Covering an area of approximately 7 hectares, the fortress is more than 1,800 years old. Hisorak was a major stronghold associated with ancient “Marshkat,” the capital of old Mastchoh (present-day Madrushkat), where the ruler of Madrushkat resided.
The fortress consisted of three main sections: the “Shahneshin” (royal residence), the “Kuhandiz” (citadel), and the “Shahristan” (residential town). Today, all these parts remain buried underground. Numerous artifacts related to Zoroastrian culture have been discovered at the site. In terms of scholarly importance, Hisorak Fortress is considered comparable to Kahkaha Fortress and is regarded as the largest historical structure in the Zarafshan Valley.
In the western part of the fortress, reservoirs were discovered through which water was supplied to the stronghold. The water was transported from the Lolahon spring via underground ceramic pipes. This ancient irrigation system was known as the “karez” (qanat) system and was widely used throughout the region.
At the southern section of the fortress, there is a gate–arch that served as the only entrance to the site. The fortress had no other access points. Archaeologists have unearthed several remarkable structures, the most significant being a two-story hall measuring 19 meters in length. Numerous houses with distinctive architectural styles and decorative elements from various historical periods have also been discovered.
Among the findings is a structure identified as a “Fire Temple,” oriented toward the sunrise, clearly indicating that it served as a Zoroastrian place of worship.