethnical capital of Uzbekistan, which popularizes the intangible heritage of antiquity, including through the colorful festival of "Baysun Spring."

Due to the difficult accessibility of mountainous areas by cars, for centuries and to this day, horses are used for transportation which is beneficial for the development of horseback tourism. Routes for adventurers can be arranged with visits to such non-standard sights as:

•  The mysterious Tamerlane Cave near the village of Tashkurgan, close to the Kyzylgaza Pass, in the Yakkabag District of Kashkadarya Region, attracts speleology enthusiasts and treasure hunters. It is believed that Tamerlane's cave was a sacred place for the legendary military leader - because he gathered his troops at the entrance to the cave at the gorge for the first time, it became associated with the source of his strength. Visitors who have ventured inside note extraordinary, magnetic energy, where even hours later one does not feel tired.

Teshik-Tash cave and grotto in the Baysuntau Mountains of Sherabad District of Surkhandarya Province

• The Maidanak high-altitude observatory in Shakhrisabz, part of the Kitab Observatory, has been operating for 52 years on the plateau of the same name.

On the way, there are breathtaking views of glaciers and snow peaks, forests, and meadows covered with colorful flowers, adding a pleasant fragrance to the amazing freshness and coolness of the air under the whirlpool blue skies. 

In Tajikistan, the Hisar (Hissor) area is also part of the protected area, and in the coming years, Shirkent Park is also planned to be expanded to 30,000 hectares. The northern hillsides are famous for the amazing Lake Iskanderkul.