Dushanbe
INTRO
The most important city in Tajikistan is no doubtfully its capital, Dushanbe. Apart from being the heart of the country's educational and business life, Dushanbe is also a major tourist attractions for those willing to experience the uniqueness of the previous Soviet countries that have managed to reaffirm themselves as strong and independent members of the modern world.
City Profile
City: Dushanbe
Country: Tajikistan
Area: 100 km²
Population: 524,000
Major: Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev
Language: Tajik
LOCATION
The capital of Tajikistan is nestled in the Pamir Mountain at the confluence of Varzob and Kafernihon Rivers. Located in the middle of the country's western portion, in the upper part of Gissar Valley, Dushanbe is the most significant industrial, tourism and business centre in Tajikistan that also serves as the transportation hub for the travellers visiting the country. The city's international airport connects it to various destinations around world.
TIME TO VISIT
The climate in Dushanbe differs from the one in the rest of the country due to its specific location. In general, the city has a continental and subtropical climate, which varies significantly from year to year. Summers in Dushanbe are characterised with occasional sandstorms and temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius. July is the hottest month of the year as well as the driest. January is respectively the coldest month of the winter when temperatures drop to 2-3 degrees Celsius. It is possible that the weather gets cooler than that and the temperatures fall below zero. Because of the capital's remoteness from any water reservoirs, it is not uncommon great temperature variations to occur in a matter of 24 hours. As Dushanbe is close to the mountains, probably the best time to visit it is during the summer when the weather is warm and pleasant for outdoor activities.
POPULATION
The number of people permanently living in Dushanbe is more than half a million. The major ethnic group that inhabits the Tajikistan capital are Tajik who speak Tajik as a native language. Sizable minority groups include Uzbeks and Russians even though their number is decreasing due to emigration. Even though the official language here is Tajik, many people use Russian as their mother tongue. Russian language is also widely used in everyday life, especially in business and government environment. The natives strictly follow Islam and Islamic traditions.
DISTRICTS
The Tajikistan capital is divided into four administrative regions. These are the following:
- Rah Ahan
- Markazi
- Oktiabr
- Frunze
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Excluding the government buildings that comprise a significant part of the attractive architecture in Dushanbe, several other tourist attractions are worth visiting while staying in the Tajikistan capital.
- Barakat Covered Market is one of the main tourist attractions in Dushanbe. It is a covered market that is lined with stalls selling all kinds of vegetables, fruit and other farmer's goods, as well as fine clothes. If you are looking for a place to shop for your mountain trip, buy some souvenirs or just want to see what a market place in Tajikistan looks like, this is definitely the bazaar to visit.
- Dushanbe Teahouses are among the main attractions for foreigners in Tajikistan. These places are a part of the Tajik traditions and culture and are truly amusing for visitors as they serve local tea and perform live music at nights. If you wish to mingle with the native customs, you should certainly visit one of these teahouses.
- Ismail Samani Monument and the Samani statue on Rudaki Avenue is the main national highlight in Tajikistan. The avenue used to be the place where the greatest Asian Lenin statue was located. This memorial complex was opened to commemorate 1100th anniversary of the Samanid State. The statue is 11 meters high and Amir Ismail Samanid is considered the founder of Tajik state. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~asiactr/haq/200101/0101a003.htm
- Hissar Fort is situated 30 km from the capital of the country. It dates back to the 18th century although what remains of it today is almost completely reconstructed after its destruction by the Red Army. Below the fort are two medressas, one of which has a small museum inside, displaying jewellery, ceramics and local clothing. Beside one of the medressas is a 16th century mausoleum of one of the Islamic leaders. Visiting the teahouse that is situated below the fortress is considered a must.
- Museum of National Antiquities is the National museum of Tajikistan. The museum is home of the Central Asia's largest Buddha statue that is 31 meters high. This is the only Buddha statue in the world that presents Buddha in a sleeping position. On display are also many different artefacts about the history of the country and you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the museum exhibitions.
- The Principal Mosque is situated right off Rudaki Prospekt and is a truly beautiful mosque that was built pretty recently. On the way to the mosque, one will pass through the Islamic University and two medressas. Guided tours inside the mosque are available for tourists.
AIRPORT
Almost all flights that go to Tajikistan land on the international airport that is situated close to the country's capital. It is recommended that you buy a visa before getting there as it may take awhile to get one at the airport.
- Dushanbe International Airport is located close to the centre of the city. The cheapest way to get from the airport to the downtown is by taking minibus number 1 that will cost you only around 1 U.S. dollar. Another option is to take a taxi but ask about the cost in advance so that the driver doesn't try to overcharge you. More info at: www.port-columbus.com
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Getting around Dushanbe is not difficult. Public transportation is comparatively convenient.
- Minibuses, or marshrutka is the most common means of transportation in Dushanbe. It is a shared minibus-taxi that you flag down and pay 30 Dirham flat rate. Tell the driver where you want to get off.
- Taxis can be found and flagged down almost everywhere in the city. Make sure to negotiate the price in advance as the drivers won't use metres and may try to charge you more than what it actually costs.
- Walking is a good way of exploring the downtown area of Dushanbe as most of the sightseeing spots are in short distance from each other.
HISTORY
Dushanbe has not always been the most important cultural and business centre in the country. The city started its expansion as a small village that was mainly visited because of the weekly "Monday" bazaar that took place there. That is how the city received its name, which literally translated means "Monday". In 1929, when the Red Army proceeded to these regions and conquered them, Dushanbe became the capital of the Tajik Soviet Republic. During those years, the city was called Stalinabad, after Joseph Stalin. Years later, its name was changed and Dushanbe continued its development as the centre of cotton and silk production in the region. Around 1990, when the Russians were planning to relocate Armenian refugees to the Tajikistan territory, many riots took place in the city, including a massive one during the Civil War shortly after the country's independence. However, Dushanbe is now a beautiful place that has been renovated according to the modern standards and has become a welcoming capital and a tourist destination.
CITY LINKS
- Topix: Daily News in English: http://www.topix.com/tj/dushanbe
- Dushanbe Official Website, in Russian: www.dushanbe.tj
UNIVERSITIES
- Khorog State University
- Tajik State National University
- Tajik State Pedagogical University
- Tajik Technical University
- Tajik State Institute of Arts
- Tajik State University of Commerce