City: Dushanbe
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Things to do in Dushanbe, Tajikistan: The Best Monuments & Statues
Translating to "Monday" in Tajik, Dushanbe was once a tiny mountain village known for its Monday market. Today that village has become a metropolis, but the Barakat covered market remains one of the most vibrant attractions in the city. Dushanbe's wide, tree-lined avenues are home to a number of monuments and museums, including the Unified Museum and the Museum of Antiquities, as well as a beautiful opera theater and myriad cafes and teahouses where visitors can sample Tajik sweets.
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1. Sadriddin Aini Monument
2. Statue of Ismoil Somoni
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By alikarim - Dallas, United States
Ismail Somoni was a ruler and hero of this region and there are many places named after him in the city. The statue is across from the Parliament buildings, and from teh Rudaki Park and National Library. The statue and park grounds, the map of this empire, gardens, water structures etc are well kept and in good order. Worth visiting for a photo opportunity and to enjoy the various monuments, parks and Museum/Library here.
3. Monument to Abu Ali Ibn Sino (Avicenna)
4. Ferdowsi Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Azizus - Dushanbe, Tajikistan
A must-visit site for those who appreciate Shahnameh and Persian/Iranian/Tajik cultural heritage. The site is located in south-western part of the city
5. Monument to Abulkasim Lakhuti
6. Monument to Sadriddin Aini and Maxim Gorky
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By andrewmU2655XD
The monument to Gorky and Ayni is located in writers park on ismail Somoni street. This area is easily reached by taking trolleybus 2,10 and 11 or Bus 8,13 23 and 37 to the Putovskiy Bus stop. The monument is a short walk to the left of the writers union building. We thought that the park was well maintained and although quite small was one of the best gardens which we had seen in the city.The centerpiece of the park is a book and quill sculpture in a fountain. To the left of this sculpture is a path which leads to the Ayni and Gorky monument. The sculpture shows Maxim Gorky sitting on the left, with legs crossed and hands clasped at his knee. To his right is Sadriddin Ayni, who sits with both hands resting on his walking stick. A sculpture of what seems to be a part of a porch is behind them. The two poets would have met in 1934 when Gorky was appointed the first president of the Soviet Writers’ Union. Ayni was the Tajik representative at the first congress. They are both popular Soviet era writers who at one time promoted the Soviet policies due mainly to mistreatment by their respective leaders. In the case of Ayni, he was imprisoned in the Bukhara Zindan and tortured for writing what the Emir thought was "radical" poetry. After this experience, Ayni strongly promoted the Soviet revolution and rule in Tajikistan. Gorky's writings were censored by the czar in 1901, and he was arrested. He went to the Crimea region, but returned in 1903, and expressed his support for Lenin. Gorky was again arrested for his "radical" writings, and left Russia for Italy in 1906, where he remained until 1913. On his return to Russia in 1913 he campaigned against Russia's participation in WW1, thus providing support to Lenin's cause. After the revolution he became dis-spirited with the "new" politics and was sent into exile by Lenin in 1921. In 1929, at the invitation of Stalin, he returned to Russia to settle permanently. Gorky couldn't have known Ayni for a long time, as within 2 years of their meeting at the congress, Gorky died in 1936. His death was reported as suspicious. Both writers were seen as heroes in their respective countries. Ayni for writing the first Novel in Tajik language, and using prose fiction related to social and political events, which were easily understandable by readers. Gorky had a difficult youth, as he grew up in poverty, and was sent to work at the age of eight. He used these difficult experiences to describe in detail, the life of the lower classes. This is one of the few Soviet era monuments remaining in the city, as most have been removed. Other Soviet monuments include, the Kubyshev statue in front of the railway station and Park "Rail Ways" which is on the southern side of the railway tracks, and hosts statues to Chkalov and Kirov. Other sculptures of Ayni are included on the nearby writers wall memorial, in the Ayni mausoleum park north of the city and at the intersection of Ayni Street and Rudaki Avenue.
