Brief information
Of course, Tajikistan is not such a major center of tourism as, for example, Turkey. However, this does not mean that Tajikistan has nothing to surprise foreigners with. Tourists are attracted to this country by high mountains (Pamir, Tien Shan), beautiful nature, medieval cities, sights, as well as ancient traditions and customs that have been preserved intact in secluded corners since ancient times. The descendants of the soldiers of the army of Alexander the Great, who once conquered this country, still live in the mountains of Tajikistan. As you can see, tourists in Tajikistan have a great opportunity to get acquainted with ancient history.
Geography
Tajikistan is located in Central Asia. Tajikistan borders China in the east, Kyrgyzstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the west, and Afghanistan in the south. This country has no access to the sea. The total area of Tajikistan is 143,100 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 3,651 km.
Almost the entire territory of Tajikistan is occupied by mountains. Moreover, more than 50% of the country is located at an altitude of over 3 thousand meters above sea level. Only about 7% of Tajikistan is small valleys (for example, in the north of the country, part of the Ferghana Valley). The highest peak in Tajikistan is the peak of Ismoil Samoni, whose height reaches 7,495 m.
The largest rivers in Tajikistan are the Syr Darya in the north of the country, the Amu Darya, the Zarafshan and the Pyanj. This Central Asian country has several beautiful lakes. The largest of them is the fresh lake Karakul, whose area is 380 square meters. km.
Capital of Tajikistan
According to itypemba.com, the capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe, which is now home to more than 750 thousand people. According to archaeologists, an urban settlement on the territory of modern Dushanbe already existed in the 3rd century BC.
Official language
In Tajikistan, the official language is Tajik, and Russian has the status of a language of interethnic communication.
Religion
About 98% of the population of Tajikistan is Muslim (95% are Sunnis, and the remaining 3% are Shiites).
State structure
According to equzhou.net, Tajikistan is a parliamentary republic headed by the President.
The bicameral parliament in Tajikistan is called the Majlisi Oli RT, it consists of the House of Representatives (63 deputies) and the National Council (33 people).
The main political parties in Tajikistan are the People’s Democratic Party, the Communist Party of Tajikistan, the Socialist Party and the Agrarian Party.
Climate and weather
The climate in Tajikistan is diverse – sharply continental, subtropical (in the south-west of the country) and semi-desert, arid. In summer the air temperature is +30-40С, and in winter – -8-10С. Half of the territory of Tajikistan is occupied by the highest mountains in Central Asia – the Pamirs. There is a lot of snow in the mountains of Tajikistan. The average annual rainfall in Tajikistan varies depending on the region from 700 mm to 1600 mm per year.
The best time for hiking in the mountains of Tajikistan is summer. Winter in Tajikistan is usually mild, but the passes are closed due to snowfalls.
In turn, the best time to visit flat Tajikistan is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).
Rivers and lakes
Tajikistan is the smallest country in Central Asia, and most of its territory (over 90%) is occupied by mountains. However, there are almost 950 rivers and a large number of lakes in Tajikistan. The largest rivers are the Syr Darya in the north of the country, the Amu Darya, Zarafshan and Pyanj, and from the lakes, the fresh Karakul Lake and Sarez Lake in the Pamirs should be distinguished.
Story
People on the territory of modern Tajikistan, according to archaeologists, lived already in the Stone Age. The central, southern and eastern parts of modern Tajikistan in ancient times were part of the slave state of Bactria, and the areas north of the Gissar Range belonged to the slave state of Sogd.
Later, these lands were conquered by Alexander the Great and his Greeks, then they became part of the Seleucid state. And this is only a small part of the states that included modern Tajikistan. After all, Tajikistan was still conquered by the Kushan kingdom, the Turkic Khaganate, the state of the Karakhanids, the Tatar-Mongol empire, the state of the Sheibanids. In 1868 Tajikistan was annexed to the Russian Empire.
After the revolution of 1917 in Russia, the Tajik ASSR was formed on the territory of Tajikistan as part of the Uzbek SSR. In 1929, the Tajik ASSR was transformed into one of the republics of the Soviet Union.
Only in 1991 Tajikistan declared its independence.
Culture
Tajiks sacredly honor their national traditions and pass them on from generation to generation. Until now, Tajiks (especially in villages) wear national clothes. Men prefer embroidered robes and hats, while women prefer embroidered dresses with trousers and headscarves. Girls, according to tradition, should have 40 braids.
Tajiks celebrate all Muslim religious holidays, as well as two public holidays – Independence Day (September 9) and Memorial Day (February 12).
Kitchen
Tajiks are rightfully proud of their national cuisine. Of course, Tajik cuisine is similar to the cuisine of other Central Asian countries, but it has its own characteristics, expressed in the methods of cooking, food processing, and, of course, in taste.
Tajiks are very careful about bread (cakes). In Tajikistan, bread cannot be thrown away and dropped on the floor. Bread cannot be cut – it must be carefully broken. Be prepared for the fact that there are a lot of spices, herbs and onions in Tajik dishes.
Tajiks eat sitting around a low table – dastarkhan. Lunch always starts with tea, which is always drunk from bowls.
Meat dishes in Tajikistan are prepared from lamb or goat meat (Tajiks are Muslims and therefore they do not eat pork). Very popular among Tajiks is sausage made from horsemeat – “kazy”. Before cooking, the meat is always fried until brown.
In Tajikistan, we recommend tourists to try the local lamb shish kebab (classic Tajik shish kebab is sprinkled with lemon juice after cooking and served with baked tomatoes), fried meat “kaurdak”, Tajik cabbage rolls “shakhlet” (lamb meat with rice, served in sour cream sauce).
Plov takes pride of place in Tajik cuisine. There are five most popular pilaf recipes in Tajikistan – Tajik pilaf, meat ball pilaf (“gelak palov”), Dushanbe pilaf (minced lamb), chicken pilaf, and noodle pilaf (“ugro”). Tajiks usually add quince, dried fruits, peas and garlic to pilaf.
From sweet dishes in Tajikistan, we advise you to try puff pastries, “nishallo” (a creamy mass of sugar, beaten egg whites), as well as “pichak” sweets and halva.
Traditional soft drinks are green tea, katyk sour milk and sherbets (fruit drinks with sugar).
Tajiks usually drink green tea in summer and black tea in winter. Traditionally, in Tajikistan, sugar is not added to tea. Tajiks often drink “shirchai” – tea with milk. Butter and salt are also added to shirchai. The inhabitants of the Pamirs add goat’s milk, butter and salt to tea – it turns out “sher tea”.
Sights of Tajikistan
There are several thousand unique historical, architectural and archaeological monuments in Tajikistan. Now the authorities of Tajikistan are allocating significant funds for the restoration and restoration of archaeological and architectural monuments.
The Top 10 best sights in Tajikistan, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Hissar fortress near Dushanbe
- Mausoleum of Khoja Mashad near Kurgan-Tube
- Buddhist monastery Ajina-Tepe
- Mausoleum of Sheikh Massala in Khujand
- Ruins of the Zoroastrian temple Ak-Tepa
- Mausoleum of Makhdumi Azam in the Gissar Valley
- The ruins of the Kaahka fortress
- The ruin of the Sogdian city of Panjikent
- Sangin Mosque in the Gissar Valley
- Settlement of Sarazm near Panjikent
Cities and resorts
The largest cities in Tajikistan are Khujand, Khorog, Kulyab, Kurgan-Tyube, and, of course, the capital, Dushanbe.
Most tourists come to Tajikistan for the sake of local sights and mountains – Pamir is known all over the world. In addition, tourists in Tajikistan are attracted by beautiful nature and reserves, parks, natural monuments – Tigrovaya Balka, Dashtijum Reserve, Ramit, “Valley of Forty Girls”, Rangkul Cave.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists from Tajikistan usually bring folk art products, fabrics, scarves, scarves, women’s bags, ceramics, carpets, chinaware, jewelry, traditional musical instruments, traditional hats, slippers and much more.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-18:00
Shops:
Mon-Fri: 08:00-18:00
Visa
Ukrainians do not need to apply for a visa to visit Tajikistan (if the trip does not exceed 90 days).
Currency
The official currency in Tajikistan is somoni (international designation: TJS). One somoni = 100 dirams. Credit cards are not common.
Customs restrictions
You can bring into Tajikistan no more than 5 thousand dollars (or equivalent). The same amount of foreign currency can be taken out of Tajikistan. But it is generally forbidden to import or export local currency in Tajikistan.
When exporting from Tajikistan, jewelry gold items must be included in the declaration.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Address of the Embassy of Tajikistan in Ukraine:
Index: 01014, Kiev, st. Piryatinskaya 4, T:
(044) 280-52-00
mail: [email protected]
The interests of Ukraine in Tajikistan are represented by the Embassy of Ukraine in Uzbekistan:
Index: 700000, Tashkent, st. Ya.Gulyamova, 68
T: (8 1099871)
236-08-12 mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
101 – Fire brigade
call 102 – Police call
103 – Ambulance call
Time
The difference with time in Kyiv is +3 hours. those. if in Dushanbe, for example, it is 09:00, then in Kyiv it is only 06:00.
Tips
Tipping is not common in Tajikistan. Some restaurants in this country include a service charge (10%) on the bill.
The medicine
To visit Tajikistan, you do not need to do mandatory vaccinations. However, doctors still recommend getting vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, malaria, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid before traveling to this country.
Security
Tajikistan cannot, of course, be called the safest country in the world for tourists. However, if you respect the traditions and religion of the Tajiks, then traveling around Tajikistan is quite safe. Tajiks are hospitable and sympathetic people. Women are advised to dress modestly in Tajikistan, but they are not required to wear a headdress.
