On the territory of modern Tajikistan, state formations appeared in the first millennium BC. Archaeologists are also aware of earlier settlements in this region. Thus, we can talk about the existence of an ancient urban culture in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan. Cities and trade centers
The oldest city in Tajikistan is Khujand. It arose at the crossroads of trade routes leading from east to west. The Syr Darya River, on the banks of which the city stands, provides residents with enough water, which even allows them to cultivate orchards on the slopes of the nearest mountains.
Khujand is the second largest city in Tajikistan, while Dushanbe occupies the first place in terms of population.
The truly intensive urbanization began here with the establishment of the USSR power in the republic. Then peasants from villages began to actively move to cities to participate in large construction projects.
With the growth of the population and the creation of new enterprises in the cities, an active flourishing of culture began. Folk houses, theaters and museums were built. Much attention was paid to the historical features of the territories, the traditions of the population.
New economy
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the cities began to return their historical names, which they carried for centuries. Along with this, there was an active process of renaming streets and the translation of many toponyms into Tajik.
At the same time, China is starting to invest in Tajikistan. Cities continue to develop - new housing estates, schools, universities and airports are being built.
Tajikistan: list of cities alphabetically
- Buston, whose population is 32 thousand people;
- Vahdat is a city of republican subordination with a population of 42 thousand people;
- Gissar - despite its antiquity, it received the status of a city only in 2016;
- Gulistan;
- Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of the republic, the population of which, according to official estimates, is 802 thousand people;
- Istaravshan is an ancient city with a history of more than two and a half thousand years;
- Istiklol is a small city of regional subordination in the Sogd region, the population is about 15 thousand people;
- Isfara
- Kanibadam is a city of regional subordination with a population of 50 thousand inhabitants;
- Kulyab is the fourth largest city in the republic;
- Kurgan-Tyube - the center of the Khatlon region;
- Nurek;
- Pedzhimkent;
- Rogun;
- Sarband;
- Tursunzade;
- Khujand;
- Khorog.
Blooming Tajikistan
The cities listed above are the largest settlements of the state. At the same time, four of them deserve a separate story.
First of all, it is worth mentioning the capital - Dushanbe. The city is a major political, economic and cultural center of the whole country. It focuses the main educational and cultural institutions.
Khujand is the second largest in the Republic of Tajikistan. Cities of the north-east of the country, as a rule, have strong ties with the surrounding villages, and this significantly affects their economy. For example, in Khujand, markets are widely distributed with local products, which are produced in abundance in the Ferghana Valley.
At the opposite end of the country, in the heart of a rich oasis, is the third largest city in the country - Kurgan-Tyube, whose peculiarity is that until 1924 its population was exclusively Uzbek.
In the fourth large city, Kulyab, there is a mausoleum of the famous Persian poet and religious figure - Mir Said Hamadani.