Istaravshan Old Town
Истаравшан
One of the oldest cities in Tajikistan. Its adobe alleyways, mosques and craft workshops preserve the look of a traditional Central Asian old town.
Istaravshan, formerly known as Ura-Tyube, lies about 70 km southwest of Khujand. It was the center of the ancient kingdom of Ustrushana, and its history goes back 2,500 years. The old town preserves many adobe houses and narrow lanes. Landmarks include the Kok Gumbaz Mosque, the Hazrati Shokh complex, the Sarimazor Mosque and the Mug-tepa castle hill in the middle of town. The town is famous for its crafts, including knife-making, woodcarving and embroidery, and you can buy handmade knives at the central bazaar. Shared taxis from Khujand take about 1 to 1.5 hours, and it makes a good day trip. This is a conservative area, so dress with your arms and legs covered.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Mug Teppe
- Kok Gumbaz Mosque
- Bunjikat (Kahkaha)
- Khujand Fortress
- Historical Museum of Sughd
- Kamoli Khujandi Park
- Syr Darya Embankment
- Sheikh Muslihiddin Mosque and Mausoleum