Tajikistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Currencies

Tajikistan’s 100 Somoni Banknote Shortlisted Among World’s Best

A 100 somoni banknote issued by Tajikistan in 2025 has been named among the world’s top new banknotes, according to international experts. The annual “Banknote of the Year” competition is organized by the International Bank Note Society. The organization said that around 100 new banknotes were issued globally in 2025, but only 17 were deemed sufficiently innovative in terms of design and security features to be shortlisted. Tajikistan’s 100 somoni note was among those selected. The banknote features a vibrant, multi-colored design and includes a watermark with a portrait of ancient ruler Ismoil Somoni. It incorporates advanced security elements such as Rolling Star color-shifting features, a windowed security thread with dynamic effects, and a concealed “100” numeral. Additional features include see-through registration elements and complex geometric patterns. The note was printed by German firm Giesecke+Devrient and entered circulation on October 30, 2025. Kazakhstan also received recognition in the competition, with its 1,000 tenge banknote making the shortlist as well. However, neither country ultimately emerged victorious. The top prize went to a 200 guilder banknote issued by Curaçao and Sint Maarten, themed around the underwater world. The design combines a horizontal obverse with a vertical reverse. Fiji’s 5-dollar note took second place, while Zambia’s 100 kwacha banknote ranked third. Banknotes from the Falkland Islands and Papua New Guinea made up the top five. The International Bank Note Society says the competition highlights excellence in currency design, with banknotes judged not only as means of payment but also as expressions of national identity.

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Coming Sunday

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team will be covering the environmental situation in the Caspian Sea and the recent Regional Ecological Summit in Astana. Special guest, Vadim Ni, co-founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement.

Silk Road

Silver, Silk, and Forgotten Power: Central Asia’s Islamic Past Comes to London

At Sotheby’s in London, Central Asia comes into view as a world of dazzling craft and taste. The Arts of the Islamic World & India auction on April 29th gathers rare eastern Islamic works that show how the region turned faith, power, and luxury into art. The standout lot is a 12th or 13th-century silver ewer, catalogued as Persian or Central Asian. Most related vessels are brass or bronze. This one is comparable to vessels from the Harari Hoard, a group of 10th and 11th-century silver objects now largely held in the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem. The ewer’s presence gives the sale its sharpest point of entry. It is rare, ambitious, and unusually personal. [caption id="attachment_47817" align="aligncenter" width="2447"] A pair of Seljuk gold bracelets, Persia, Khurasan, 12th century; image: Sotheby's[/caption] A 10th-century Nishapur calligraphic dish shifts the focus from metal to script, turning a simple object into a work shaped by the visual grace of the written word. Timurid horse trappings, Qur’an pages, Sogdian silks, golden Mongol cloths, an embroidered robe, and a Shakhrisabz suzani broaden the picture from courtly power to sacred text and textile brilliance, ending in a tradition still closely associated with Uzbekistan. The timing gives the auction added weight. Uzbekistan is building a major new stage for Islamic heritage. The Times of Central Asia reported in April 2026 that its Center of Islamic Civilization has entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest museum. TCA asked Frankie Keyworth, a Specialist in Islamic and Indian Art at Sotheby’s, why Central Asia’s artistic legacy is commanding fresh attention now. [caption id="attachment_47818" align="aligncenter" width="8984"] A turquoise-set silver and brass belt buckle, Bukhara, Central Asia, 19th century; image: Sotheby's[/caption] TCA: Why are the artifacts in this auction so important for understanding Central Asia as a center of artistic production, rather than just a corridor between other civilizations? Keyworth: They really reiterate the breadth of artistic production in Central Asia, which is incredibly rich in terms of medium, design and chronology. The works presented here range from the 8th to the 19th century, from textiles to ceramics, metalwork to manuscripts, and they reveal traditions that are distinct to Central Asia, and others that inform and are informed by artistic production in other regions. The impressive silver ewer is a good example of this. Its nielloed decoration on silver is typical of a distinct group of silver vessels produced in Central Asia, but its form would go on to inform examples in other materials, such as bronze or ceramics produced later in Persia. [caption id="attachment_47819" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] A Timurid or early Ottoman tinned copper goblet (mashrabe), Central Asia or Eastern Anatolia, late 15th century; image: Sotheby's[/caption] TCA: Which object best captures Central Asia’s wider historical importance, and what makes it so revealing? Keyworth: It’s hard to pinpoint such a vast artistic tradition to one object, but luxurious textile production is synonymous with the arts of Central Asia. In this sale, we can see one of the earliest...

Silk Roads

The Northern Silk Road and the Middle Corridor

The recent hostilities in the Persian Gulf and the ensuing naval blockades of Iran have brought into sharp relief the growing importance of the Middle Corridor – or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) – the rapidly expanding trade link between Western China and Europe. This vast network of road, rail and maritime transport links had already increased in importance as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions, which have crippled large parts of Russia’s economy. With hundreds of container ships and oil tankers bottled up in the Gulf and the prospect of serious economic consequences, particularly in the developing world and for China and India, the idea of an overland – mostly – trade route to Europe is increasingly seen as a solution that provides a viable alternative in uncertain times. And not for the first time, as we shall discover. The TITR is around 3,000 km shorter than the so-called Northern Corridor through the Russian Federation, and transit times from China to Europe now average 10-15 days, compared to double that time for the Northern Corridor and anything up to 60 days for sea transport. According to World Bank estimates, the Middle Corridor could soon account for 20% of overland trade between China and the EU, with a tripling of current traffic levels by 2030, mainly due to economic growth in the Greater Caspian region. When planning began on the Middle Corridor almost 15 years ago, few people appreciated how rapidly it would develop. But as uncertainties over trade policies have increased, a route that avoids both the Russian Federation and the increasingly dispute-prone waterways in the Gulf and the Red Sea makes sense. Goods produced in Chinese factories in Chongqing, Xi’an and Urumqi can now be transported westward across Kazakhstan by rail to its Caspian Sea ports at Aktau and Kuryk. There are now major rail termini at the Kazakhstan-China border and more than 4,250 kms of rail lines in the network, together with 500 kms of sea transport. In Aktau on the Caspian, containers are loaded onto ships bound for Baku in Azerbaijan, where they are transferred onto the rolling stock of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway for shipment into Turkey. The original plan was designed to handle 6.5 million tons of freight annually, but this figure is expected to top 17 million tons by 2034. New port facilities to handle the increasing number of containers arriving at Aktau and Kuryk have been financed by Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol Programme. Aktau, for example, is being dredged to enhance maritime safety and expand capacity. Its port currently handles up to 15 million tons of cargo a year. According to the TITR itself, around 57,000 containers travelled along the route in 2024, up from 20,500 in 2023. The route has continued to gather momentum in 2026: from January to March, 125 container trains were dispatched from China via the corridor, a 34.4% increase over the same period last year. Rail traffic volume increased by 5.7% in Azerbaijan...

Tourism

Tajikistan to Make Tourism Pitch at Rock Spire Site

Tajikistan, where tourism has long been hindered by security concerns and a lack of infrastructure, plans to host an international tourism conference this summer in one of the country’s most picturesque areas. People from more than 20 countries are expected to attend the event in the mountainous region of Childukhtaron on June 4-5, according to tourism officials in Khatlon, the southern province that encompasses the natural spires of rock. The name, Childukhtaron, derives from ancient lore about girls who turned into towering rock formations to thwart an invading force. Childukhtaron is dozens of kilometers away from Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan, the scene of occasional incursions into Khatlon from the Afghan side by suspected drug smugglers as well as incidents of deadly attacks on Chinese workers. Tajikistan has stepped up security close to the border and says the area is under control, while tourism officials are confident that Childukhtaron is far enough away from the frontier to be secure. Still, some travelers might be deterred by long-running safety concerns about Tajikistan. A number of countries warn against travel to the immediate Tajik-Afghan border region and advise caution in other parts of the country because of concerns about terrorism. Canada, for example, says: “Avoid all travel to within 10 km of the border with Afghanistan due to the dangerous security situation and the threat of terrorism.” Earlier this year, China advised its nationals to leave the border area. The Tajik initiative in Childukhtaron is one of the latest efforts to attract visitors to parts of Central Asia that have much to offer tourists, but can be relatively difficult to visit because of long distances, basic infrastructure, and, in Tajikistan’s case, security concerns. Earlier this month, Turkmenistan hosted an international tourism conference, though it remains to be seen whether one of the world’s most closed countries will significantly ease regulations that deter some travelers. In contrast, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have taken big strides in developing tourism infrastructure. In the case of Khatlon in Tajikistan, authorities say foreign tourism in the province is on the rise. Khatlon officials say 344,000 tourists entered the region in the first quarter of 2026, according to the state Khovar news agency. The agency’s report didn’t provide a breakdown of domestic and foreign tourists or a figure for the same period last year. Khovar indicated that tourism in Khatlon is a work in progress, referring to the “development potential” of cities and districts there. Childukhtaron is in the Muminabad district, about 250 kilometers south of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital. That’s a drive of some hours, and some tour operators advise at least an overnight stay in the district. More adventurous travelers can consider renting a jeep or all-terrain vehicle to access remote areas. Childukhtaron “consists of pyramid-shaped rocks up to 60 meters high, which have been eroded by long-term winds,” Khovar reported. “There have been many legends and traditions about the Childukhtaron Mountains among the population and indigenous peoples since ancient times.”

World Nomad Games

Horses, Eagles, and Fire: The Steppe Awakens as the 2026 World Nomad Games Return to Kyrgyzstan

On the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, where mountains drop sharply into the water, and horses and cars are found in almost equal measure, Kyrgyzstan will host the World Nomad Games 2026 from August 31 to September 6, with The Times of Central Asia reporting from the ground. Since their launch in 2014, the Games have grown well beyond their origins, drawing competitors and audiences from across the world. This year’s emblem, the snow leopard, captures that idea with unusual precision. It has been adopted as the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan in recent years and has long been central to the country’s conservation diplomacy, including its role in establishing October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. Presented as a representation of strength, clarity, and endurance, it reflects both the terrain and the mindset that fortifies the event. [caption id="attachment_46882" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games[/caption] The Games have expanded beyond the region, but are now returning home again. Kyrgyzstan hosted the first three editions before they went to Turkey in 2022 and Kazakhstan in 2024. Their homecoming now carries greater international weight, reinforced by UNESCO’s support, recognizing their role in preserving intangible cultural heritage. This year’s experience is mostly set in the Issyk-Kul region, around three hours from Bishkek, where the mountainous landscape will form the backdrop to the lakeside venues. The opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled to take place in the capital’s Bishkek Arena. In Cholpon Ata, the hippodrome will host horse racing and Kok Boru, while the nearby sports complex stages wrestling competitions. The Rukh Ordo Cultural Center brings together strength events and traditional tournaments alongside parts of the cultural program. In Kyrchyn, the Ethno Village will become the core of the experience, where archery, falconry, crafts, performances, and food sit within a setting that reflects nomadic life. [caption id="attachment_46886" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Kok Boru at the Bishkek Hippodrome, 2014; image: Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Forty-plus sports disciplines will be spread across competitive and demonstrative formats, with more than 100 medals at stake. Kok Boru is fast and unforgiving, played on horseback as riders grapple over what was traditionally a headless goat carcass (now a synthetic dummy or serke), surging and colliding before hurling it into the opponent’s goal. [caption id="attachment_46885" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games[/caption] Horseback archery demands precision under movement, with riders standing in the stirrups or twisting at full gallop to fire arrows at distant targets. Eagle hunting illustrates a partnership between human and bird refined over generations, as trained golden eagles launch from the arm to track and strike prey across open ground. [caption id="attachment_46887" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Woman with a bird of prey, World Nomad Games, Astana, 2024; image: Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Wrestling styles such as Alysh and Kurash emphasize balance and control rather than brute force, with fighters gripping belts and using timing, leverage, and footwork to unbalance their opponent. The Times of Central Asia spoke with the International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games to...