Tajikistan Travel Guide

Browse the Tajikistan Photo Gallery

Country Facts

Location

Central Asia.

Language

Tajik is the official language, an ancient Persian language similar to the languages of Iran and Afghanistan. In the Pamir Mountains, there are at least five different languages, all related to an even more ancient form of Iranian. Russian is widely used (35% of the population speak Russian fluently), and discrimination against Russian speakers is prohibited by law. English is sometimes spoken by those involved in tourism.

Area

143,100 sq km (55,251 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 5.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round, two-pin continental plugs are standard.

Population

6.3 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density

44 per sq km.

Capital City

Dushanbe. Population: 575,900 (2002).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Oqil Ghaybulloyevich Oqilov.

Head of State

President Imamali S Rahmonov since 1992.

Religion

Predominantly Sunni Muslim (80%) with a small Shi’ite Muslim minority (5%). A large Ishmaeli minority exists in the Pamirs. There is also a smaller and shrinking Russian Orthodox minority and a small Jewish community.

Recent History

In February 2005, parliamentary elections were held in Tajikistan which were condemned by the OSCE as falling short of international standards in some areas. Mr Rahmonov’s People’s Democratic Party won virtually all 63 seats in the lower house of parliament. The opposition Islamic and Communist parties won just a handful between them. President Rahmonov was elected to a third term in office in November 2006, but international observers said the election was neither free nor fair.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +992. Services can be unreliable. International telephone calls can be made from telephone offices which are usually found attached to a post office (in Dushanbe, on Prospekt Rudaki). There are now also some new, private telephone offices in Dushanbe. International, operator-routed calls can also be ordered from some hotels such as the Hotel Tajikistan and the Hotel Independence. Direct-dial calls within the CIS are obtained by dialing 8 and waiting for another dial tone and then dialing the city code. Calls within the city limits are free of charge.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to urban areas.

Internet

There are Internet cafés in the main cities. Some will allow you to plug in your own computer.

Media

Press freedom is provided for in the constitution, but is not widely respected; independent journalists are said to come under huge pressure from the state. The Government controls the editorial policy of the state-owned media and state-operated radio and TV dominate broadcasting. There are over 30 local and regional private TV stations and more than 200 registered newspapers. Some are government-owned; others are connected to political parties and movements. There are no dailies. A few private radio stations exist. Dushanbe's first private station opened in September 2002, after waiting four years for a license.

Post

Mail to Western Europe and the USA can take between two weeks and two months. Stamped envelopes can be bought from post offices. Addresses should be laid out in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and, lastly, the person's name. Postal services available include registered mail, restricted delivery, special delivery and Express mail (in Dushanbe only). Both surface and air mail are available for parcels.Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat: 0900-1700. Visitors can also use the post offices located within the major hotels.

Press

• All the main newspapers are printed in Dushanbe and include Narodnaya Gazeta (Russian), Jumhuriyat and Tojikiston Ovozi (Tajik).

Radio

•Tajik Radio is state run and operates two national networks.
• Private stations include Asia-Plus (Dushanbe's first private station), Radio Vatan and Radio Tiroz.

Public Holidays

Below are Public Holidays listed for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
8 Mar International Women’s Day
1 May International Labor Day
9 May Victory Day
27 Jun National Unity Day
31 Aug Eid-i-Ramazon (End of Ramadan)
9 Sep Independence Day
6 Nov Eid-i-Kurbon (Feast of the Sacrifice)
6 Nov Constitution Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
8 Mar International Women’s Day
20 Mar Navrus (Persian New Year)
1 May International Labor Day
9 May Victory Day
27 Jun National Unity Day
19 Aug Eid-i-Ramazon (End of Ramadan)
9 Sep Independence Day
25 Oct Eid-i-Kurbon (Feast of the Sacrifice)
6 Nov Constitution Day

Contact Information

State National Tourism Company of the Republic of Tajikistan (SAYOH)

1/2 Dekhoti Street, Dushanbe City, 734055, Tajikistan
Tel: (37) 234 5392.
Website: www.tourism.tj

Embassy of the Tajikistan Republic in Germany

Otto-Suhr-Allee 84, 10585 Berlin, Germany
Tel: (30) 347 9300.
Website: www.embassy-tajikistan.de

Embassy of the Tajikistan Republic in the USA

1005 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Tel: (202) 223 6090.
Website: www.tjus.org