'''Tajikistan''' is a landlocked country in Central Asia that borders Afghanistan to the south, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and Uzbekistan to the west and northwest. The ancient Silk Road passed through it.

Regions

  • Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* (Khorugh)
  • Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa)
  • Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
  • Viloyathoi Tobei Markaz (Dushanbe)
  • Cities

  • Dushanbe - Tajikistan's capital
  • Khorugh
  • Qurghonteppa
  • Khujand
  • Other destinations

  • Pamir mountains, with passes between 3200 and 4500 meters, and Lake Karakol.
  • Penjikent, a town next to the border, 70km from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with ruins of an ancient city.
  • Zeravshan valley including the Fan Mountains, one of Central Asia's prime trekking and climbing destinations.
  • Understand

    Climate

    Mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in the Pamir Mountains.

    Terrain

    The Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate Tajikistan's landscape. The western Fergana Valley is in north, and the Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys are 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)

    History

    The region covering today's Tajikistan was part the of Persian empires for much of its history. This region has been an important place for flourishing Persian culture and language.

    In recent history, Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government and a five-year civil war since it gained independence from the USSR in 1991. 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.

    Get in

    Visas

    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.

    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). Tajikistan Airlines operates a domestic flight from Dushanbe to Khujand and costs approximately 75 USD. There are flights twice per week from Urumqi, China to Dushanbe, for about $350 one-way.

    By bus

    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.

    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.

    Get around

    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.

    SUV's can be hired and leave daily from Khujand's large minibus terminal located just outside the city. Prices are negotiable but should be in the range 60 USD per person. Assure the vehicle is fit for long road travel, inspect spare tire.

    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 [http://tajikair.tj/] 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. 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. Also, passports and visas will be checked on domestic flights, so bring them with you.

    Talk

    Tajik-Persian is the main official language. Russian is also useful in most cities and it is normal to hear Russian in the streets of Dushanbe. Some people use Russian as their language. Tajik-Persian is useful for markets and cabdrivers. Even a few words will be appreciated. Tajik dialect of Persian is intelligible for the Persian-speakers of Iran and Afghanistan.

    Buy

  • 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, 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.
  • Food in Tajikistan is very different than food in the Middle East or in East Asia. It is very much Russian influenced. If you like Russian food, you will probably have a good culinary experience. If you find Russian food bland, you may have a rough time here.

    Eat

  • Plov. The national dish is made with rice, beef or mutton, and carrots.
  • Sambusa (baked pastries)
  • Shashlik (shish-kebab). Grilled-on-cole fish, liver, chicken, mutton and beef.
  • Tushbera soup(like ravioli, pasta with meat in)
  • Ugro soup (handmade spagetti soup served with cheese cream and basilic)
  • Jiz-biz (fired freshcut lamb or mutton on its own juice)
  • Dolma (steamed roles with grape leafs and meat inside, served with soure cream and red pepper
  • Mantu (steamed pasta with meat inside, served with soure cream and fired onions.
  • Shurbo (fresh vegetable soup with lamb or beef, served with green onion and basilic)
  • Many types of bread like chappoti, kulcha, non, fatir, qalama etc.
  • Damlama - like English stew, steamed lamb or beef with vegetables in its own juice.
  • Khash - soup with sheeps' legs and arms, joints and tendons.
  • Yammy-yammy!

    Take care with street food and do NOT eat unwashed vegetables and fruits. It's best to soak them in distilled water and cook thoroughly.

    Drink

  • Green tea. Tajiks customarily pour a small amount out three times and return it to the pot.
  • Compote. A distilled fruit punch.
  • Sleep

    Sleeping options in Tajikistan include the following:

    '''Hotels.''' In Dushanbe, there are a small number of large hotels. The Hyat Regency just built recently and opens doors in March 2009. Another one of big hotels is "Tajikistan" (recently renovated), located in the central city. 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 from $70 to $220 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 are 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.

    '''Online Accomodation (couchsurfing).'''

    Many cities of Tajikistan offer free accomodation in homestays through the couchsurfing.com

    Learn

    Books can be ordered through Amazon. Internet access is unrestricted.

    Work

    At embassies, NGOs [http://www.wango.org/resources.aspx?section=ngodir#tab2], some hotels. A few hundred expatriates live in Dushanbe. Several ads each week in the electronic newsletter ''WhatsOnInDushanbe''. For investors, ''cf.'' [http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/?economyid=184] and similar publications.

    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. After sunset, it is not advisable to walk around outside alone; and generally do not travel unaccompanied to rural areas. Any concern you should have during your stay in Tajikistan, please write about as soon as possible it to your embassy or the European Commission ? External Relations Directorate General in B-1049 Brussels [roselyne.mancheron@cec.eu.int].

    Stay healthy

    DO NOT drink tap water. There is no working purification system, and outbreaks of typhoid and cholera (rarely) are common. Other preventable endemic illnesses are hepatitis A, rabies, poliomyelitis and tick-borne encephalitis. The occasional anthrax case comes in, but it's rare nowadays. There are, during the hot season, a few pockets where malaria can occur. There is now an English-speaking comprehensive primary care clinic in operation by the name of Prospekt Medical [http://www.prospektclinic.com], right ''behind'' the Embassy of China. In the Pamir mountains, the risk of altitude sickness is substantial - one may read up on this here: [http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/altitude.html] (in English) or [http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Laenderinformationen/01-Laender/Gesundheitsdienst/download/HoehenkrankheitMerkblatt.pdf] (in German). In case of ANY accident, call your embassy. Health insurance and medical evacuation insurance are recommended.

    Longer stays may consider the hiring of private drivers and home security guards. Rent out secure known owners places. [http://www.tajikistanservices.com]

    Respect

    Tajikistan is a somewhat conservative society. Women should be fairly modest in public. Although some Tajiks can be extremely friendly, it is not uncommon for people to be equally rude. While this is a Persian-speaking country, do not expect the red carpet treatment that tourists receive in Iran and Afghanistan.

    Contact

    Cope

    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.