Istaravshan

Istaravshan is an administrative centre in Istaravshan province and the second-largest city in Sughd province located in the foothills of Turkestan Range, in the northern part of Tajikistan. Also, it is considered to be one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, a city-museum and an ancient centre of trade and crafts. The territory of Istaravshan is 900 km² with a population of 64,600 people as of 2019. The distance from the city centre to Khujand city makes 78 kilometres, as well as Kattasai reservoir is situated 10 kilometres to the south. The climate in Istaravshan is mild, especially winters are snowy and summers are hot and dry.

The transport is not well-developed, that is why the main routes to the city are road drive. In comparison with the distance between Dushanbe and Isatravshan which is 300 km, it makes 80 km from the centre of Istaravshan to Khujand. From sports, the development of football is taken into account in Istaravshen, where Istaravshan-Arena is the most visited and attracted stadium. There are two football clubs: Istaravshan and Daleron-Uroteppa.

The most attractive place is the old historical part of the city with its monuments and quarters. Another attractive sight is Mug Teppe Fortress which territory makes 18 ha located on the shore of Nijon River. Other famous buildings that tourists are able to visit in Istaravshan city are History Museum, Alley of National Heroes, Tree Garden Museum, Museum of weapons and craft workshops. The ensemble of Khazrati Shokh consists of three cult buildings: Khazrati Shokh Mausoleum, Khudoyor Valami Mausoleum and Namozgokh or Khazratishokh Mosque. There are lots of mausoleums and mosques in the city to explore, which are Sari Mazor, Ajinakhona, Chor-Gumbaz and Abdulkodyr Geloni mausoleums, as well as Havzi Sangin, Abdullatif Sultan, Bobo-Toga and Mavlono Usmoni Charhi mosques.