A tree-lined capital and gateway to the Pamirs
Dushanbe grew from a village famous for its Monday market into Tajikistan's capital in the Soviet era, and its tree-lined Rudaki Avenue still has a relaxed feel. Grand new monuments stand alongside Soviet buildings, and the National Museum of Antiquities displays a 13-metre reclining Buddha found at Ajina Tepe. The Mehrgon Bazaar is good for dried fruit, nuts and bread, and the Rohat teahouse is a classic place for tea and plov. Most travellers use the city to prepare for the Pamirs or the Fann Mountains.