Ancient Panjakent, Old Panjakent, Stari Panjakent, Panjakent, Penjikent, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Sughd, Sogdiana, Sogdia

Panjakent Travel Guide + 6 Things to do in Panjakent, Tajikistan

Updated April 2023, Panjakent Travel Guide + 6 Things to do in Panjakent, Tajikistan was originally written in January 2020

Panjakent (also spelled Penjikent) is a small city in western Tajikistan, a short distance from Samarkand across the Uzbek border, and a great jumping-off point for trekking adventures into the Fann Mountains. I have been to Panjakent several times over the years, and have watched it morph from a quiet somewhat dead-end dot on the map to a once again lively border town with the 2018 thawing of relations and re-opening of the Panjakent border crossing between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Sitting in a flat spot in the Zervashan Valley with views of towering mountains to the north and south, Panjakent makes for a great place to relax and rest for a day or two before or after a long trek.

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Panjakent Travel Guide Table Of Contents

Things To Do In Panjakent
How To Get To Panjakent
Where To Stay In Panjakent
Where To Eat In Panjakent
How To Get Out Of Panjakent
Day Trips From Panjakent

Panjakent was an ancient city of Sogdiana that dates back to the 6th century BC. Panjakent flourished until 722 BC when the Arab (Umayyads) Conquest of Transoxiana arrived at Sogdiana.

The Umayyad general, Al Harshi chased Divashtich, the ruler of Sogdiana, into the Upper Zeravshan Valley, east of Panjakent where he was eventually captured and killed. Many of the inhabitants of Sogdiana and the city of Panjekent fled into the Upper Zeravshan Valley with Divashtich, and after his death moved south to settle into the difficult to access Yagnob Valley.

Several inhabitants of the Yagnob Valley are descendants of the ancient Sogdians and some even still speak Yagnobi, a language directly derived from ancient Sogdian.

Start here: The Ultimate Tajikistan Travel Guide
I recommend purchasing a copy of Bradt’s Tajikistan to help you plan your visit

Things To Do In Panjakent

Ancient Panjakent

As mentioned above, Panjakent’s history stretched back over 2,500 years and a wealth of ruins can be found about 1.5 kilometers from the center of modern Panjakent. Russian archaeologist Boris Marshak spent over 50 years of his life excavating the site of old Panjakent, digging up pottery, sculptures, frescos, and manuscripts.

The ruins have been carted off to museums in Russia and Uzbekistan, but walking among the sunbaked walls is still interesting nonetheless. The small Ancient Panjakent Museum sits at the southern edge of the site of Old Panjakent that showcases the excavation processes, however, most of the pieces inside are replicas. Admission is to the museum is 5 TJS.

If you don’t want to walk take Marshrutka #5, and ask ‘Stari Panjakent?‘ and they’ll let you off about 5 minutes walk away from the main site.

Panjakent Bazaar

The Panjakent Bazaar is usually bustling from early morning until mid-afternoon with locals and traders coming from villages in the Zeravshan Valley and Fann Mountains. The interior is worth a visit to see its unique circular shape. From produce to clothing, household items to snacks, and just about everything else can be purchased here at the Panjakent Bazaar.

This is going to be your best bet for picking up any last-minute items before heading out on treks into the Fann Mountains. Many of the shared taxis to Samarkand, Dushanbe, Khujand, and other destinations depart from near the bazaar.

Take a hike: The 10 best treks in Tajikistan

Rudaki Museum

The Rudaki Museum is great to visit to learn more about regional history and about Ancient Sogdiana. The Museum is comprised of several rooms, one dedicated to the famed poet Abu Abdullah Rudaki, and those that display ethnographic artifacts, historical pieces, frescoes, and artifacts found at Ancient Panjakent that weren’t taken out of the country (and several replicas), and one room that I’d like to call the ‘museum of horrible taxidermy’- visit and you’ll see why.

Admission is 15 TJS. Somehow I never took a single photo when I visited I visited the Rudaki Museum last back in 2017. But if you’d like to see a few photos, check out this post by George from Travel The Whole World (sorry I suck at blogging guys).

Olim Dodkho Mosque & Madrasa

Olim Dodkho functions as both a mosque and madrasa and sits right on the corner opposite the Panjakent Bazaar. The mosque is busiest on Friday mornings when men in their shiny green, purple, and white joma robes and black doppa caps enter the mosque for prayer time.

Panjakent, Penjakent, Penjikent, Tajikistan, Lenin, Lenin Statue — What’s up Lenin?

Statue Ismoil Somoni, Somoni, Somoni Statue, Somoni Statue Panjakent, Panjakent, Penjikent, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Sughd, Sogdiana, Sogdia — Ismoil Somoni

Loik Sherali Statue, Devashtich Statue, Somoni Statue and Lenin Statue

Loik Sherlai was a modern-day poet from nearby Mazar i Sharif, Devashtich was the 8th century ruler of Ancient Sogdiana, Ismoil Somoni was the Samanid Emir of Transoxiana and Khorasan, and Vladimir Lenin was the head of the first head of the Soviet Union.

What do these men all have in common? They each have a statue in Panjakent. Sherali, Devashtich, Somoni, and Lenin have all had a part in shaping not just Panjakent’s, but also Tajikistan’s history.

Plan your trek into the Fann Mountains

Sarezm Ruins, Panjakent, Tajikistan — Sarezm

The Ruins of Ancient Sarezm

Sarezm, located just 15 kilometers from Panjakent near the Uzbek border is likely the oldest city in Central Asia, dating back to the 4th century BC. It’s now an archeological site featuring several areas of the ancient city that have been dug up and later covered to protect the primitive walls from being further damaged by the intense sun. Carbon dating of artifacts show that the city had been inhabited before 3,500 BC.

Sarazm is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Sarazm Princess was discovered here. There is a tiny Sarazm Museum on site that houses some of the artifacts discovered here, but most are in Dushanbe or beyond.

You can take Marshrutka #3 westbound from Rudaki Avenue to reach Sarazm.

How To Get To Panjakent

From Dushanbe: From Dushanbe, you’ll need to grab a taxi to the Cement Zavod Taxi Stand on the northern edge of the city. From Cement Zavod you can usually get a seat in a shared taxi for about 130 TJS.

From Khujand: From Khujand, head to the Yova Bus Station to find shared taxis departing to Panjakent for about 130 TJS.

Where To Stay In Panjakent

Budget

Salom Hostel
| Booking.com | Agoda.com |

Ran by the super friendly and helpful Safar and family, Salom Hostel is tucked in a neighborhood behind the Rudaki Carnival. There are two dorm rooms and a lovely courtyard to lounge and have breakfast in.

Safar can help you with just about anything you need as a traveler in and around Panjakent. I love hanging out in the courtyard on rest days between and after hikes. Salom is a great place to try and meet other travelers to join in the Fanns if you’re not keen on solo trekking.

Midrange

Umariyon Hotel
| Booking.com |

Umariyon Hotel is upstairs from a minimart and has rooms with private and shared bathrooms. I’ve always found the staff friendly when I’ve stayed at Umariyon, but it does have that ‘old Soviet hotel’ feel to it.

Safina, Safina Cafe, Cafe Safina, Cafe Safina Panjakent, Kurutob, Qututob, Shashlik, Veggie shashlik, Vegetable shashlik, Panjakent, Penjikent, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Sughd, Sogdiana, Sogdia — Kurutob and veggie shashliks at Cafe Safina

Where To Eat In Panjakent

Safina Cafe: Sarina Cafe serves up typical Central Asian fare. The kurutob, plov, and various soups are decent, but shashlik is the main attraction. Vegetarians (and those that are just tired of the meat-heavy diet) can rejoice as they’ll make vegetable shashlik on order.

Panjakent Bazaar: Several little chaikhanas are scattered along the Bazaar serving up the usual Central Asian snacks and dishes such as samsa, plov, manti, shashlik, and more.

Heading to or coming from Uzbekistan? Check out my two week Tajikistan & Uzbekistan itinerary

How To Get Out Of Panjakent

To Dushanbe: Shared taxis leave from the bus station, 2 km east of the Panjakent Bazaar. You can usually find cars trying to fill up out in front of the bazaar too. A seat will cost you about 130 TJS.

To Samarkand: In the lot across the street from the Panjakent Bazaar you’ll find shared taxis waiting to fill up to make the 15 minute journey to the border. A seat will cost 10 TJS, or you can charter the entire car for 40 TJS. Once across the border, you’ll need to negotiate a shared taxi to Samarkand. Expect to pay about 7,000 UZS for a seat in a shared taxi, or charter the whole car for about 28,000 UZS. Read more about crossing the Panjakent border crossing.

To Khujand & Istaravshan: Istaravshan and Khujand bound shared taxis can be found in the lot opposite Rudaki Avenue from the clothing bazaar, or from the bus station 2 km east of town. Khujand bound shared taxis will cost about 130 TJS per seat, and Istaravashan shared taxis will cost about 100 TJS.

To Haft Kul: Shared taxis to the Haft Kul villages leave from around the bazaar for about 55 TJS, just ask around. For the 20 TJS minibus to Shing, the village just before the lakes, you’ll need to head up the street leading off of Rudaki at the bazaar before 2 pm.

To Artuch (Fann Mountains): To get to Artuch to begin a trek in the Fanns to Kulikalon, Chukurak and beyond you can either try to catch the 25 TJS minibus that leaves from near the bazaar at 9:30 am and 12 pm, or grab a shared taxi for about 60 TJS per seat.

Plan your next move to Dushanbe, Samarkand, Khujand, Istaravshan, the Haft Kul, or trekking the Lakes Loop

Day Trips From Panjakent

Mazor i Sharif

In the nearby town of Mazor i Sharif (not to be confused with the Mazar e Sharif in Afghanistan) is the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed Boshoro. I personally haven’t had the chance to visit Mazor i Sharif (been meaning to for the last few years) but Alex from Lost With Purpose did this year, you can see a few photos yourself in her post of 70 photos of western Tajikistan.

Haft Kul

If you’re on a time crunch and can’t do longer treks in the Fanns, or spend a night out in the Haft Kul, it’s possible to visit the Seven Lakes as a day trip from Panjakent. You can reach 6 of the 7 lakes by road, the 7th is only a short walk beyond Marguzor (lake #6). Chartering a car for this day trip will cost you about $80 USD return, but can be split amongst up to 5 travelers.

Read more on everything you need to know before visiting the Haft Kul here.

Read: The Haft Kul Trekking Guide

Panjrud

Panjrud is the birthplace of the renowned poet Abu Abdullah Rudaki, and such, his own Rudaki Mausoleum can found here in Panjrud, right off the main path as you bump along the road toward Artuch. It’s possible to get to Panjrud by way of minibus from Panjakent (the same one bound for Artuch) or about 10 TJS, but getting out of Panjrud may take a while (or you’ll need to find someone around with a car to drive you back to Panjakent, or onwards to Artuch if you don’t wanna wait around).