The capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe that is settled down cozy among picturesque landscapes of the Gissarskaya valley at the banks of Dushanbinka river. The city is at height of 750-930 m above sea level and is one of most high mountains world capitals.
Actually Dushanbe is a very young city based in 1922, with the congregation of the Soviet power, as a result of merge of 3 settlements: Sariosie, Shohmansur and Dushanbe. It is remarkable that at the moment of a city basis there lived about 300 inhabitants. However the first mentions of Dushanbe in written sources concerns to the beginning of XVII-th century. In city boundaries the set of archaeological monuments of the bactrice period of II century and traces of medieval settlements of VI-VIII BC are revealed.
Despite its early age a city develops promptly and it already deserved glory of the largest cultural, educational and science center of the Middle Asia. In Dushanbe one of the best museums of the central Asia, numerous theaters and the cinemas, the largest libraries and institutes are located.
Among sights of this city it is necessary to mention history museum where exhibits since neolith epoch till our time are stored. One more point of interest is ethnography museum in which exposition are presented such displays as carpets, clothes, jewels and musical instruments from all regions of Tajikistan.
It is necessary to give a special place to the botanical gardens. Within Dushanbe, at a height of 880 meters above sea level there is a Central botanical garden of Tajikistan where placed a unique collection with 4500 kinds of plants from every spot of the globe. In 9 km from a city there is a botanical garden of the Tadjik State National University. Hudzhandsky, Kuljabsky and Pamir (2100 - 3500 m above sea level) botanical gardens will surprise you with picturesque landscapes and the richest collections of flora.
On one of the main streets of Dushanbe - the prospectus of Rudaki - between Russian drama theater of V.Mayakovsky and the Tadjik state academic drama theater of A.Lahuti is located a restaurant which is one of the most visited by foreigners in Dushanbe - Rohat ». It does not only offers plentiful meal, but also dispose to the slow conversation behind infinite east tea drinking.
There is no doubt that everyone who once visits Dushanbe will never forget spicy east taste of this original city.
