Natural and cultural sights of Dushanbe: description, interesting facts and recommendations

The capital of Tajikistan (Dushanbe) is a beautiful city, in which there are many interesting places for tourists and objects. You can learn more about them from this article.

City `s history

In the mountains at an altitude of about 800 m in the Hissar Valley there were three villages: Sari-Osiyo, Shohmansur and Dushanbe. In the latter there were about five hundred households, and in it, on Mondays, a big bazaar rumbled. So behind the village the name "Monday", or in Tajik "Dushanbe", was fixed. On the map the town appeared in 1875. Then it was a fortress in which about ten thousand people lived. But it already had quarters of artisans, caravanserais, mosques and even madrassas.

Current state

Today the capital of Tajikistan is a large, beautiful, spacious, sunny city, which stands near the majestic mountains of the Hissar Range. Sights of Dushanbe are concentrated mainly in the center, which is very convenient for the tourist. From the airport through the whole city passes the prospect of Rudaki. It is on it that all the sights of Dushanbe are located.

In this major political, economic and cultural center of the country are the Government and the Cabinet of Ministers, UN offices, the IMF, the OSCE and diplomatic missions of foreign countries.

Gardens and parks

Dushanbe is a green oasis that stretches over an area of more than 100 square kilometers. Km. It abounds in beautiful squares and parks, of which there are more than a dozen. The natural and cultural attractions of Dushanbe include the Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, which is located in the area of Ismail Somoni. It was created in 1933, and for 80 years the trees and bushes, planted by the first employees, have grown magnificently. From around the world, the exhibits of this garden were collected, many of them are now listed in the Red Book. Later, in the 1950s, greenhouses were built.

And in 2007 an ethnographic corner appeared on the territory of the garden. In it, under the open sky, traditional Tajik houses were recreated, which have long been built in different parts of the country. In addition, were installed old baths, mills, dairy.

In 2010, there were installed gazebos-aivans, which are made in the national style, and next to them are animal sculptures and benches.

One of the garden sections became a "city of crafts", where you can try products of national cuisine. There is also a corner of peacocks. These are all the specific attractions of Dushanbe, where you just need to go.

Hot city

Summer begins here in May and ends in October, so who's bored on the water, he can go to the water park "Dolphin", which is in the open. It has five swimming pools, two of which are children's pools. And also there are five slides for adults and mini slides for children. Waterpark should not be missed, visiting the sights of Dushanbe.

Zoo

It opened in the distant 1961. It includes expositions of rare animals, ponds with birds and a park zone.
Now the zoo maintains links with zoos in many countries and restores animal populations that died during the civil war in the 90s.

Theaters and museums

All these sights of Dushanbe have to be listed with a list. So there are a lot of them in the capital. Nevertheless, we will single out the national museum of Tajikistan (the museum of history and ethnography), in which there is a rich collection of antiquities (stone tools of ancient people who inhabited these territories), objects of medieval life, coins, ornaments. Those who visit this institution will learn more about the history of the people living in Tajikistan. This is one of the best museums in Asia. Another interesting museum is ethnography, which stores art samples of this amazing state: pottery, carpets, jewelry, musical instruments. In the Museum of Fine Arts you can see the works of the best artists and sculptors of the country.

In addition, you can go to the performance of the puppet theater "Luhtak" or the theater of opera and ballet. S. Aini. This building is built in a monumental classical style. Performances are in both Tajik and Russian.

Ballets do not require translation at all. Choreographers have already put "Giselle" and "Don Quixote". Performers are the best graduates of the Perm School.

Markets and Bazaars

To be in Central Asia and not to visit the bazaar? Yes, and this is impossible to imagine! There are many, of course, but the most colorful, cheerful and noisy today is considered "Shohmansur", or "Green Bazaar." Here you can buy absolutely everything: fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, spices, flat cakes, oriental sweets, skullcaps, silk dressing gowns with national embroidery, rolls of fabrics with national patterns.
You can also bargain, and some sellers themselves will give a discount. And almost all traders come in national costumes. Exotic impressions will suffice for a long time. We warn that all calculations are conducted only in the national currency - somoni.

Along the main street

The whole city from the airport crosses the motorway - Rudaki Avenue. On it you can walk or ride and see the squares, monuments, the best buildings of Dushanbe - sights. What to do, where to go? A good idea is a leisurely walk along the avenue and photographing.
The tourist will see the majestic memorial of Ismail Somoni, the square. Sadriddin Aini and him. Dusti, Putovsky Square (it houses the President's Palace, which is decorated with fountains and flower beds).

Leisure and fun in Dushanbe

Well, if the soul asks for modern entertainment, you can go to bowling, which is cozy and there is a cafe. Or the cinema "Tamasho", where they always show new films. Both the sound and the image quality in it are very good. Who wants to intensively warm up, he will go to the new sports gym "55 spirits." It is well complemented by a sauna and shower. And next to the puppet theater there is a children's park. It is nice to wander among the cleanliness and cozy well-kept greenery. And you can look into catering establishments and try national cuisine. It is very original. For example, sweet is served before eating. It turns out that in Tajikistan it is customary to eat dessert both before and during meals. The most popular place is a chaikhana "Rohat". In addition, you can go out of town and look at waterfalls in the Varzob Gorge or relax in a ski resort.

Interesting facts about Dushanbe

Only the city of Dushanbe in Tajikistan is divided into districts. There are four of them in it.

In 1966, a statue of Buddha was found in the Soviet SSR, which is now in the National Museum.

In the collection of the botanical garden more than four and a half thousand samples of flora. They are collected from all over the world.

Dushanbe has seventeen twin cities.

The architecture of the capital is very simple. It is dominated by low buildings, which were built in the 30-40's of the XX century.

In the vicinity of Dushanbe there is an ancient Gissar fortress. From it there was only a fragment in the style of Bukhara buildings of the XVIII-XIX centuries. There are two beautiful legends associated with it. Nearby grow two plane trees, which are not less than four hundred years old. And although the fortress is located 25 km from the capital, it is worth a visit on a non-hot day. These are authentic ancient sights of the city of Dushanbe.

How to get to Dushanbe

If you save time, it is better to take a plane in Moscow, in 4 hours and 20 minutes you will be in the capital of Tajikistan. From St. Petersburg the path is slightly longer - 5 hours. You can go by train and leisurely admire the country for more than four days.