Ismoil Somoni Monument
Ҳайкали Исмоили Сомонӣ
Dushanbe's most iconic monument: a gilded statue of the Samanid ruler Ismoil Somoni holding a scepter beneath a golden crown-shaped arch.
The monument stands in Dousti Square (Friendship Square) in Dushanbe. It was built in 1999 to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the Samanid dynasty, and the site was once occupied by a statue of Lenin. The gilded figure of Ismoil Somoni, a Samanid ruler of the 9th and 10th centuries regarded as a founder of the Tajik nation, holds a scepter beneath a huge golden crown-shaped arch. Below are a stone base and a fountain garden. The Tajik currency, the somoni, is named after him. The square connects with Rudaki Park and the National Museum, forming a city-centre walking route: Somoni Monument, Rudaki Park, Flagpole, National Museum. The full loop takes about 2 to 3 hours. Celebrations are held in the square around Navruz (around 21 March) and Independence Day (9 September). For a panoramic photo, stand on the south side of the fountain.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- National Library of Tajikistan
- Rudaki Park
- Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments
- Dushanbe Flagpole & Palace of the Nation
- National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
- National Museum of Tajikistan
- Ayni Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Chaikhana Rohat