Kofir Qala is located at the western outskirt of the center of Jaloliddini Balkhi district at the latitude of 37°36′ N, long 71°46′ E. The district is located 32 km far from the city of Bokhtar, which is the center of Khatlon province. The territory of the ruins of the city and citadel of Kafir Qala occupies 13 hectares.            

The citadel of Kafir Qala was reportedly built in 1-3 century and functioned till the 8^th century. According to historians, Kofirqala was the administrative centre of Wakhshregion during the middle ages. In historical sources, this place is known with the name of Halevard, Helovard, Halavard and Halovard. The word Halevard consist of two connected words, i.e., ‘hale - scattered’ and ‘vard – palace (like a red flower). This conclusion about the name of the city was due to the fact that a poorlypreserved potterywas found there during archaeological investigation. The Arabs seizured the city and destroyed Buddhist deities. It was from that time that the Arab named this non-Muslim fortress as a fortress of infidels, i.e., Kofir Qala. This label was even attached to the water channel that runs near the fort. It was calledKorif -kanal (the channels of the infidels

The building of this fortress was a square area of 360 x 360 m. The site was surrounded by walls and trenches. High towers were built on all four sides of the retaining walls, which were used for surveillance. This city of Haleward consisted of citadel, city, suburb, and cemetery. The eastern and western parts of the city were connected by a road that divided the city into two parts. Houses of nobles, and riches, offices existed in one part. Housed of the ordinary, and poor people existed in the other part of the city. Haleward was a fortified city surrounded by a thick defensive wall. It was  alsosurrounded by a ditch, which was filled with the water. To the right, the city gates had a bridge, which was lifted at night, and during the attack of the enemy. A huge citated a citadel with a square of (70 × 70 m), and with a wall of 12m high existed in the northeastern corner of the city.
The citadel was an architectural complex which housed, ceremonial, residential and religious(Buddhist) buildings associated with the life of the ruler. The citadel was connected with shahristan  (city) through a transition bridge. A small Buddhist temple which was inside the palace is a manifestation of the construction skill of the Tocharistans. A small cella of the temple (3.4 x 3.4 m), surrounded on all sides by a corridor, had a domed ceiling. One of the corner towers (3.5 x 3.6 m) was also originally covered. The ditch separated the citadel from this city on the western and southern sides.