Dushanbe is an interesting city and the capital of Tajikistan. The name of this city means “Monday”. Dushanbe is not only a political but also a cultural and economic heart of the country. Modern high-rise buildings peacefully coexist with public areas where local chefs make fragrant pilaf, the scent of which spreads on the streets. When taking a stroll on local streets, it is easy to see elders with gray beards who spend all their free time in teahouses enjoying the popular drink. Perhaps, the most amazing of them all – tourists can still see farmers riding donkeys among cars and buses on the streets of Dushanbe.
According to the official historical records, Dushanbe was founded in the 17th century. At that time, there was a kishlak on the site of the city. This kishlak had the same name as the modern capital of Tajikistan. This was a small settlement that emerged on the crossing of trading routes. Every Monday, a big and quite noisy bazaar opened in the kishlak. Perhaps, this is the reason why the settlement got its name. Until 1917, the settlement was a part of East Bukhara. At that time, this was a small province, which life changed drastically only in the 20s of the previous century.
The city and its suburbs are rich in attractions. The majority of tourists prefer to make a short ride to the village of Hisor that lies approximately 20 kilometers from Dushanbe. This settlement is famous for the Hisor Fortress or the ruins of the fortress, to be precise. In the past, this was a citadel with one-meter-thick walls. The building had special loopholes for cannons and rifles. Built on a hill, the fortress was always monitored by the guard. There was a pool and a beautiful garden behind the fortress doors. The square in front of the gorgeous building was a typical area of a popular bazaar, so this was a crowded and noisy place with active trade.
Nowadays, only the front gates of the fortress have survived. Built from burnt bricks, the gates could endure all troubles and challenges, and survive until the modern time in their full splendor. There are two cylindrical towers of the sides, and an arched construction connects the towers. Tourists in Dushanbe usually visit this fortress in order to see the traditional architecture of the past and feel the medieval atmosphere of this place.
Besides architectural landmarks, there are many natural attractions in the Dushanbe area. Do you like nature and animals? In this case, consider visiting one of the largest natural reserves - Tigrovaya Balka. This famous national park is situated approximately 170 kilometers away from Dushanbe. The area is home to very rare animals that are nearly extinct in other parts of the world. Besides that, only in Tigrovaya Balka, it is possible to see many rare species of plants. This is one of a few places in the world with the surviving Tugay flora or riparian forest ecosystem. This is exactly the place where the Tugay tiger was seen for the last time in 1958. Besides the unique ecosystem, Tigrovaya Balka is home to some rare animal species such as the Bukhara deer. This deer is nearly extinct and protected by the government.
The next attraction in Dushanbe will excite not only adults but also young guests of the city. In 1960, the city’s authorities founded a zoo. The area chosen for the zoo has an ideal location due to picturesque nature and dense bushes. For many years, the Dushanbe Zoo was the best in the USSR. In the 70s of the previous century, approximately 1060 animals lived here. After the collapse of the USSR, the zoological park was on the verge of closing because it had no financing.
The zoo’s staff took over all management activities. Nowadays, roughly six hundred animals live here. The zoo in Dushanbe has comfortable spacious areas for animals that mimic the natural habitat of different species. In this zoo, visitors can see the lion, jaguar, panther, black and brown bear, camel, wolf, jackal, fox, raccoon, owl, and Egyptian vulture. Besides them, there are many snakes, caimans, and lizards in the zoo. Indian elephants are among the most popular animals in the zoo.
It is easy to get to Dushanbe from Moscow. The direct flight lasts only four hours. Upon arrival at the airport, tourists can use public transport to get to the capital of Tajikistan. There are trolleys, buses, and minibuses that go in the right direction. Naturally, there are many taxi drivers who are always ready to take guests to the center of Dushanbe. Finally, it is possible to get to Dushanbe by train from certain countries.
Sightseeing in Tajikistan: things to see
During the prehistoric times, such ancient civilizations as Sogdia and Bactria existed in the territory of modern Tajikistan. During the second millennia BC, Aryan tribes settled in the mountain regions of the country. The Kushan Empire occupied this territory in the 1st – 4th centuries. Later, the Hephthalite Empire emerged in the same region. The reign of the first Iranian-Tajik dynasties started at the beginning of the 8th century. The reign of the Samanid dynasty was one of the most notable periods in the history of the country.
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