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Hot spring Bibi Fotimai Zahro and Yamchun Fortress

Ishkoshim Rayon, hot spring of Bibi Fotimai Zahro and Yamchun Fortress

One of the main attractions of Tajikistan in Ishkoshim Rayon (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast). Yamchun fortress is located on the hills of the Wakhan Range and was built in the 3rd century BC, equipped with 36 towers and loopholes, clearly designed to provide best possible physical security for its inhabitants. This is the most powerful fortress preserved through the Wakhan Valley and is 6 km away from the main road on the altitude of 500 meters above the level of the main road through the valley.

At an altitude of 3 kilometers is the Yamchun Fortress, known as the impregnable fortress. To get to this place, you need to go through a long serpentine and overcome few road obstacles. One would wonder how hard it must have been to build a fortress with towers on this height from stones. Stories say that while enemies were reaching the fortress, their forces left due to fatigue, and the inhabitants of the tower destroyed all those who infringed upon their freedom, at all times.

Nearby also stretches the Pyanj River, making this place the most beautiful blooming in the region. In winter and summer, the fortress is completely impregnable, it is impossible to get to it, since all sides are washed by rivers and the slopes have come handy to its strengh and defence. The outer fork of Yamchun Fortress resembles a triangle in which there were barracks, a bastion, fortifications, towers, special platforms, powerful structures ,while inside the fortress there are more than 30 towers with embrasures and citadels. Story also goes as at old times, opon in dangers, all the inhabitants inside could hide inside the towers. To date, only the upper bastion has remained from the tower, as it was the safest place at the time. Looking at what is left, it is hard to believe that this building is more than 2 thousand years old.

Bami Fotima-Zahro hot spring, which is located very close to Yamchun fortress, can also be found on the Pamir road tour. This source is associated with the prophet Muhammad and is belived to be posessing healing properties.

Hot spring Bibi Fotimai Zahro was named after the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and is respectively associated with the family of the Prophet, just like the traditional houses on the Pamirs of Tajikistan. The Hot spring Bibi Fotimai Zahro has healing properties and is found to be effective in urological and gynecological diseases, digestive problems, etc., due to containing relevant minerals. Local also believe that that exposing oneself to the water improves female fertility. Considering that fact that the hot spring is located on the highlands, in the vicinity of the range of glaciers and cool weather, it has a temperature above 40 degrees Celsius year-round.

According to an inscription at the entrance, the chemical composition of minerals in the Fotima Zahro Bibi hot spring (published in 1978) include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, chlorides, silicic acid and metaboric acid. Since the hot spring comes out of the two round-shaped parts of rocks, they have been associated with “sleeves of a shirt of Ali, the husband of Bibi Faotima Zahro. When up the hill and in the hot spring, it is worth to take some time to listen to the beautiful story of the hot spring.

Locals also believe that if one prays for his wishes here, they ought to come true, provided one fits him/herself in the narrow niche (shallow) in the rock that serves as a wall. There is a spot constructed for a purpose of relaxation above the hot spring of Bibi Fotimai Zahro, where one can take a walk in a small garden full of flowers in summer and take a hot and cold shower (aka “contrast shower”) under a five-meter waterfall.

Read our article on how to get to Ishkashim from Khorog or another article on how to get from Dushanbe to Khorog.

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