Danghara, 2 hours south of Dushanbe, is the hometown of president Rahmon, and it shows. Beyond the palaces of the presidential family, Danghara’s show-stoppers include a beautiful multi-colour mosque and the 3rd-biggest chaikhana in the country/world. Remember them when you are bumping along the never-repaired Pamir Highway.
Danghara’s mega-chaikhana
Danghara also has a colourful bazaar and a lively amusement park, where the sheer unsafety of the rides makes for a good part of the excitement. The most recent addition to Danghara’s ever-growing list of attractions is a Rahmon-museum, inside the extravagant Palace of Culture.
Palace of Culture – via AsiaPlus
In the village of Korez just north of Danghara are the unexcavated remains of Zoli Zard (OSM), a smaller walled town for those who didn’t enjoy Hulbuk. Kafirkala south of Bokhtar (OSM) is a more impressive example.
Zoli Zard – should be easy to find some pottery here – via Wikimedia/BertramZ
Since 2018, however, Danghara is now first and foremost known for the terrorist attack that killed 4 foreign cyclists. We have written down our opinion on this incident.
A monument for the murdered cyclists in the Danghara attack.
Accommodation
If you did not make it to Dushanbe in time and would like to stay over somewhere in Khatlon, Danghara is better than Kulob or Bokhtar.
Spa Hayot is the best choice in town. It’s clean and rooms are big and luxurious with a walk-in shower, fridge, and big tv. Everything more or less works for 200 somoni. A VIP sauna is also available – we assume this is a byword for prostitutes, but we were spared any noises.
Hotel Nakhsh, on the way out of town towards Kulob, has unmotivated staff and unclean twin rooms with aircon for 150 somoni.
Tajikistan’s president professing his love – via AsiaPlus
Transport
Danghara can be reached in 2,5 hours from the Garm or Kulob ‘avtostantsiya’ (OSM / Gmaps) in Dushanbe for 25 Somoni for a seat in a shared car.
More destinations in Khatlon
- Kulob: salt mountain, mausoleum, kitschy fortress & screwhorn goats
- Qurghonteppa and Sarband: beaches and foothills
- Shahrtuz: ruins, swimming pools & wildlife
- Baljuvon and Muminobod: remote villages, camping and 4WD destruction
