This small lake in the middle of the Varzob Valley is a half-hour drive (30km) north of Dushanbe. The whole river valley is dotted with chaikhanas and small pensions and attracts crowds of city dwellers on summer weekends. It makes a pleasant place for a picnic, a stroll round the lake or a snooze on a teahouse daybed.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
6.93 MILES
Extensive Rudaki Park, with its beautiful canopy of mature trees, offers a series of pathways through flower gardens and alongside lakes and fountains…
7.18 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…
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7.74 MILES
Sharing the same complex as the National Museum of Antiquities, this small museum houses an exquisite collection of traditional Tajikistan clothing …
16.93 MILES
Pictured on the 20TJS banknote and just 30km west of Dushanbe, the remains of this 18th-century fort make for an interesting day trip from the capital…
7.03 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…
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6.64 MILES
Tajikistan's national museum is housed in an impressive modern building with an elliptical roof and giant atrium. The collection encompasses three main…
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National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
7.72 MILES
Looking almost as aged as some of the exhibits it houses, this dusty old museum, with its threadbare carpets and uneven floors, has a certain charm about…
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6.98 MILES
Hidden within a private family compound behind unmarked green gates is a precious collection of antique musical instruments originating from across…
Nearby Dushanbe attractions
1.35 MILES
Close to Dushanbe, this 30m-high, single-drop waterfall is one of the most striking in the Varzob Valley. A walking route (8km, two to three hours) leads…
5.23 MILES
The extensive Botanical Gardens, with its Persepolis-inspired gateway, is home to a fine collection of mature deciduous trees (labelled in Latin) and…
5.61 MILES
Though it was not functioning at the time of writing, this big wheel nevertheless makes a useful landmark – not to be confused with the smaller working…
4. Tajik State Pedagogical University
5.82 MILES
Established in 1931, this is one of Tajikistan's top higher education institutions. For visitors, its pale blue, neoclassical facade makes a useful…
6.52 MILES
Tajikistan’s Persian past is invoked in the facade of the Writers’ Union Building. Adorned with sculpted-stone figures of Sadruddin Ayni, Omar Khayam,…
6.57 MILES
This attractive Soviet-style building with a courtyard of fountains is closed to visitors but makes a useful reference point for navigating in the centre…
6.62 MILES
This vast festival of modern architecture, based on traditional architectural design and encompassing some exquisite national motifs, is used for the…
6.64 MILES
Tajikistan's national museum is housed in an impressive modern building with an elliptical roof and giant atrium. The collection encompasses three main…