Parchan

Dushanbe


Crowning the fountain-filled thoroughfare outside the National Library, this national monument was built to commemorate Tajikistan's independence. Cast atop a slender white-marble pillar, it features a gilded version of the national emblem of Tajikistan which includes ears of wheat, cotton bolls, a book and rays of sun above snow-covered mountains. Easier to work out at ground level is that it makes a suitably triumphant foil to the statue of Ismoil Somoni at the other end of the vista.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Dushanbe attractions

1. National Library

0.13 MILES

Opened in 2011 and constructed to resemble an open book, this US$40 million archive is reputed to be Central Asia's biggest library. It makes an…

2. Rudaki Statue

0.18 MILES

Beneath an impressive arc of blue mosaic stars, the nation's most revered poet, Rudaki, is honoured here at the heart of the central park named after him…

3. Statue of Ismoil Somoni

0.2 MILES

One of Dushanbe’s most impressive modern monuments, this statue celebrates the 10th-century founder of the Samanid dynasty. With an art-deco quality to…

4. Palace of Nations

0.22 MILES

This grand modern building, dubbed locally as the White House, is the official seat of the president of Tajikistan. Although closed to the public, its…

5. Rudaki Park

0.26 MILES

Extensive Rudaki Park, with its beautiful canopy of mature trees, offers a series of pathways through flower gardens and alongside lakes and fountains…

6. Bayrak

0.36 MILES

Built to commemorate 20 years of independence, the world's second tallest flagpole stands at 165m and is the centrepiece of Dushanbe's central ensemble of…

7. Gurminj Museum

0.47 MILES

Hidden within a private family compound behind unmarked green gates is a precious collection of antique musical instruments originating from across…

8. National Museum

0.57 MILES

Tajikistan's national museum is housed in an impressive modern building with an elliptical roof and giant atrium. The collection encompasses three main…