Things to do & places to visit in Khatlon Province, Tajikistan

Khatlon Province #4 destination in Tajikistan 2023. The average rating score is 4.43 based on 129 traveler reviews, of 37 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Dushanbe, current date and time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 17:28.

Khatlon Province Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

88°F - 62°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm

Feels like

14%

Chance of rain

54.0 millimeters

Amount

7.8 mph

Wind speed

34%

Humidity

14.2

Daylight length

5:15 AM

Sunrise

7:26 PM

Sunset

65%

Cloud cover

T-shirt

What to wear

Top things to do (21)

Top destinations in Khatlon Province 14

See more 2 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Nurek Dam (22 reviews)
- Any dam questions?
Spent 2-3 hours Mountains • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Caverns & Caves • Dams • Waterfalls

Stopping in Nurak/Норак on our way out of Dushanbe, it is largely an industrial town whose main focus is the Nurek Dam. It is an impressive dam at almost 1000 feet high which churns out power for the region at an insane level. You will have to show your travel documents if you want to go up on the top, the sentries are serious but not unreasonable and best to do what they ask. The view from the top is marvelous and it is worth the drive. See more..
5.0 Sacred Spring Chiluchor Chashma (10 reviews)
- One of hidden Gem in South Tajikistan
Bodies of Water

It is located in South of Tajikistan, near Uzbekistan border, about 10-12 km away from Shahrituz. People all over Tajikistan visit this place for spiritual harmony and pilgrimage. Highly recommended to visit. See more..
5.0 Childukhtaron Valley (2 reviews)
- Childukhtaron
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Geologic Formations

The Childukhtaron Valley in Qurghonteppa, Taj is known for its numerous fruit and nut trees, beautiful scenery, jagged spires of rock where the valley’s name comes from as it looks like 40women as per the legend of the area. The place is relatively untouched, very few tourists or travellers through there when we were there last year so it feels more natural. Highly recommend to visit here, take your time and smell the flowers. See more..
5.0 Beshkent Qala (1 review)
- Utapur Fort
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Utapur Fort is known by locals as Beshkent Fort. It is one of the best examples of an ancient fort in Southern Tajikistan. It is located approximately 10 km west of Shahrtuz , just outside of Beshkapa town. Two sections of the exterior brick walls are in fairly good condition, and can be seen from the road. The fort is said to date from the 1600's, and was used until the 1920's when it was destroyed during the Soviet Red Army invasion. If you walk on the mounds of clay that were once defensive walls, the curved outline of the former moat can be seen in a few places below . The most impressive section is the remains of a domed structure with a round hole in the ceiling. The brickwork here is in good condition despite being exposed to the elements. As you walk to the interior structures, the arched designs and Persian shaped entrances are still visible, although it seems that the structure is slowly sinking into the earth and only the top 25% can be seen. At the highest point of the ruins is a monument made of sticks and cloth, which was probably placed here by a local religious leader. There were two sections which had the outline of carvings which are great photo ops. If you can take the short trip to this site it will be worth it, as it may not be around for much longer. Hopefully this site can be protected in the future to ensure that the history can be preserved for future generations. The Fortress Kalai Mir in Qabodiyan, 28 km north of this site, is another example of a fort which was destroyed during the Soviet invasion. See more..
5.0 Fortress Kalai Mir (1 review)
- Ancient fortress ruins
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Fortress Kalai Mir is the main attraction in Qabodiyon. The fort is easily reached by driving north through the town center, and turning right on a narrow road next to the gas station. There is not much left of the fortress, as the ruins have not been protected, so have been ravaged by the elements. The shape of the towers and walls of the fortress are still visible. In one area, the ancient sun baked bricks can be clearly seen in the remains of a tower. There are still a few excavation sites that are scattered throughout the fort, so care must be taken when walking the ruins. Locals advise that these holes are actually dungeons where prisoners were held. The site offers great photo ops with the rising Mount Kaypiaztoy in the background. The site was excavated by the Russians in the 1950's, but unfortunately many of the finds went to Russian museums. The fort is said to date back to the 6th century BC when the Achaemenid Empire ruled this area. It has been rebuilt many times over the centuries, but was destroyed for the final time in 1921 by the Soviet authorities. The fort site is approximately 4 hectares. After visiting the site, the local museum has a few interesting artifacts discovered at the fort site, which can be viewed. The bazar and monument to Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani are other interesting attractions in town. See more..
4.5 Buddhist Monastery Ajina-Tepa (9 reviews)
- Buddhist Monastery excavation site
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Buddhism has long faded away in Tajikistan, and so has the monastery at Ajina-Teppa, which loosely translates as "Witch's Hill." The site was excavated during the Soviet period and the reclining Buddha statue and other artefacts were sent to a museum in Dushanbe. What you see at the excavation site is a recreation, built in about 2006. It's a short drive from the city of Qurghonteppa, through a pleasant rural farming area with very helpful people who will gladly point you in the right direction. Your enjoyment of the site will depend on how you feel about historical sites, history and archeology. Overall, I quite enjoyed it, and I've visited two more times to show the site to friends. See more..
4.5 Museum Bibikhonum (7 reviews)
- Bibikhonum
Speciality Museums

A small but informative museum in the city is Museum Bibkhonum which would be like the regional museum with artifacts and exhibits showcasing ancient life in the area. Most is not in English but if you persevere with your languages you can get a good sense of what is there and what the story is telling you. Very inexpensive entry fee and the whole thing will probably only take an hour or so. See more..
4.5 Mausoleum of Mir Said Ali Khamadoni (6 reviews)
- Lovely
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Mausoleum of Mir Said Ali Khamadoni is a magnificent place to visit if you are in the area. It was refurbished about 50years ago to its original grandeur and it is marvellous to see. There is a donation box for the mausoleum, take off your shoes and keep the noise to a minimum as the other people will be doing prayers in some places and it really is a beautiful place of solitude and peace. See more..
4.5 Ismoil Somoni Monument (6 reviews)
- Money guy
Monuments & Statues

They named the currency of the country after him so it’s no wonder there are statues to him everywhere in Tajikistan. The monument here is impressive of him on a horse and (separately) reading up on the history of the area and in his lifetime is great to learn about the ancient history, battles, different Emirs and provinces/territories that used to exist. See more..
4.5 Baldzhuvan (4 reviews)
- Baldzhuvan
Historic Sites

Checking out the Baldzhuvan area in Tajikistan last year in August there is not much there but a vast, semi-wild landscape with some soaring scenery, long ago demolished ancient sites. People do live there in the scorching heat, we didn’t get the chance to interact with them much as we weren’t hanging around long but it is a beautiful area if you get the chance to see it. See more..
4.5 Stele to Constructors of Nurek Hydroelectric Power Plant (4 reviews)
- STCONHPP-Obviously
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

In Nurak they built a giant hydroelectric dam/power plant so obviously they have to build a monument to the builders of said structure so you have the giant stele commemorating the work that was done. Really just a photo op but take a few minutes to look at the surrounding scenery and be wowed by it. Then get going. See more..
4.5 Mausoleum of Khodzha Moshad (4 reviews)
- A remarkable historical site
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Khoja Mashad madrassa is one of the oldest in Central Asia, making it an important site for early Islam. Located about 10km from the town of Shahrtuz, it is set next to a small village. The structure itself is a remarkable domed building - one of the oldest you can see in the region. You are free to walk inside and around the excavated area in the back. Is it free? Sort of. There is a donation box in the small museum by the front gate. A small donation would probably be good. See more..
4.5 Ancient City Takhti Sangin (2 reviews)
- The temple of stone
Points of Interest & Landmarks

See more..
4.0 Tunnel Khalton (8 reviews)
- A Five Kilometer Tunnel
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Nice construction, good ventilation, good roads, two way traffic controls and proper lighting. Overall, a nice tunnel that is quite long and well constructed. See more..
4.0 Sari Khosor Valley (5 reviews)
- Perfect place to visit from late summer to early fall
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Drives • Valleys

The best thing about this valley is its isolation. You must travel in a 4-wheel drive or a large transport truck, as there are many river crossings, some of them very deep. I've been here 5 times now, and I've never seen another tourist. The whole valley has a serene and quiet feel to it. We went hiking, swimming, gathering fruit, exploring canyons, visiting sacred tree, finding springs, and eating some amazing village food. The temperature here is cooler than in Dushanbe, so you can do a trip in the summer. Aim for after mid-June when the water levels subside. See more..
4.0 Salt Mountain Khodzha Mumin (5 reviews)
- Hike to the top of Khoja Mumin
Mountains

If you stay by the road and look at the mountain from a distance, you will be disappointed. But the reward is when you explore the salt mountain. There are many bizarre and amazing salt formations to see. Once on top, you can see into Afghanistan. The hike is easy, and it's impossible to get lost. See more..
4.0 Monument Rudaki (5 reviews)
- Rudaki
Monuments & Statues

A large statue to the poet Rudaki in a young park, not familiar with the works of the Tajik poet but the statue is impressive and the park was full of people when we were there on a beautiful day early in August 2017.. See more..
4.0 Khulbuk (4 reviews)
- Lucky to meet the manager
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins

Small local museum and renovated (or rebuilt?) monuments may seem without a soul unless you have (as we had) an opportunity to meet and be guided by the manager of the site. It would be also good to speak Russian as the man speaks good English but flourishes in Russian. He revived the stones and other artifacts with his stories and enthousiasm and for some time we felt as ancient traders visiting the Silk Road trail. See more..
4.0 Kulob Republican Local Lore Museum Complex (4 reviews)
- A very diverse museum
Speciality Museums

This museum has it all, from stone age tools to antiquities to traditional clothing to stuffed animals. It's not quite as good as the museums in Dushanbe, but it's quite good fun. A good idea if it's too hot or too rainy outside. See more..
4.0 Mausoleum of Abu Abdollah Rudaki (1 review)
Points of Interest & Landmarks
See more..
4.0 Ismail Samani Monument (1 review)
- Statue of a great leader
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

The Ismail Samani statue is located in a small park on Stalin Avenue. This is a popular area in town, as the Shartuz Park is opposite this site. The gold statue of Ismail is mounted atop a brown tiled base. Ismail is shown in royal dress with a scroll in hand. Ismail is recognised as a hero of Tajikistan,and there are many monuments dedicated to him in major towns and cities in Tajikistan. The Tajik currency is named in his honour, and his image is on the one hundred somoni bank note. Ismail was the most successful ruler of the Samanid Empire, which conquered Transoxiana and Khorasan between 819 to 999. The Empire was initially divided between four brothers, and it was Ismail who united the Samanid state on the death of his elder brother. He achieved independence from the Abbasid Caliphate, and strongly promoted arts, science and literature. His capital, Bukhara in Uzbekistan, became the most important city in Central and Southern Asia during his rule. On his death in 907, he was succeeded by his son. The Somoni mausoleum in Bukhara is an important site of pilgrimage. After visiting this statue, a rare monument to Lenin can be viewed across the road in Shartuz Park. If you continue east on Stalin Avenue, the WW2 monument, Avicenna bust, Rudaki bust and bazaar can be visted. See more..
4.0 Bozori Markazi (1 review)
- The Central market
Flea & Street Markets • Farmers Markets
The Bozori Markazi is the central market in town. It is located on Avenue Stalin which runs through the town center. The market contains a number of small shops and farm produce. It is a great place to have a true local experience, as you walk amongst the crowded shopping areas on narrow paths. Prices are quite reasonable, and if you ignore the crowds this will be a memorable experience. We purchased fresh local bread (naan) , but didn't stay for too long as there were just too many people shopping. We planned to return early the following morning, but missed it, as we had to make an early start. After visiting the market, continue north on Avenue Stalin , and the busts of Avicenna and Rudaki. If you walk west, statues of Ismail Somoni, Vladimir Lenin and the mother monument (dedicated to WW2 fallen) may be visited. See more..
4.0 Parki Shakhrituz (1 review)
- Park with Statue of Lenin
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Parks

The Shahrtuz Park is the most popular park in town. It is located on Avenue Stalin which runs through the town. The entrance to the park is through an arch with twelve white columns. At the top of the arch is the name of the park in red letters. On either side of this structure are Tajik flags. There are beautifully manicured gardens with sculptures placed in a few areas. These sculptures included peacocks, eagles and a map of the world. This seems to be an old park, as there are quite a few tall trees which offer much shade cover. The centerpiece of the park is a gold sculpture of Lenin. The base of the monument is painted red with a white outline. The letters "V.I. Lenin" are shown in gold script. The sculpture shows Lenin with left hand holding his coat, and a rather strange shaped right hand outstretched at his side. This monument has an interesting story, as it was initially erected in 1980. After the country achieved independence in 1991 most Soviet era monuments were removed, but this sculpture was one of the few in Tajikistan that survived. In 2016, the statue was moved to the village of Obshoron, which probably was meant as it's final resting place. It took two years of local muslim clerics seeking donations to have the statue returned to the city. The statue was unfortunately damaged during it's removal, and the right hand had to be replaced when it was restored. The recently erected statue is painted gold, which makes it impossible to miss when walking through the park. We were happy to see that the statue was restored, as in a town of few attractions, this monument is one of the highlights. The Park is a favourite for local children and quite a few persons gather here at night when the park shines brightly with colored lights. There is a restaurant and play area for children in the park. Opposite this park is a monument to Ismail Somoni. If you walk east on Avenue Stalin, other attractions include WW2 monument, Avicenna bust, Rudaki bust and Bazaar. See more..
4.0 Pamyatnik Vov (1 review)
- WW2 memorial
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

The WW2 memorial is located at the intersection of Avenue Stalin and the A384. It is a sculpture of a lady in local dress. Her left hand holds plaited hair to her chest and right hand is by her side. In her right hand, it seemed to be a branch with leaves. To the left of the statue is the familiar Soviet tribute,'"No One and Nothing is Forgotten". These words are from a famous poem by Olga Berggolts, and are used at all major Russian war memorials. To the right of the statue are the years of WW2 i.e. 1941-1945. A red star with what seemed to be two green olive branches, was also in this area. The words,"The Blessed (Great) Victory" surrounded the star. We thought that a Soviet monument used to be here but was replaced by this locally made monument. Tajikistan provided approximately 260,000 soldiers to fight in WW2 , and an estimated 60,000 did not return from the war. Most towns and cities in Tajikistan have similar war memorials, but we thought that this sculpture was unique, as it showed a lady in a positive pose rather than the "sorrowful"(weeping) mother which is a common sight throughout Central Asia. After visiting this monument, the Somoni monument is a short walk west and the Lenin statue is opposite the Somoni monument. If you head east, the Rudaki and Avicenna busts can be viewed, and the local bazaar is also an interesting place to visit. See more..
4.0 Culture and Leisure Park (1 review)
- Парк культуры
Parks

Центральная часть города, где даже в самую жару очень прохладно и тихо. Дети могут покататься на аттракционах. а взрослые просто посидеть в тени. See more..
4.0 Civil War Monument (1 review)
- Monument to the popular front
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

See more..
4.0 Rumi Monument (1 review)
- Statue of a popular poet
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

The statue of Rumi is located opposite the local museum on Prospekt Borbad. The monument is installed on top of a brown tiled base which has the name of Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī in Tajik script. The sculpture shows him with right hand holding a robe to his chest and left hand at his side. Rumi is one of the most popular poets worldwide. He is a cultural icon in Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan and Central Asia. Rumi was born in Balkh, Afghanistan. He became a well known sufi mystic, and wrote poems that were used in his worship. His Mathnawi poem is considered one of the greatest collection of Persian poems. He spent most of his life in Turkey, and died in 1273 at the age of sixty six. A mausoleum was built in his honour in Konya, Turkey. His poems are still the basis of many cultural songs in Afghanistan and Turkey. After visiting this monument, walk west on Prospekt Borbad and turn right on Prospekt Vakhdat, and a statue of another famous poet, Rudaki can be viewed. See more..
4.0 Rahmon Murchaev Park (1 review)
- Great place to relax
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Parks

The Rahmon Murchaev Park is located on Vahdat Avenue, next to the theatre, The park has quite a few paths with benches next to them. There is not much shade, so the park is best visited in the afternoon. The gardens were well maintained and there were many activities for children. Our main reason for visiting this park, was to view the old Soviet war memorial. The memorial is in the northern section of the park, on the main path. It shows a grey painted sculpture of a male and female soldier, who are in the act of laying a gold wreath. The male soldier also holds a helmet with a star on it. On the grey tiled base of the monument, is an inscription with the years of world war II (1941-1945) and a ribbon image with a Soviet star to the right and a flowers to the left. It is estimated that over 260,000 Tajiks fought in WW2, of which more than 50,000 died. This is a rare example of a Soviet memorial in Tajikistan, as most of them have been removed and replaced. There is another Soviet memorial in a park behind the Hotel Ramz (a short walk north), but it was inaccessible when we visited. This Park is named in honour of Rahmon Murchaev, who was a paramilitary leader during the 1992-1997 civil war. This war resulted in the death of more than 60,000 persons and dislocation of many more. We found it surprising that there was no monument in the park to honour Rahmon, but were able to visit a gold bust dedicated to him, at the civil war monument on Ulitsa Lomonosova. There are many monuments and attractions a short walk north of this site. See more..
4.0 Bobojon Ghafurov Statue (1 review)
- Statue of a National Hero
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

The statue of Bobojon Ghafurov is located on the street named in his honour. It is a very busy area, as the monument is located in front of city hall. This site is easiest reached by walking south on Vahdat Avenue. The grey statue is erected atop a six sided brown base, which has a grey plaque with his name and years of his life. The sculpture shows Bobjon with book in hand. Bobojon lived between 1908-1977. He was born in a small town near to Khujand, which is now renamed in his honour, and became interested in literature at an early age, as his father was a writer. After completing University in Moscow, he returned to the country and worked as a civil servant. He was instrumental in having the first Academy of Sciences and State University constructed in Tajikistan. He published over 500 works. The most famous of these were "The Tajiks" and "Alexander the Great". The Tajiks created a separate cultural identity for Tajiks, who were usually seen as a tribe of the Uzbeks before. He was awarded the title of National Hero, and his image appears on the 50 somoni bank note. On his death, he was buried in Lutschob Park, Dushanbe where many famous local writers and artistes are interred. A monument to him was built in the park. After visiting this site, the old Soviet theatre is a short walk west. If you walk to the east, the beautiful Russian Orthodox church may be visited on Ulitsa A. Kakhorova. See more..
4.0 Skver Korona (1 review)
- Park with an interesting name
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Parks

The Corona Park is located at the intersection of RJ053 and RJ058. We visited this park to view the crown monument, and were not aware of the name of the park until recently. We were not sure why the park was named "Corona", but assumed that it may have been named after the popular money transfer agency in the country. The centerpiece of the park is a white monument with six arched supports which join at the top and support a gold crown. The gold crown is a replica of the one which was worn by Ismael Somoni, who ruled Khorasan in the 10th century. There are seven stars above the crown, as appears on the national flag and emblem. The gardens are well maintained with many small pine trees. Although quite a few benches are located in the park, there are no large trees to provide shade, so it can be a very uncomfortable area in the day. After visiting this site the first tractor monument is a short walk west. If you continue east on RJ058 for 2 km, the equestrian monument to Ismail Somoni can be visited, with his crown on view. See more..