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Introduction
Tajikistan (in Tajik: Тоҷикистон Toçikiston), officially the Republic of Tajikistan (Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон Çumhuriji Toçikiston), is a country located in Central Asia. Borders with Afghanistan to the south, with the People's Republic of China to the east, with Kyrgyzstan north and with Uzbekistan to West.
Tajikistan —Officially the Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked sovereign country located in central Asia. Borders with Afghanistan to the south, with the People's Republic of China to the east, with Kyrgyzstan north and with Uzbekistan to West.
Understand
Weather
Mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; from semi-arid to polar in the Pamir Mountains.
Ground
Its territory has numerous mountain ranges and mountain ranges, including the Tian Shan and the Pamir.
To the north it culminates in the Ismail Samani Peak (formerly Communism Peak) at 7,495 m altitude above the glacier-covered valleys, whose surface covers more than 8,000 km². To the south, the terrain is formed by high plateaus that exceed 4,000 m, from which mountain ranges emerge that reach 6,000 m.
In addition to the Ismail Samani peak, other important elevations are the Lenin (7,174 m), the Korzhenevskaya (7,105 m), the Independencia (6,974 m), the Karl Marx (6,726 m) and the Mayakovski (6,096 m).
History
The region that covers present-day Tajikistan was part of the Persian empires for much of its history. This region has been an important place for the flourishing of Persian culture and language.
Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government and a five-year civil war since gaining independence from the USSR in 1991. A peace accord between rival factions was signed in 1997 and implemented in 2000. Less than full control of the central government over Some areas of the country have forced him to compromise and forge alliances between factions. The international community's attention in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought with it increased assistance for economic development, which could create jobs and increase long-term stability.
While Tajikistan's economy grew substantially after the war, in 2014 Tajikistan was the world's economy most reliant on remittances, with remittances accounting for 49% of GDP. Besides aluminum, which accounts for more than half the value of exports, the main export products are cotton, electricity, fruits, vegetable oils and textiles. Drug trafficking is an important source of income in Tajikistan.
Today, most prospects for change are evident to help the country recover, although many of these measures are proving ineffective and unsatisfactory.
Regions
Ferghana Valley
| The notoriously unstable, yet fascinating and culturally vibrant region of Central Asia spans three countries in one of the world's most complicated geographic-political confusion. |
Karategin
| The heart of Tajikistan, home to the capital Dushanbe. |
Khatlon
| The diverse province of southwestern Tajikistan and the center of the rebellion that led to Tajikistan's disastrous post-Soviet civil war. |
Pamir
| One of the highest mountainous regions in the world, with soaring landscapes, trekking, climbing and an incredible journey through the Pamir highway. |
Zeravshan
| Beautiful valleys amid the majestic Fan Mountains and ancient ruins of Panjakent. |
Cities
- Dushanbe - the capital and largest city by far.
- Isfara - an ancient city on the Silk Road in the center of the Ferhghana valley on the border with Kyrgyzstan.
- Istaravshan - an ancient city that is home to the famous and beautiful Abdullatif Madrasa and Mosque.
- Khorugh - largest city and gateway to the Pamirs.
- Khujand - the center of the Ferghana Valley region in Tajikistan and the second largest city in the country.
- Konibodom: in the heart of the Ferghana valley, on the border with Uzbekistan.
- Kulob: the third largest city in the country.
- Qurghonteppa: Khatl's largest city and the political heart of the rebellion in Tajikistan's last civil war.
- Tursunzoda: an aluminum city west of Dushanbe on the road and rail to Uzbekistan.
To get
Visas
Nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia and Ukraine do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days.
Following the trends of other Central Asian countries, visas are becoming easier to obtain, especially for nationals of wealthy countries. This policy is designed to stimulate tourism activity in Tajikistan. It is no longer necessary to register with OVIR for tourist visits of less than 30 days. Invitation letters are no longer needed on arrival at Dushanbe airport, but are needed to arrange a visa from the UK and US embassies.
As of July 2016, 45-day evisas have been available at www.evisa.tj for $ 50 to citizens of most wealthy countries. You can apply for a GBAO permit along with the evisa for an additional $ 20. The evisa can be used at all land borders and airports, and is normally approved within two business days. Some people have reported initial problems with the evisa system (see Caravanistan), but for the most part the system works fine and saves a page in their passport. Remember to print the e-visa prior to arrival, they will not accept a digital copy. Black and white is fine.
Visas must have been applied for in advance at Tajikistan embassies, online (see above) or can be purchased upon arrival at Dushanbe airport. However, these visas are now only available to citizens of countries that do not have a Tajikistan embassy. To save time, you can complete and print a form prior to your arrival [1]. Better to use the Tajik form, bring two passport photos, a handful of photocopies of your passport, and cash. The process takes about 10 minutes. The tourist visa in Tajikistan costs US $ 25 at Dushanbe International Airport and at consular representatives abroad. A separate permit is required if you want to travel to the GBAO region. It is easily obtained when applying for a visa or in Dushanbe, the cost is US $ 50 locally or at consulates in Central Asia, but it is generally free in Europe.
If you cross a land border, obtain a visa prior to arrival. The embassies in Vienna and London are the most professional. You may have difficulty obtaining a visa at some consulates that will simply say “get it at the airport” (eg Kabul), which is not helpful if you want to arrive by land.
By plane
The national airline Tajik Air and the new private airline Somon Air are the two airlines in the country. From Dushanbe, flights are available to numerous cities in Russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Sochi, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Perm, Krasnoyarsk, Orenburg, Irkutsk, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, Kazan, and Yekaterinburg. Destinations within Central Asia include Bishkek, Almaty, Ürümqi, and Kabul.
Apart from Russia, the main international destinations to / from Tajikistan are:
- Istanbul - Turkish Airlines, Somon Air
- Dubai / Sharjah - Somon Air, Tajik Air
- Frankfurt - Somon Air
- Tehran - Somon Air, Iran Aseman Airlines
Somon Air plans to add services to China in the future.
Khujand Airport serves a dozen Russian cities via 8 airlines plus a weekly China Southern Airlines flight to Urumqi.
By car
While relations with Uzbekistan are the best among Tajikistan's neighbors, it is the most heavily traveled by travelers and the roads to these crossings are in much better condition than those leading to Kyrgyzstan or Afghanistan. As of 2010, Tajik vehicles were not allowed into Uzbekistan and Uzbek vehicles had to pay heavy fees to enter Tajikistan. Therefore, your trip may require taking one vehicle to the border and taking another after crossing the border. The journey from Tashkent to Khujand takes about two and a half hours and is often done by private cars and marshrutkas (minibuses) that will take you for a small fee (less than US $ 10). The short trip (60 km) from Samarkand, Uzbekistan to Penjikent is also frequently traveled by private cars and marshrutkas. As of July 2012, the border crossing near Penjikent is closed due to tense relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. If you want to go to Samarkand from Khujand, you have to cross the border at Oybek post (250 km from Samarkand). There are marshrutkas and taxis from Khujand to Oybek. Taxis cost from 50 to 100 somonis depending on the time of day.
In the winter months, snow blocks the passes that connect Dushanbe with northern Tajikistan. To travel to Dushanbe during these months, you need to head south and cross from Termez, which will take you through the west and south sides of the mountains and take you to Dushanbe.
From Kyrgyzstan, there are a couple of options, mainly from Oshy none makes a very smooth journey. The rugged and remote Pamir Highway (see next paragraph) is the slowest, but the most popular. From the Sary-Tash junction, a road leads west for 500 km through the Karategin valley to Dushanbe. A bit bumpy near the border, but not as bumpy as the Pamir Highway. As of May 2019, the border (which crosses the border near the town of Kara-Myk) is completely closed to foreigners. The reasons for this are speculative, but according to locals, there are some villages near the border with extremist activity and foreigners are not welcome; better not go anywhere, or at least be discreet if you do. A third option is from the Batken region to Isfara. This road passes through several Uzbek enclaves and used to be a complicated process that required multiple entry visas.
A scenic, if bumpy, journey to Tajikistan is via the Pamir Highway, which runs from Osh to Khorog and Dushanbe. Virtually the only road in the GBAO region, this route runs from smooth asphalt filled with buses and trucks to a single-lane road carved out of a cliff. The border crossing is at 4280 m and its peak at Ak-Baital pass at 4,655 m. The journey takes 2-3 days from Osh-Khorog and three on the more rugged stretch from Khorog to Dushanbe, longer if you want to stop and enjoy the scenery. Minivans travel the route from Osh to Murghab every few days for USD15; It is also possible to hitchhike on Kamaz trucks and ZIL gasoline tankers anywhere on the route for $ 10. 4-wheel drive is necessary and large portions of the road are impassable in winter and frequently blocked by landslides. in spring.
The United States has funded a couple of bridges connecting Tajikistan to Afghanistan. The Qurghonteppa, Kulob and Dushanbe roads lead to the main junction at Nizhnii Pyanj. From there, a road leads south to Kunduz, which, in 2010, was a Taliban stronghold in northern Afghanistan. There is a bridge in Khorog that leads to Feizabad, Afghanistan, as well as some hilly roads in other parts of the GBAO that lead to Afghanistan.
In 2004 a border crossing with China was opened. The junction and connecting roads connect the Pamir Highway with the Karakorum Highway and provide a link to Kashgar (Kashi) to the north and Pakistan to the south. As of 2010, it remains closed to foreigners.
Boat
A ferry operates across the Pyanj River between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and costs approximately US $ 10 each way. However, the opening of the US-funded bridge over the Pyanj will likely end this service, which crosses about three times a day and does not operate on Sundays.
By train
There are two international connections to Tajikistan: Moscow-Dushanbe (2 per week) and Moscow-Khujand (one per week), both visible on the Russian Railways website. Passengers are only supposed to board them at stations in Russia and Kazakhstan. There are only service stops in Uzbek and Turkmen territory. Trains to Moscow are popular with migrant workers.
The Moscow-Khujand train it crosses Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, so the respective transit visas are simply needed.
The Moscow-Dushanbe train It takes about five days and re-crosses Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The part of Turkmenistan is practically inaccessible for non-Tajik citizens, as Turkmenistan does not issue transit visas "from-then-again-to Uzbekistan" and a standard non-transit visa would be needed (Tajiks do not need any documents to transit through Turkmenistan with this train). In principle, you could leave the train before it enters Turkmenistan, take a bus / taxi and re-board it once you re-enter Uzbekistan.
Travel
By minivan or shared taxi
Timed minivans circulate between the main cities, but the only way to travel around the country is to rent a vehicle or share it with other passengers. Prices are generally per person, not per vehicle, and are divided by the number of passengers.
SUVs can be hired and depart daily from the large Khujand minibus terminal located on the outskirts of the city. Prices are negotiable, but should be in the range of US $ 60 per person. Check that the vehicle is suitable for long road trips and inspect the spare tire.
By plane
As the country is divided into many isolated areas by mountain passes that are closed in winter, travel during this time is only by air, if the planes are flying. Tajik Air and Somon Air operate several daily flights to Khojand (between 35 and 70 minutes, depending on the plane) and Khorog, a thrilling dive through the mountain peaks. This flight does not leave if it is windy. The ticket sellers next to the Green Market in Dushanbe can provide a reliable estimate of their hours. Make sure to arrive early for your flight. Also, passports and visas will be verified on domestic flights, so please bring them with you.
By train
The Tajikistan Railways do not have a website. There are two confirmed trains operating in Tajikistan: Moscow-Dushanbe (2 per week) and Moscow-Khujand (one per week) that can be taken locally. Both schedules can be accessed through the Russian Railways website. There are 2 trains every week (Tuesday and Saturday) from Dushanbe via Qurgonteppa to Kulob (departs Dushanbe at 08:00). There are also 2 trains a week from Dushanbe via Qurgonteppa to Shahrtuz. The rolling stock is still the old Soviet. The trains are very slow, often only at 25 km / h, but they are a good opportunity to meet local people and enjoy the scenery. Photographing train stations and rolling stock is prohibited.
To buy
Money
| Exchange Rates for Tajik Somoni As of March 2020:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com |
The Somoni (Tajik: сомонӣ) is the national currency. It is subdivided into 100 diram (Tajik: дирам). Wikivoyage uses the ISO international currency code TJS placed before the amount on all of our items. However, when you buy locally, you can see a variety of notations placed before or after the quantity.
Banknotes come in TJS1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 denominations and you can find TJS0.05, TJS0.10, TJS0.20, TJS0.25, TJS0.25, TJS0.50, Coins TJS1, TJS3 and TJS5 in circulation.
There are not many ATMs even in Dushanbe, and it is especially difficult to get money with Maestro / Mastercard. Therefore, it may be a good idea to have US dollars or euros to exchange at a bank. 500 somoni banknote
Shopping
- Traditional padded coats from Tajikistan. Comfortable and perfect for the coldest weather in the mountains. The set can be completed with a hat and sash.
- Mercedes Benz cars (~ US $ 7,000) and Land Cruisers from the Dushanbe Sunday Car Market. Also available: Russian cars, jeeps, minivans and a variety of other models.
- Vodka. Ruski Standard is the best by far.
- Carpets and tapestries. The good ones are imported from Afghanistan or Uzbekistan.
Eat and drink
To eat
The food in Tajikistan is a cross between that of Central Asia and that of Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with a bit of Russian influence. If you like Russian food, you will probably have a good culinary experience. If Russian food seems bland to you, you may be having a hard time here.
- Plov: The national dish is made with rice, beef or lamb and carrots. All fried in vegetable oil or lamb fat in a special qazan (wok-shaped cauldron) over an open flame. The meat is cut into cubes, the carrots are finely cut into long strips, and the rice is dyed yellow or orange by frying the carrots and oil. The plate is eaten in community from a single large plate placed in the center of the table. Plov is generally known as "osh" in Tajikistan.
- Qurutob is a traditional dish that is still eaten with the hands on a common plate. Vegetables and puff pastry in a sauce type yogurt. Before serving the dish is covered with onions fried in oil until golden brown and other vegetables fried. No meat is added. Qurutob is considered the national dish.
- Laghman - A pasta soup dish served with vegetables and lamb or beef. Sample the stir-fry Uyghur varieties available at various Dushanbe restaurants.
- Sambusa: baked cakes
- Shashlik: shish-kebab. Grilled fish, liver, chicken, lamb and beef.
- Tushbera soup: like ravioli or pasta with meat
- Sopa Ugro: handmade spaghetti soup served with cream cheese and basil
- Jiz-biz: freshly cut lamb or lamb in its own juice
- Dolma: steamed buns with grape leaves and meat inside, served with sour cream and red pepper)
- Mantu: steamed meatballs with meat inside, served with sour cream and fried onions.
- Shurbo: fresh vegetable soup with lamb or beef, served with green onion and basil.
- Many types of bread such as chappoti, kulcha, nan, fatir, qalama, etc.
- Damlama: as an English stew, steamed lamb or veal with vegetables in their own juice
- Khash: soup with sheep legs and arms, joints and tendons
- Melons and watermelons are extremely popular with the locals and are very cheap in the local markets.
Be careful with street food and do not eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. It is better to soak them in distilled water and cook them well.
National cuisine is becoming more popular in Tajikistan, including dishes like Shurbo, Oshi Palov, Mantu, and Sambusa.
To drink
- Green tea: Tajiks often enjoy drinking unsweetened (or sweetened) green tea throughout the day. Hence, it is the national drink of the country.
- Compote- A distilled fruit punch.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Tajikistan.w: Tajikistan
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Tajikistan. Commons
