Old Panjakent -The archaeological site of the ruins of old Panjakent- a walled inter-city which stood 2500-years ago - was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road. Today only ruins are left owing to the fact that the main construction material was clay-bricks.
Often referred to as “The Pompeii of Central Asia”, it is well worth a visit. Duplicates of old Sogdian art are exposed in the nearby museum. The director will also take you on a tour, which will open your eyes to the interesting details which will normally escape the laymen's eye.
If 2500 years doesn’t seem to suffice, 20km further, one may find the oldest settlement in all Central Asia – Sarazm. The name Sarazm (or Sari Zamin) aptly means “the beginning of the world” for this site which is more than 5500 years old. More than 6000 people used to live here making it the oldest city in Central Asia. Sarazm is currently subject to an UNESCO assessment for potential inclusion into the world heritage list. The nearby museum shows archaeological finds including a picture of the discovered skeleton of the multi-millennia princess of Sarazm adorned with her impressive jewellery. The original is at display in the capital Dushanbe.
The seven pearls of the Shing - A string of seven lakes, each with its particular color and flora embedded in an impressive mountain scenery is a must-see in the Zeravshan valley. The lowest lake is a 1,5 hour drive from Panjakent and the point of departure for numerous trekking routes. If your luggage is heavy, you will find porter donkeys in the villages. During the high season it might be prudent though to arrange donkeys beforehand through a travel agency, as the animals are still used by farmers in their daily work.
Lake Kulikalon in the Fan Mountains
Fan mountainsIskander Kul - According to an old tale, Alexander the great lost his horse on the banks of this gourgous maintain lake about 25km off the main road (and accessible by car). The lake's water is very cold and only the brave will go for a swim. At the lakeside a former turbaza (holiday camp) is featuring a restaurant and about 25 chalets for overnight stay (25 TJS/pers). It operates only during the main season. Don't miss out on the impressive 40m waterfall a 30minute walk from the lake. Local people call it "Niagara" with some reason. If you are into multi-day trekking, the village of Saratok (a two hour walk from the lake) is an good base for tours crossing over to Allaudin lakes or the the seven pearls of Shing. Saratok features a number of good standard homestays of the CBT projekt of ZTDA.
Yagnob valley - This remote destination is truly off the beaten path, here you will find rural Tajikistan at its purest. The Yagnob river is a tributary to the Zeravshan at South East of the Valley - turn east in the settlement Anzob. The Yagnob valley is home to descendants of the Sogdian empire who still speak this old persian language and have preserved some of their traditions. Fantastic trekking opportunities in a spectacular mountain setting reward those visiting the area.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Zeravshan
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Zeravshan - updated May 2024
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Zeravshan Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
