Jumgal Fortress is located in the Jumgal district in the middle reaches of the Jumgal River, on its right bank, in the Kar-Oy area, near the village of Kairma. Only traces of the once powerful fortress remain, with melted walls now crumbling due to rain, snow, and wind.
The fortress is rectangular (60 X 80 m). Fragments of the wall on the western and northern sides remain, currently no more than 3—5 m long and up to 1 m high. At one time, the fortress was surrounded by a moat, with a cliff on the southern side leading down to the Jumgal River. The walls were built on a foundation. In the southeast corner, traces of buildings can be seen. The area around the fortress is marshy. When the river flooded, access to it was virtually impossible. This likely served as additional protection for the fortification against raids by nearby nomads. However, the question arises as to why the Kokand rulers did not use the medieval fortress located 150—200 m away, which was strategically superior for their own fortification. Overall, the location was well chosen. The fortress controlled the migration routes in the Jumgal Valley and was situated on a trade route. It was also home to Kokand tax collectors and the khan's governor.
According to archival documents, the Jumgal fortification was built by the Kokand rulers in the 1830s and served as a collection point for zakat from nomads and small trade operations. A small garrison was stationed there. There was no artillery, and the garrison was only partially armed with cold weapons. The garrison numbered between 100 and 150 men. An overview of the area confirms this data: such a garrison could well be accommodated in the designated territory of the Jumgal fortification. However, at the time of the fortress's fall, the Jumgal garrison numbered less than 50 men and was poorly armed. A Russian detachment, arriving in 1862 in Central Tian Shan under the command of Captain Protsenko, unexpectedly attacked the garrison with the support of local Kyrgyz rebels, who were unable to offer any serious resistance. The Kokand forces were forced to flee, and the Jumgal Fortress was taken without a fight and destroyed.
