Overview :
Tajikistan Photos
 Tajikistan
is a small Central Asian country bordering Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China
and Afghanistan.
The Tajiks are not a Turkic people (like most peoples in the region), but
are closely related to the Iranians. The Tajik language is closely
related to Farsi, and some of the best and most famous 'Iranian' poets
are actually Tajiks.
The capital city of Tajikistan is Dushanbe. The city of Penjikent is
close to the border with Uzbekistan and can be reached from Samarkand.
Penjikent has some impressive remains of the ancient Sodgian
civilization.
Tajikistan is very mountainous. On the one hand this means that the
scenery is great, with excellent hiking opportunities, but on the other
hand it means that travel can be time consuming and rough.
The capital of Tajikstan is nestled in the snowcapped Pamir Mountains
and has a population of 600 000. It wasn’t always the premier city in the
country: Until 1926 Dushanbe was a tiny village whose main importance was
a market held every Monday (the city’s name means Monday in Tajik). Then
the railroad came to town and transformed the sleepy hamlet into a major
transportation hub. |
The soviet building boom left its scars on
the city. Nonetheless its tree-lined streets and avenues and stalinst
government buildings are not without a certain charm.
The biggest attraction in town is the Barakat covered market where
colorful Tajik goods are sold. Other sites include the motley Tajikistan
Unified Museum (stuffed animals and ex-Soviet memorabilia) the
Ethnographic Museum (traditional handicrafts) the Rokhat teahouse and
Aini Square and Memorial Complex (named after the father of Tajik
literature).
After you’ve exhausted the possibilities in town take a day trip to
Gissar Fortress 18 mi/30 km away. The stronghold built in the 18th
century and abandoned after 1920 was once the residence of the
Turko-Mongric rulers. Other excursions can be made to Adzhina-Tepe (an
ancient Buddhist monastery) and to the Varzob Gorge the site of a health
resort and thermal springs (it will appeal to those who feel that hot
radon steam is therapeutic). The Ramit Nature Reserve lies not far off.
(by
www.world66.com)
|
Photo Gallery : Tajikistan
Artwork,
photos, concept, content and layout are (c) 2005