Ayni

Ayni, formerly known as Zeravshan, occupies a strategic position in the Zeravshan Valley at the junction of the roads linking Dushanbe with Khujand and Panjakent. The small town of around 8,000 was renamed in 1955 after the Tajik writer Sadriddin Ayni, regarded as the founder of modern Tajik literature. It sits at about 1,360 metres amid extensive apricot and walnut orchards, framed by the cliffs of the Zeravshan and Hisor ranges. Its strategic importance was reinforced by the construction of the Anzob Tunnel (“tunnel of death”) and later the modern Shahriston Tunnel, which made the Dushanbe, Khujand route passable all year round. Ayni is also the gateway to the Iskanderkul Lakes and the Fann Mountains, ranking among Central Asia’s finest high-altitude landscapes.

Nearby cities

Isfara

Isfara is an ancient industrial town on the Kyrgyz border, famous for fruit processing.

Istaravshan

Istaravshan is one of the oldest cities in Tajikistan, known for traditional crafts and wood carving.

Konibodom

Konibodom in the Fergana Valley is often referred to as the city of almonds due to its extensive orchards.

Khujand

Khujand is the second-largest city of the country and an important center in the Fergana Valley.

Ghafurov

Ghafurov serves as an important transport hub with a major railway station in the north of the country.

Buston

Buston was formerly a closed city in the Soviet uranium mining network and is now developing civilly.

Panjakent

Panjakent houses the ruins of an ancient Sogdian city, often considered the Pompeii of Central Asia.

Shaydon

Shaydon is the administrative center of the Asht District and is surrounded by extensive apricot orchards.

Sarvoda

A vital transit hub and gateway to the legendary Iskanderkul Lake in the Fann Mountains.

Fann Mountains

A trekker's paradise featuring turquoise lakes and snow-capped 5,000-meter peaks.

Zafarobod

Zafarobod emerged through large-scale Soviet irrigation projects and is today a center of cotton cultivation.

Artuch

An idyllic mountain village and famous base camp for treks to the Kulikalon Lakes.

Hazrati Shoh Lake (Marguzor)

The sixth and largest of the legendary seven Marguzor Lakes in the Shing Valley.

Haft Kul (Seven Lakes)

Haft Kul is a series of seven cascading mountain lakes in the Shing Valley, famous for their changing colors and picturesque villages.

History & landmarks

Sarazm

A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest agricultural settlements in Central Asia.

Arbob Cultural Palace

A magnificent building modeled after Peterhof, significant in the nation's history.

Nature

Zeravshan River

An ancient river whose name means 'spreader of gold' and which irrigates the green valleys of northern Tajikistan.

Haft Kul (Seven Lakes)

A chain of seven terraced lakes in the Shing Valley, glowing in various shades from blue to turquoise.

More places

Kamoli Khujandi Park

This expansive park on the banks of the Syr Darya in Khujand features shaded alleys, fountains, and memorials, perfect for relaxing famil…

Zarafshan Valley Potato Farms

The fertile soils and cooler mountain climate in the Zarafshan River valley are the center of Tajik potato farming, a crucial food source.

Iskanderkul

A picturesque mountain lake of glacial origin named after Alexander the Great.

Bunjikat Ruins

The abandoned capital of Ustrushana provides valuable historical insights through its wood carvings and murals.

Yagnob Valley Pastures

During summer months, herders bring their sheep and goat flocks to the lush alpine pastures of this remote valley, where traditional tran…

Yagnob Valley

An isolated, hard-to-reach mountain valley where the inhabitants still speak a direct dialect of the ancient Sogdian language.

Fann Mountains

A mountain range popular with hikers for its countless turquoise mountain lakes and jagged peaks.

Mug Teppe

The ruins of an ancient citadel in Istaravshan that was conquered by Alexander the Great.