Khujand

Khujand is the capital of Tajikistan's northern Sughd Region and the country's second-largest city. Located on the Syr Darya River at the entrance to the fertile Fergana Valley, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, with a history stretching back more than 2,500 years.

Founded as Alexandria Eschate, or the Furthest Alexandria, by Alexander the Great, Khujand grew into a major Silk Road trading centre. Its heritage is visible in the restored Khujand Fortress and the Historical Museum of Sughd Region, which document the city's ancient Sogdian, Islamic and later history. The Sheikh Muslikhiddin Mosque-Mausoleum and the 1884 Church of Mary Magdalene, the oldest Orthodox church in Tajikistan, reflect its layered cultural and religious past.

The city's landmarks are concentrated along the Syr Darya and in its compact centre. The lively Panjshanbe Bazaar, Kamoli Khujandi Park, Arbob Palace and riverside promenades give visitors a clear sense of daily life, while the surrounding Fergana Valley opens onto orchard landscapes and small Silk Road-era towns such as Istaravshan.

Khujand is also northern Tajikistan's main economic and transport hub, with textile production, trade and agriculture supporting its role as a gateway between Dushanbe, Tashkent and the wider Fergana Valley. Khujand International Airport connects the region to domestic and international routes, making the city a practical base for business travel.

For leisure and business travellers alike, Khujand offers a distinctive mix of ancient history, bazaar culture and Soviet-era architecture in one of Central Asia's most historically significant urban settings.