Herat Citadel
The Citadel of Herat (Pashto: سکندرۍ کلا ; Dari: ارگ هرات) also known as the Citadel of Alexander, and locally known as Qala Iktyaruddin (Pashto ; Dari: قلعه اختیارالدین), is located in the center of Herat in Afghanistan. It dates back to 330 BC, when Alexander the Great and his army arrived to what is now Afghanistan after the Battle of Gaugamela. Many empires have used it as a headquarters in the last 2,000 years, and was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.
| Citadel of Herat | |
|---|---|
| Herat in Afghanistan | |
View of Herat Citadel from atop the premises. | |
Herat Location in Afghanistan | |
| Coordinates | 34°20′45″N 62°11′19″E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Restored 2011 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 330 BC |
| Materials | stone, baked bricks, fired bricks |
From decades of wars and neglect, the citadel began to crumble but in recent years several international organizations decided to completely rebuild it. The National Museum of Herat is also housed inside the citadel, while the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture is the caretaker of the whole premises.