Tajikistan

Tajikistan
Tajikistan is the smallest country in Central Asia, bordered by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Afghanistan. The main directions in the economy: agriculture and energy. Tajikistan has a huge tourism potential, but it is not fully realized, therefore the flow of tourists here is much lower than in neighboring country. Tajikistan was inhabited even before our era, when Bactria and Sogdiana, two ancient countries, were located on its territory. Like other countries in Central Asia, Tajikistan has a rich culture and was part of the Great Silk Road.
There are lakes and rivers on the territory of Tajikistan, and it is located in the foothills of the Pamirs, which greatly affects the climate. The average maximum temperature is not high here, and the daily fluctuations are significant. The climate is subtropical with low precipitation and little cloudiness. The Tajikistan relief will be of interest to tourists who prefer active rest, long walks and conquest of mountain peaks, there are several mountains of seven thousand meters.
Due to its small area, the infrastructure is developed in large cities, and the most of the population lives in small towns and villages. A tourist in Tajikistan should contact travel agencies, as independent travel may not be comfortable.

Dushanbe.
The capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe, the administrative center of the country. In the status of the capital, Dushanbe differs from other cities in the country with a well-developed infrastructure, road and rail transport are available. In addition, a trolleybus line operates in Dushanbe. Dushanbe is a “young” city and therefore there are no ancient architectural monuments on its territory. But the city is the place of the largest library in Central Asia, four large museums, theaters, including a puppet theater. The city attracts tourists who are accustomed to rest in the city, closer to civilization.
Khujand.
The second most important and largest city in Tajikistan is Khujand. Khujand was founded in the 7th century BC, according to one version, by the Persians. Thanks to its favorable location at the crossroads of caravan roads leading from Samarkand, the city has become a strategic point. The city did not change its location, but only grew, therefore, some architectural landmarks remained on its territory: The Citadel of Khujand, which remained from the old city, an Orthodox church of the 19th century, an architectural complex with the Masjidi Jami mosque, built in the 16th century.
Penjikent.
Real antiquity awaits the tourist 270 kilometers from Khujand, in the city of Penjikent, where excavations began in the middle of the 20th century. By itself, Penjikent is a village with a population of barely more than forty thousand people, but the findings on its territory were very valuable. The settlement of Sarazm, the oldest settlement in Central Asia, where people lived four thousand years ago, was found 15 kilometers from the city. And to the east of the city, archaeologists found an ancient settlement, where they managed to find more than 3,000 ancient coins, as well as kitchen utensils, tools and other handicraft products.
Marguzor lakes and Iskandarkul.
The geography of Tajikistan implies more ecological tourism, and excursions to the Marguzor Lakes are especially popular. There are seven lakes in the chain, of which the largest and most beautiful is Lake Marguzor. Thanks to the water, the surroundings are rich in vegetation and pleasant coolness, contrasting with the general rather hot climate. For those wishing to travel more extreme, excursions to Iskandarkul are organized. Iskandarkul is a high-mountainous lake and due to the low temperature, it is not recommended for swimming. The lake bears its name in honor of Alexander the Great, who, according to legend, camped here. Also, legends say that sometimes at night you can see Bucephalus, the horse of the legendary commander, coming out of the lake.