Tajikistan Travel Words

Pretty Little Penjikent (R)

Its very rare that regional capitals, in Central Asia at least, are anything but a transit point to get to bigger and better destinations. The city of Penjikent, though, is a wonderful little backwater. Though once easily accessible from the Uzbekistan city of Samarkand, a disagreement over hydro issues between the Uzbek and Tajik governments has seen that border closed for years now.

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The city actually has stuff going on, soccer games and occasional cultural festivals.

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The old town, on a hilltop right above the new town, features the ramble-able remnants of a fortress that once sat at the heart of the Sogdian empire. We’re talking the center of Zoroastrianism, here!

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At the main market, local goods and Russian imports to stock up on before another trip out to the mountains surrounding Penjikent.

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Or something a little spicy to help along that celebratory meal when you get back.

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As if that weren’t enough to hold interest, shortly outside of Penjikent is the UNESCO-site of Sarazm.

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The site leaves much to the imagination, but at its peak in the 5th millennium B.C. it was the center of metallurgy for all of Central Asia.

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I ended up in Penjikent three different times over the two and a half weeks I spent in the Fan Mountains, and loved it everytime. Now I just need to go back and convince the tourism board there to hire me as an international ambassador!

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