A traveller's reflection: 2017 3-Stans Day 10: Termez, Uzbekistan

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Thursday, 24 August 2017

2017 3-Stans Day 10: Termez, Uzbekistan - Dushanbe, Tajikistan

“One small thought in the morning can change your whole day…”

(Travelers heading to the caravanserai)

Day 10: 20 August 2017 (Sunday)

Route: Termez – BP Tursunzoda - Dushanbe

Distance: 245 km

Hotel: Dushanbe Tajikiston Hotel, Tajikistan

We started our journey early in the morning towards the Uzbekistan/Tajikistan border at Border Point Tursunzoda for our onward journey to Dushanbe. There is another border point nearer to Termez but the road to the border is in a very bad condition. The journey took more than 3 hours and we arrived at the border around 10.30 am. Border formalities were smooth and hassle-free on both sides of the border. Mr. Niyoskul, our humorous jovial guide was already waiting for us on the Tajikistan border with five commuter vans.

(The villages along the route)

(Haggling the fee for the luggage cart)

(A long walk to the border)

(The biggest Aluminium factory in Central Asia)

(Let's fly away to Dushanbe)

(A melon-shaped Tea House)

On the way to Dushanbe we stopped to visit Hissar Complex. Hissar Fortress is situated 15 minutes away from the Dushanbe city centre. Hissar Fortress used to be a palace of one of Bukhara Emirate. The fortress, with a meter tall walls and holes for guns and cannons towered on a high hill's slope and was carefully guarded. Inside there was a pool and a garden. Across from the fortress there was a noisy market square with a caravanserai and a variety of shops.

(The Hissar Fortress)

(The madrasah and caravanserai)

(Visiting the museum)

(The artifacts from the excavations)

(Free admission into the Hissar Fotrress)

(The main gate of the fortress)

(A good view from the top of the fortress)

(A walk in the fortress)

Hissar Complex is a popular site for wedding receptions and photography for young married couples. Entourage of the brides and grooms crowded the place. They were accompanied by musicians and young cheerful dancers.

(A newly wed Tajik couple)

(Ladies and men dancing to the music)

(The family to the bride)

After visiting Hissar Complex we drove to Dushanbe to have lunch at Didor Restaurant.

(The main gate into Dushanbe)

(A classy Didor Restaurant)

(Two scoops of delicious ice-cream)

Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan situated at the confluence of two rivers, Varzob and Kofarnihon. On the east bank of the river is Rudaki Park, named after the classical poet. A statue of him stands under an ornate mosaic arch. Nearby is a massive Tajik flag, flying from a towering flagpole. The ancient Tajik warrior Ismoili Somoni is commemorated with a statue and gilded arch. Archaeological finds are displayed at the National Museum of Tajikistan. We would be visiting these attractions tomorrow morning before we travel to Khujand.

(Shah Mansur Bazaar, closing soon)

(Large chilies and tomatoes)

(Bread is the staple food)

After a hearty lunch we headed to Shah Mansur Bazaar, also known as the Green Bazaar. This is a typical market place of Central Asia with food halls and isles selling fresh produce, vegetables, fruits and spices. There wasn’t anything truly exciting but some of us ended up buying nuts, fresh fruits and dried fruits.

(Sari Osiyo Mosque)

(A mosque with traditional deco)

(Silent call of prayer)

From the bazaar we drove to the Sari Osiyo Mosque. The old one-storey mosque was demolished and the new Mosque with a prayer hall for 2,000 people was built. With a rectangular front entrance and a mihrab on the east side, the roof is pitched with a slight slant, and the façade and interior of the prayer hall are decorated with local, traditional patterns with ceramic tiles and ganch carvings. All the domes were built with earthquake-resistant brick. It is not allowed to recite the azan loudly in Tajikistan and women are forbidden to enter the mosque. The ladies stayed in the van while the men performed their prayers.