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Dushanbe
"With the arrival of the railroad in 1929, Dushanbe was made capital of the new Soviet Tajik republic and renamed Stalinabad – a name it bore until the historical reinvention of the Khrushchev era. The region was developed as a cotton- and silk-processing centre and tens of thousands of people were relocated here, turning the rural village into a large, urban administrative and industrial centre. The city’s numbers were further swollen by Tajik émigrés from Bukhara and Samarkand, which had been given over to Uzbek rule."
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Gain More Background About the Country
"Tajikistan is a mountainous, landlocked country in Central Asia with an estimated population of 8.7 million people as of 2016, and an area of 55,300 square miles. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. Traditional homelands of Tajik people included present-day Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan."
"Tajikistan, or Tajik SSR as it was known, was one of 15 republics that made up the USSR, or the Soviet Union. They controlled the area until Tajikistan gained its independence in 1991."
"With over 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line, food is scarce. A basic breakfast consists of tea and bread. A wealthy family may eat butter and jam and perhaps eggs or porridge. Soup often is served for dinner; it may contain a soup bone with meat, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Osh, a rice dish made with carrots, onions and meat, is served two or three times a week. At other times pasta, meat- and onion-filled pastries, and tomato and cucumber salads may be served. All meals are accompanied with large rounds of flat bread."
Start Preparing for Your Trip
Quick Facts: Entry & Exit, Safety & Security
Vaccinations: Routine vaccinations, Hepatitis A, Typhoid
Visas: Required
What to Pack: "If you go to the high mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, it can get quite cold."
Khujand
"One of the most ancient cities of Central Asia, Khujand lay along the great Silk Road from China to Europe. It was captured by the Arabs in the 8th century, by Genghis Khan’s forces in the 13th century, and by the Russians in 1866. It is now the second-largest city of Tajikistan."
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Resources
Tourist Information Site: Plan Your Trip
Articles. Books. Activities
Where to Go
My Thoughts: The easiest way to get around and see everything you want to see, may be on a tour or with a hired driver. The roads can be rough, unpaved, steep, and winding. Organizing some of the events (hikes, rural country stays) on your own can also be a bit more of a challenge. Once you get here though, this is a great place to enjoy the countryside, meet locals, and experience a land less discovered by tourists (as of yet). Now is a good time to go if you want to get off the beaten path (and take some great hikes!). Enjoy!
Enjoy a Little Tajikistan from Home
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