Tajikistan National Museum, Dushanbe (must see)

The Tajikistan National Museum is a large modern museum that brings together history, culture, and nature in one place. It opened in 2013, replacing an older and smaller museum building. The museum was designed as a national cultural centre, with a spacious layout and a central hall that helps visitors move easily between sections. Clear signs, short texts, maps, photos, and models make the exhibitions easy to understand, even for visitors with little background knowledge.

The archaeology and history sections cover life from ancient times to the Middle Ages. Visitors can see stone tools, pottery, coins, and jewellery from Silk Road sites such as Sarazm and Penjikent. A key exhibit is a replica or smaller version of the clay Buddha in Nirvana from Ajina-Teppa, dated to the 7th–8th century, showing the region’s Buddhist past before Islam. Manuscripts and later objects show how daily life continued to change.

Another part of the museum focuses on traditional culture and everyday life. Visitors can see carpets, embroidered fabrics, musical instruments, and household items from different regions. Clothing displays compare mountain communities, such as those from the Pamirs, with lowland traditions. Items like chakan embroidery and atlas silk help explain regional identity and skills passed down within families.

The natural history and modern history sections complete the visit. Dioramas show landscapes, wildlife, and geology in a clear visual way, alongside displays about biodiversity. Later halls cover the 20th century and the period after independence, helping visitors understand recent history as well as the deeper past.