Tajikistan Map

 

 

               Map of Central Asia

latest picture: June 17, 2016

• click a picture to see details

001  Emil adds Tajikistan to our country ribbon.

It is May 31st, 2016, when we cross into our

186th country Tajikistan at the Uzbek border

post of Oybek (Chanak). Tajikistan is bordering

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and China

002  In Khujand, the second biggest city

(metro 750'000 people), the Tajikistan flag

is waving in the wind under a blue sky. During

Soviet times the city was named Leninabad

003  President Emomali Rahmonov’s portrait

is greeting at ”every corner“, here at the big

square at the Panchshanbe Bazaar in Khujand.

He is President of the Republic of Tajikistan

since November 16th, 1994

004  A striking contrast to the lively bazaar

is the dome of the Sheikh Massal ad-Din

complex (Sheikh Muslihiddin mausoleum)

at the Panchshanbe Square in Khujand

005  The impressive Sheikh Massal ad-Din

Complex at Panchshanbe Square in Khujand

with its mausoleum in the middle, flanked by

two mosques with up to 69 ft. [21m] high

brick minarets

006  In front of the pink-white painted

market hall on Panchshanbe Square in

Khujand small vendors and rentals of

children electric cars are making business

007  Cherries, apricots, apples and

nectarines are waiting for buyers in

front of the market hall in Khujand

008  The Panchshanbe Bazaar in the elegant

hall in Khujand, built in 1964, is said to be

one of the biggest and best-stocked

markets in Central Asia

009  It is peak season for water and

honey melons. They are for sale in great

quantities and are sold like hot cakes in

the current heat wave of 97°F [36°C]

010  Early practice only makes the master

(general): The boy is sitting proudly and fully

concentrated on his electric tank and drives on

Panchshanbe Square, navigated by his father …..

011  ….. the sweet little girl in her

“normal car“ is also moving around

and seems to fully enjoy it too

012  Also the ice cream seller is

not missing at Panchshanbe Square

013  The “Eternal Flame” and a memorial

“in honor” of the Soviets in a small park

along Lenin Street in Khujand

014  Liliana looks small in front of the

imposing statue of Kamal Khujandi,

a poet of the 14th century

015  Busts of the “Stars of Khujand”

line the way in the same-named park

016  10th-century Citadel in Khujand: It once

was 3ľ miles [6km] long with 7 gates. The main

section remains occupied by the army, but houses

museums and is still a popular place for recreation

017  The young mother is carrying proudly

her young festively dressed child in her arm

018  The rear of two peacock figures in

the small park near the citadel is filled with

flower pots. They are a popular photo

spot for families with small children

019  The 72 ft. [22m] tall statue of Lenin,

 moved in 1974 from Moscow to Leninabad

(today Khujand), was transferred in 2011

from its stand north of the Syr Darya river to

its “retirement spot“ in an urban quarter that

lies 0.7 miles [1.1km] more westerly

020  A group of women make a lunch

break near the Lenin statue in Khujand.

One of them makes us a sign to join

021  An interesting wall relief made of

mosaics depicts historic (?) scenes at

an intersection north of Khujand

(near Khamirabot)

What would the world be without blooming plants? Eye-catching flowers in Khujand

022

023  Firewheel (Gaillardia), actually native

to northern Mexico and Southern USA

024

025  The self-display of the Tajik President is

omnipresent. Here he poses in the middle of

nicely costumed students along Lenin Street in

Khujand, today called Ismoili Somoni Avenue

026  Gate to Istaravashan, 42 miles [68 km]

southwest of Khujand along the road to

Dushanbe. Each city in Tajikistan greets

with such an imposing structure

027  Tajikistan’s landscape is wild and

shaped by deep canyons – here between

Shakhristan and Buragen along M34 highway

028  From the 17’234 ft. [5’253m] long

Shakhristan-Pass-Tunnel the road is winding

from an altitude of 9’022 ft. [2’750m] down

to the narrow Zerafshan valley, where in

Ayni, about 4’600 ft. [1’400m] lower,

the road junction to the capital Dushanbe

and to Samarkand/Uzbekistan lies

029  An overturned truck blocks

half of the Shakhristan mountain road.

Knowing the reckless driving,

it’s not surprising

030  Between Ayni and Penjikent – 56 miles

[90km] – the road drops from the altitude of

about 4’500 ft. [<1’400m] into the Zerafshan

gorge to about 3’100 ft. [±950m]. The new tar

road runs through a very scenic landscape

031  Between Ayni and Penjikent, Emil is

taking a picture of the typical village

Urmitan, embedded in a harsh mountain

region. It gives the impression of an oasis

032  “What a lively jam!“ On the Ayni-

Penjikent route herdsmen are leading

their sheep to the next pasture

033  “Photo!“ shouts the young herdsman

and poses joyfully for the picture

034  It turns green only along the river.

Mountain scenery between Ayni and

Penjikent – in the background the

Turkestan mountain range

035  It doesn’t turn in the wind but due to

water: A water wheel at a village channel.

In many places there is no running water.

People have to carry it home single-handed or

with their donkeys. Here before Novichornok,

on the road to 7 Lakes (Haft-Kul)

036  Isolated from the rest of the world:

A remote hamlet nestling on a stony slope

of the Fan Mountains, reachable only

by foot or donkey

037  The ‘aha’ experiences on the partly

difficult 23 miles [37km] from Penjikent to

Haft-Kul – the ‘7 Lakes’ – follow at every turn.

Here it’s the passage through a narrow canyon

shortly before reaching the first lake ‘Mijon’ …..

038  ….. once it is the attractive

scenery of an alpine river …..

039  ….. another time it’s a steep

spectacular mountain climb

040  This is the first and most beautiful

of the chain of 7 turquoise glinting ponds

along the western end of the Fan mountain

range. They extend for more than

12 miles [20km] towards the south …..

041  ….. the second lake ‘Gushor’

is separated from the third lake

‘Novin’ only by a small

ribbon of land …..

042  ….. the fifth lake ‘Haft-Kul’

is also sandwiched into the

dramatic mountain scenery

043  Camping joy at the 4th lake ‘Kurdak’.

We share the beautiful spot with some

fishermen who, however, leave in the

evening with empty hands

044  The mountain slopes around the

Seven Lakes are flowering, adding to the

charm of this magnificent mountain region

045  Alpine idyll pur: The fast flowing

mountain river rushes past our rough

camping spot at the 7 Lakes. Tajikistan

counts 1‘000 rivers and 2‘000 lakes

Tajik people love to have taken their photos, giving us thus the opportunity to a brief encounter

046

047

048

049  The stately trees that line the river are

‘ablaze’ by the warm evening light (on the

way back between the 7 Lakes and Sujina)

050  Scattered settlements nestle on the

slopes of the Fan mountain range between

the 7 Lakes and Penjikent

051  A reddish shimmering eroded mountain

wall northeast of Chorbog raises vertically from

the plain and contrasts wonderfully with the green

of the valley (between 7 Lakes and Penjikent)

052  Near Gusar, east of Penjikent, the

Zerafshan river flows in different pathways

through the river bed before reuniting again

053  The bush with the delicate pink blossoms

is another example of nature’s beauty

054  At Dardar, west of Ayni, the

Zerafshan river is meandering in narrow

bends through the canyon

055  Between Ayni and Sarvoda – on the

main Dushanbe highway – the good tarmac

road runs through a narrow gorge flanked by

steep mountains, leaving just enough space

for the road and the river

056  Steep and partly washed-out switch-

backs lead near Rabot from the Dushanbe

highway to Iskander-Kul (-lake) on

7’200 ft. [2’195m] altitude …..

057  ….. view to the blue silverish river

that is meandering through the narrow

canyon deep below

058  Simply beautiful: The color palette

of the mountains rising into a deep blue sky

could possibly not be more splendid. Our

LandCruiser on its descent to Iskander-

Kul, the lake in the Zerafshan range

059  On our descent to Iskander-Kul

we enjoy another beautiful view into

the great canyon scenery

060  The opal-blue mountain lake Iskander-

Kul comes into view. Along with the blue-

silverish shining river, the reddish mountains

and the luminous yellow bushes it is a most

stunning picture

061  Only a short hike from Iskander-Kul,

the river carrying big quantities of water

from the melting of snow, rumbles down

a rift to the valley …..

062  ….. Peculiar plants and huge

boulders shape the alpine landscape

around the waterfall …..

063  ….. Emil is relaxing on a

boulder and enjoys the view

Different flowers in shining yellow. With their intensive luminosity they always convey a feeling of sun even if it is not shining

064

065

066

067  Liliana at our lunch table on the shore

of Iskander-Kul. We enjoy our spot at the

official forest campsite with view to the

mountains reflecting in the calm waters

of the mountain lake …..

068  ….. more to the right (southwest),

there is another almost perfect reflection

of the Fan Mountains …..

069  ….. another reflecting picture: We

cannot get enough of the spectacular view

070  Halfway around Iskander-Kul

snow capped mountain peaks mirror

from the southeast in the lake

071  Carpets of pink flowers line

the shore of Iskander-Kul at an

altitude of 7’200 ft. [2’195m]

072  View across Iskander-Kul lake with

the tree-lined shore and the access road to

the President’s Datcha (vacation house)

073  Working day for Emil at Iskander-Kul.

He changes spark plugs and the distributor

points. For that he has to sit uncomfortably

under the hood as everything – though a

lot of space – is not so easy to access

074  Last moment with our German-

Dutch neighbors Anna and Reinier at the

Iskander-Kul forest campsite. They are

with their Volkswagen Bus T3 on a

4 months trip through Central Asia

075  A remembrance photo of the

two of us with Iskander-Kul in the

background when we (have to) leave

this mountain region after three

wonderful camping days for Dushanbe

076  A gasp of relief: Our overheating

LandCruiser that stops over and over again,

crossed the 16’535 ft. [5’040m] long, unlit

and unventilated Anzob tunnel, also called

“death tunnel“ without any breakdown

077  At the southern end of the Anzob

tunnel, we are greeted not only by fresh

air but also by lush green mountain slopes

and snow capped mountain peaks …..

078  ….. the stunning mountain

scenery continues to delight us for

quite some time as we roll downhill

towards the capital Dushanbe

079  Panorama at the southern Anzob

tunnel descent: Below the river is meandering

down the valley, from the other side of the

valley greets the spring like mountain scenery

080  From Anzob tunnel, our LandCruiser

rolls from the coolness of the high mountain

region (8’700 ft.) [2’650m] to the heat

of the plain (2’316 ft.) [706m]

081  Emil feasting: We have soup, boiled

beef, roasted cutlets on a spit, salad, bread

and two one 1˝-liter bottles of beer. For

two it costs Somoni 150, about US$19.10

082  Discussion regarding the overheating

problem of our LandCruiser in a workshop

in Dushanbe, used also by diplomats. But

they cannot help us because they never

had this model …..

083  ….. in the compound of the “Hello“

Guesthouse in Dushanbe, Emil removes the

winch and puts it on the roof rack hoping to

reduce the overheating problem (more air

for the radiator) …..

084  ….. as last hope we visit Tajikistan’s

Toyota distributor in Dushanbe, unfortunately

with the same result as at the first workshop.

What now? On June 18th, 2016, we decide as

a “hit or miss” to take off to the Pamir Highway

Next website of our 2nd Central and North Asia trip 2016 to Russia:

Continuation to the next Tajikistan page: Tajikistan Part 2 – June 19th to 27th, 2016,  from Dushanbe to the Kyrgyzstan border

The African trip 2013-16:

CapeVerde: Santiago/Praia part 1 – November18th to December 13th, 2013

CapeVerde: Fogo – Dezember13th to 23rd, 2013

CapeVerde: Brava – December 23rd to 26th, 2013

Cape Verde: Santiago/Praia part 2 – December 26th, 2013 to February 28th, 2014

Cape Verde: Săo Nicolau – February 28th to March 13th, 2014

Cape Verde: Săo Vicente/Mindelo part 1 – March 13th to 20th, 2014

Cape Verde: Santo Antăo/Eastern side part 1 – March 20th to April 7th, 2014

Cape Verde: Santo Antăo/Western side part 2 – April 7th to 10th, 2014

Cape Verde: Săo Vicente/Mindelo part 2 – April 10th to 29th, 2014

Namibia Part 1 – from Walvis Bay to Windhoek

Angola Part 1 – September 26th to October 4th, 2014

Angola Part 2 – October 4th to 22nd, 2014

Namibia Part 2 – from Windhoek to the Angolan border, back again and on to South Africa

South Africa Part 1 – from Namibia border to Capetown – January 22nd to February 23rd, 2015

3rd Major Repair of our LandCruiser FJ60 - 1982  (due to two broken sideshafts)

South Africa Part 2 – from Capetown to Tsitsikamma National Park – February 24th to March 13th, 2015

South Africa Part 3 – from Addo National Park to the Lesotho border – March 13th to April 7th, 2015

Lesotho – April 7th to 15th, 2015

South Africa Part 4 – from the Lesotho to the Swaziland border – April 15th to 23rd, 2015

Swaziland – April 23rd to 28th, 2015

South Africa Part 5 – from the Swaziland to the Botswana border  – April 28th to May 15th, 2015

Botswana

Zimbabwe

Mozambique

Malawi

Armed Robbery in Malawi on July 31st/August 1st, 2015

Tanzania

Kenya

Ethiopia Part 1 – from Kenya to Djibouti – October 25th to November 18th, 2015

Djibouti – October 18th to 27th, 2015

Ethiopia Part 2 –  from Djibouti to Sudan – November 27th to December 9th, 2015

Sudan – December 9th, 2015 to January 8th, 2016