Tajikistan is a patchwork of self-contained valleys and regional contrasts, forged together by Soviet nation-building and shared pride in a Persian cultural heritage that is claimed as the oldest and most influential in the Silk Road region. It has emerged from post-independence turmoil to be safe, stable and scenically spectacular. Travel is a grade harder here than most places in the region, but if you are ready to take things as they come, Tajikistan offers the cutting edge of Central Asian adventure travel. The Pamir region is easily the country's highlight, with peaks dwarfing anything found outside Nepal, and the Pamir Highway provides plenty of sublime high-altitude views. Anyone following this road has the added thrill of knowing that few 'foreign devils' have passed this way since the days of the Great Game. The young capital, Dushanbe, still feels like an apartment awaiting its tenants. The economy survives on a drip feed from Moscow, while the Pamiris survive on the largesse of the Aga Khan. Warning The security situation in Tajikistan has improved dramatically since the end of the war in 1997, and it is now as safe to travel there as in most other parts of Central Asia. That said, the area bordering Afghanistan is still considered a place of heightened risk to travellers, as are the mined areas in the areas bordering Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Seek consular advice beforehand and local advice upon arrival. Full country name: Republic of Tajikistan Area: 143,100 sq km Population: 6.44 million People: Tajik (65%), Uzbek (25%), Russian (declining because of emigration), other Language: Tajik, Russian Religion: Sunni Muslim (80%), Shi'a Muslim, other Government: republic Head of State: President Imomali Rakhmonov Head of Government: Prime Minister Akil Akilov GDP: US$6 billion GDP per capita: US$990 Annual Growth: 5.3% Inflation: 46.3% Major Industries: Aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers, cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables, cattle, sheep, goats Major Trading Partners: CIS, the Netherlands, Switzerland, UK Visas: Visas are not issued at the airport, nor at Tajikistan's border crossings. Border controls are rare but there are frequent internal checkpoints, and if you intend moving outside Dushanbe you must have impeccable documents. You can currently get visas at Tajik consulates in Moscow and Bonn. If you do arrive in Tajikistan without a visa, the immigration department of the Foreign Ministry in Dushanbe may give you one. Note that every Tajik town that you intend visiting or passing through should be listed on your visa. As a result of border tensions and smuggling, the army and militia do not appreciate the presence of foreigners, and if officials are not completely satisfied with your papers you will probably be deported. Health risks: hepatitis, altitude sickness, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid, malaria (A slight risk of malaria exists in the south) Time Zone: GMT/UTC +5 Dialling Code: 992 Electricity: 220V ,50Hz Weights & measures: Metric

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