The nation of Tajikistan offer a lot to make up the days of a tourist despite the fact that it is not well resourced with a widespread infrastructure and that a few locations were devastated during the civil war. For adventure enthusiasts, the country’s mountainous terrain offers good experience of trekking, while the old Silk Road paths offers some of the most beautiful sceneries and landscapes along with a look into a more rich period.
The Tajiks belong to an old group of the inhabitants coming from the Pamir Mountains who are believed to be the only genuine descendants of the Aryan cult. Due to its strong inaccessibility, the country has been safeguarded from many attacks and intruders. An exception to this is the discovery of the city by the Alexander the Great on the location of current Khojand known as the Alexandria Eskate meaning Alexandria the Furthest.
Tajikistan Tourist Attractions
- Dushanbe:
This is the capital of the country located in the Hissar valley that is only three hours away from the Afghanistan border. The city is named after its famous Monday market where Monday in Tajik means Dushanbe. Prior to 1929 and introduction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, it was actually a village. All the places of attractions are nearby the Prospekt Rudaki that is near the railway station. It offers the main mosque, a synagogue belonging to the late 19th century, a Russian church, and a columned opera house. In addition, other interesting places are the Tajikistan Unified Museum exhibiting the snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep located north of the station at Ploshchad Aym and the ethnographic museum situated on Ulitsa Somoni.
- Hissar Port:
Located at 16 km from Dushanbe, the port was erected somewhere between the 16th and 19th centuries that offers a fort, two Islamic seminaries (madrassahs), a caravanserai, and a mausoleum. - Sogdian Fort:
This is the ruined citadel situated at Penjikent on the Uzbek border and the area is currently under excavation. The worth visiting here are the frescoes that are superbly exceptional. - Muragazor Lakes:
This is a worth visiting place of seven lakes whose colors tend to alter with the changing light. To see so, head to the south of Penjikent. - Buddhist Temples Remains:
This is located near Kurgan-Tyube in the south. It is precisely at this place from where the biggest Buddha was found in Central Asia. This statue now can be seen in the capital that is now sculpted into 60 pieces. - The Pamir Mountains:
Regarded as the heart of Asia and the Roof of the World, these mountains are still left to be discovered completely. Located at a great height, climate being cold, and location being remote; these are the real eye catchers for the climbers since years. Situated in the semi-autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan, you must know that a few entities are conducting an armed movement for more sovereignty.
- Khorog:
This is the most vital town of tourist importance on the Pamir Highway that lies from Dushanbe until Kyrgyzstan. It is also the capital of the eastern Tajik region of Gorno-Badakhshan. Khorog is a miniature one-street town offering a museum full of animals along with an exhibition of Lenin’s photographs. The journey from the Tajik capital to this town is one of the toughest one on Earth. - Lake Sareskoye:
Located at the core of the Pamirs, do visit this stunning lake formed in 1911 due to dislodging of the mountain side that fell in the river path by an earthquake. - Lake Kara-Kul:
Situated in the north of the Pamirs, the significance of this lake is that it was formed 10 million years ago due to a meteor at a height of 3,915 m that makes it unsuitable for any aquatic life. - Pik Lenina and Mount Garmo (formerly Pik Kommunizma):
Situated at the west of Lake Kara-Kul over 7,000 m, these are the two peaks rising high over the country and the adjacent republic of Kyrgyzstan to the north. A popular belief holds here that the yetis still exist in this world and that they dwell in this remote area. If you wish to be at the pinnacle of these peaks, luckily helicopter flights are available. - The Silk Road:
This vast road expands from northern China passing via the lonely desert and mountainous landscape and reaching to the ports of the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea. The road is an old trading route through which the silk merchants used to pass right since the 2nd century until the 14th century. Now, only parts of this road welcome tourists. In Tajikistan, the key of interest on this road for visitors is its beautiful natural views against the Pamir and Fan mountains, rich valleys, and blue lakes. For trekking, tours are ideally set from Samarkand in Uzbekistan. - Hiking:
Do not forget to explore the mountains on foot. The tour operators arrange for the hiking tours in the southwest of Tajikistan and its enclosing mountains mostly in the summers. Beginning mostly in Moscow, these tours are usually scheduled for 14 days around the ancient Sogdian lakes such as Iskander-kul north of Dushanbe and Muragazor lakes that ends in Samarkand in Uzbekistan. In addition, a itinerary is also arranged to the mountain passes of the Kara-Tak at north of Dushanbe that includes 8 to 10 km walk per day with the luggage on donkeys’ back and accommodation in mountain villages.
- Skiing and Hunting:
This is possible in the hills lying at the rear of the capital, Dushanbe.
Tajik cuisine has much in common with Uzbek, Cuisine of Afghanistan, and Iranian cuisine, and developed from Persian cuisine.
It features such dishes as kabuli pulao, qabili palau, and samanu.
The national food and drink are plov and green tea, respectively.
Traditional Tajikistani meals begin with small dishes of dried fruit, nuts, and halwa, followed by soup and meat, before finishing with plov. Tea accompanies every meal and is often served between meals as a gesture of hospitality. It is often drank unsweetened.
Tajik cuisine offers a large variety of fruit, meat, and soup dishes.