The settlement of Sarazm is one of the oldest monuments of the Eneolithic and early Bronze Age in Central Asia. In the upper reaches of the Zarafshan, four monuments and several points with finds characteristic of all stages of the Bronze Age were discovered. These sources are the Sarazm mahalalla, the tomb of Zardja Khalifa, the Dasht-e-Kazi cemetery, the Chorbag cemetery, etc. The area of these monuments and finds covers up to 140 km in length and 15-20 km in width. On July 31, 2010, Sarazm was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The ancient city of Panjakent is located 1.5 km southwest of the city of Panjakent.
Ancient Panjakent has all the pillars of the city. Now from under the ground, walls of residential, administrative and religious buildings occasionally appear. Panjakent is one of the eastern cities of Sogd, subordinate to the city of Samarkand. During the reign of Devashtich, this royal center develops to such an extent that it does not submit to the center of Sogd, the city of Samarkand, but claims to subjugate Samarkand. The Sogdian people lived in the city of Panjakent and communicated in the Sogdian language. Archaeological excavations have been carried out only in half of the city and are still ongoing. As a result, a governor’s castle, two temples with courtyards in the city center, a main street and ten narrow streets, alleys and craft shops, bazaars, and defensive walls of the castle were discovered. It is obvious that the city was inhabited mainly by nobles. But besides them, there were also rowing boats. The residential buildings consisted of two and three floors. It is not unlikely that merchants also lived in this city and conducted trade by caravans from China to Rome along the Silk Road. Thick and strong walls, narrow streets between buildings allowed people to build two-story warehouses here, where they stored their grain. Each city had a reception hall, decorated with oriental colors, carvings, and its walls were painted. Each of them tried to decorate its hotel like a royal palace, which is a sign of the high culture of the local residents. Now most of these finds are kept in the large museums of Panjakent itself, Dushanbe, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
The people of Panjakent practiced Zoroastrianism. Two large temples in the center of the city testify to their faith. A god is carved on a wooden trunk, sitting on a throne. Like other civilized peoples, one of the main occupations of the Panjakents is gardening and livestock. However, it is strange that there were no trees or livestock inside the city, except for two sacred trees. The garden was developed outside the city. The people’s livestock was also raised outside the city. The remains of the pipe indicate that the city had a single sewage system. Although the city is located on a hill, water is brought to the city center through an underground pipe and is pumped up from special wells located in several places in the city. This is due to the fact that the governor’s castle and control offices are located outside the city. Devashtich entered the city through a special road. From the finds of various gods, it is clear that the market was convenient in the city and people traded from all corners of the world. And conditions have been created for them so that everyone can worship their own religion.
The peaceful life of the people of ancient Panjakent was put to an end by Ibn Qutayba, an Arab general. After conquering Samarkand, he sent an army to Panjakent. Devashtich, considering resistance futile, prayed for his people and handed over Panjakent to the Arabs. Now some scholars believe that Devashtich converted to Islam at the end of his life.
The Sogdians were aware of the achievements of the civilization of the great peoples of their time. In this regard, in their culture, one can encounter elements of the culture of other peoples, including Rome and India. However, the art and culture of the Sogdians differ from the culture of other peoples with their uniqueness of style, unique style, and distinctive elements.
The discovery of ancient Panjakent is a unique achievement for the history of Tajikistan, as the monuments and sites reflect the literature, folklore, and customs of the past of the Tajik people, and are another reason for pride and honor!
Haftul is one of the lakes of the natural area of Tajikistan. Haftul is located in the Fon Mountains of the Zarafshan Range. The Fon Mountains Natural Area is the highest part of the Zarafshan Range, surrounded by the Fon River to the east and the Marghuzor Lakes and the Shing River to the west. There are more than 30 lakes with clear, cold water in the Fon Mountains, which originate from snow-capped mountain peaks. The lakes are located on the slopes of new and old landslides, which were formed as a result of the melting and displacement of glaciers. Among them, the Marghuzor Lakes or the Seven Little Shing Lakes stand out with their characteristics. The Marghuzor Lakes consist of seven turquoise lakes, flowing like a chain through the wide valley of the Shing River. The lowest lake is located at an altitude of 1598 meters above sea level, the second lake is at an altitude of 1701 meters, and so each of the lakes is located higher than the other, one is more beautiful than the other, and it is more difficult to visit the lake, because the road to it is difficult. The last lake is located at an altitude of 2400 meters. Local residents say that anyone who enjoys visiting it will be happy all their lives. The lakes of Marghuzor, and especially Lake Mijgon, are very beautiful with their unusual color of water. Mineral fertilizers dissolved in the water give even the foam of the Shing River a heavenly color. When the turbulent Shing River enters the lake and calms down, its water takes on a deep blue and purple color.
