Iskanderkul
Искандаркӯл
A high-altitude lake at about 2,200 metres at the foot of the Fann Mountains, with turquoise waters encircled by snowy peaks. Legend links its name to Alexander the Great, and it is a classic day or two-day trip from Dushanbe.
Iskanderkul lies in the Fann Mountains about 140 km north of Dushanbe, at an altitude of about 2,195 metres. The lake covers about 3.4 square kilometres, and its colour shifts from emerald to deep blue with the seasons, surrounded by peaks over 5,000 metres. The name comes from the legend of Alexander the Great (Iskander in Persian) and his eastern campaign. Near the lake is a waterfall about 40 metres high, the Fanniyaro Waterfall, and there are tourist camps and guesthouses on the shore for overnight stays. From Dushanbe it takes about 3 to 4 hours by car north through the Anzob Tunnel. The tunnel is dark and the road surface is poor, so hiring a car is recommended. The area is also the gateway to hiking routes such as the Seven Lakes of Fann and Arawdin Lakes.
Note: Mountain temperatures vary greatly between day and night, so bring a jacket even on summer evenings, and expect weak mobile signal. This area is not part of GBAO, so no travel permit is required.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Varzob Gorge
- Imam Abu Hanifa Grand Mosque
- Dushanbe Botanical Garden
- Hisor Fortress
- Kokhi Navruz (Navruz Palace)
- National Museum of Tajikistan
- Chaikhana Rohat
- Dushanbe Flagpole & Palace of the Nation