After crossing over from the Wakhan Valley to the Pamir Highway, this morning I took a shared SUV from Khorogh to Dushanbe, the capital city. This was my longest (600 km) single day ride on the Pamir Highway. The landscape on the western Pamir highway is spectacular but the road is the most challenging. You will see more Afghan villages on this part of the M-41.
Photos below are of amazing landscape from the Western Pamir highway, from Khorog to Dushanbe, more beautiful but more challenging too. The left-hand side of the river is Afghanistan.
The Western Pamir highway, from Khorog to Dushanbe.The Western Pamir highway, from Khorog to Dushanbe.The Western Pamir highway, from Khorog to Dushanbe.Chinese made copy of Humvee.Qal’ai Khumb (Kalai-Khumb) is a small beautiful village between Khorogh and Dushanbe. I highly recommend spending some time in this village. A picturesque Afghan village on other side of the Panj river.The best transportation on the Pamir Highway.We got better ride this time, a Lexus Prado. Our 600 km ride in a single day was very comfortable.
The Capital city of Dushanbe is a typical Soviet style city with many monuments and wide boulevard lined with old and tall trees and benches. The name Dushanbe means Monday in Persian, because the city grew from a village that originally had a popular market on Mondays.
In the capital city after spending 12 days in the Pamirs. An old Manhole Cover with City’s Name in Russian. The statue of Ismail Somoni in Dousti (Friendship) Square, is one of Dushanbe’s most important monument. Ismail Somoni (849-907) was a Samanid Emir (ruler), who is considered the father of the Tajik nation. The Tajik currency, the Somoni, is named after him, and he appears on the 100 Somoni bill.It looks like I missed some kind of street food festival in the city. I saw the sign, but couldn’t find any shop or food stalls. My travel buddies in Wakhan Valley and on The Pamir Highway. I spent 4 days with the Japanese couple and spent 8 days hitchhiking with Paul from U.K..The hostel I stayed was a social place, it was fun sharing stories from the Pamirs and Wakhan Valley over Tajik Vodka.
Next day I made a day-trip to Hisor, a former trading post on the ancient Silk Road trade route.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Window on the World 