Renovating Qala Ikhtyaruddin: A U.S. Cultural Preservation Project
Kabul, Afghanistan: The U.S. Embassy will provide support for preliminary restoration works to Qala Ikhtyaruddin, the citadel of Herat, Afghanistan, through the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.
As an important stop in the network of cities along the Silk Road, Herat marked the nexus between Persia and Afghanistan and other cities to the East. Qala Ikhtyaruddin is an important historical landmark of this ancient city and one of the most impressive surviving citadels in all of Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Conservation efforts will involve stabilizing the citadel’s defensive walls and preventing seasonal flooding, as well as restoring existing structures for cultural and educational purposes and public use.
The project will take 18 months and will be implemented by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in collaboration with the Department of Historic Monuments of the Ministry of Information and Culture.