- Regions
- Cities
- Other destinations
- [+]
Understand
- [+]
Get in
- [+]
Get around
- Talk
- Buy
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Learn
- Work
- Stay safe
- Stay healthy
- Respect
- Contact
- [+]
Cope
WARNING: Severe winter weather and energy crisis make travel inadvisable at this time. Electricity may be on for only a couple hours a day, at best.
Location
Flag
Quick Facts
Capital
Dushanbe
Government
Republic
Currency
Somoni (TJS)
Area
total: 143,100 km2
water: 400 km2
land: 142,700 km2
Population
6,719,567 (July 2002 est.)
Language
Tajik Persian (official), Russian is also an official language and most city-dwellers speak it better than they do Tajik.
Religion
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz
Calling Code
+992
Internet TLD
.tj
Time Zone
UTC +5
Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia that borders Afghanistan to the south, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west and northwest. The ancient Silk Road passed through it.
[edit] Regions
[edit] Cities
[edit] Other destinations
Pamir mountains, with passes between 3200 and 4500 meters, and Lake Karakol.
[edit] Understand
Map of Tajikistan
[edit] Climate
Midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
[edit] Terrain
The Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate Tajikistan's landscape. The western Fergana Valley is in north, and the Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in the southwest.
The country's lowest point is at Syr Darya (300 m), and it's highest point is at Qullai Ismoili Somoni (7,495 m)
[edit] History
Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government and a five-year civil war since it gained independence in 1991 from the USSR. A peace agreement among rival factions was signed in 1997, and implemented in 2000. The central government's less than total control over some areas of the country has forced it to compromise and forge alliances among factions. Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By car
Private cars and minivans run between Samarkand in Uzbekistan and Penjikent daily. From Osh in Kyrgyzstan minivans go to Murgab every few days for $15; hitch hiking on Kamaz trucks and ZIL petrol tankers is also possible anywhere enroute for $10.
[edit] By plane
There are flights from Moscow's Domodedovo airport to Dushanbe on Tajikistan Airlines, Domodedovo Airlines, and Samara Airlines. Tajikistan Airways flies Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kabul, Bishkek, Almaty, Sharjah and Istanbul. In the past, they have also flown to Urumchi and New Delhi. Turkish Airlines operates a popular twice-weekly flight to Istanbul (arrives in Dushanbe Monday and Thursday in the very early morning).
[edit] By bus
[edit] By boat
There is currently a ferry operating across the Pyanj river between Afghanistan and Tajikistan that costs roughly $10 one way. However, the opening of the U.S. funding bridge over the Pyanj will likely end this service, which crosses roughly three times per day and does not run on Sundays.
[edit] By train
The train to Moscow is popular with migrant workers. It crosses through Uzbekistan (twice) and Turkmenistan and takes around five days. Transit visas are required for all countries.
[edit] Get around
[edit] By minivan
Scheduled minivans run between the major cities but otherwise hiring a vehicle or sharing one with other passengers is the only way to travel around the country. Prices are generally per person, not for the vehicle and divided by the number of passengers.
[edit] By plane
As the country is broken into many isolated areas by mountain passes that are closed in winter travel during this time is by air only if the planes are flying. Tajik Air operates several daily flights to Khojand (between 35 and 70 minutes, depending on the plane) and Khorog, a thrilling plunge through mountain peaks. This flight does not go if it is windy. Tajik Air has no website, but ticket vendors next to the Green Market in Dushanbe can provide a reliable estimate of their timetable. Make sure you arrive early for your flight as they have been known to sell more tickets than there are seats. Also, passports and visas will be checked on domestic flights, so bring them with you.
Tajik is the main official language, but Russian is also an official language and most city-dwellers speak it better than Tajik. Tajik is useful for markets and cabdrivers. Even a few words will be appreciated.
Traditional Tajik padded coats. Comfortable and perfect for the colder weather in the mountains. The ensemble can be completed with a hat and sash.
Mercedes Benz (approx. $7000) cars and Land Cruisers from Dushanbe's Sunday Car Market. Also available russian cars, jeeps and minivans and an assortment of other models.
Vodka. Ruski Standard is the best one by far.
Rugs and carpets. The good ones are imported from Afghanistan or Uzbekistan.
Plov. The national dish is made with rice, beef or mutton and carrots.
Sambusa (samosas)
Take care with street food and do NOT eat unwashed produce. It's best to soak the produce in distilled water and cook thoroughly.
Green tea. Tajiks customarily pour a small amount out three times and return it to the pot.
Compote. A distilled fruit punch.
Sleeping options in Tajikistan include the following:
Hotels.
In Dushanbe there are a small number of large hotels. Most are ex-soviet era and tend to be over priced and in poor condition. There are a couple of newly built hotels offering western standards of accommodation for around $70 per room.
MSDSP Guesthouses,
The Aga Khan's Mountain Societies Development Support Programme has a network of guesthouses in places like Kalaikhum and Khorog, offering a good standard of accommodation. Full board is around $40 per person
Formal Homestays.
The French NGO ACTED is establishing a network of Homestays in the Pamir region, around Murgab, For around $10 per person per night you get a comfortable bed in a family home. The facilities may be basic, i.e. no running water and an outside toilet, but guests can expect comfortable clean rooms, good local food and a very warm welcome.
Independent Guesthouses.
In Dushanbe, Khorog and Murghab there are a small, but growing number of independent guesthouses. These are similar in standard and price to the ACTED homestays.
[edit] Stay safe
Some factional fighting spilling over from nearby Afghanistan (as well as local warlordism) still occurs in Tajikistan. Visitors should keep abreast of the security situation and not take any unneccessary risks.
[edit] Stay healthy
DO NOT drink the tap water. There is no working purification system and outbreaks of typhoid and cholera are common.
[edit] Respect
Tajikistan is a somewhat conservative society. Women should be fairly modest in public.
[edit] Contact
[edit] Embassies
United States - 109A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Zarafshon, Dushanbe 734019, tel: +992-37-229-23-00, fax: +992-37-229-2309. The consular section is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on U.S. and Tajik holidays.
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