Ancient Penjikent

The ruins of ancient Penjikent, sometimes called the Pompeii of Central Asia, are among Tajikistan's most important historic sites, the evocative remains of a wealthy Sogdian city that flourished as a Silk Road trading centre from the fifth to eighth centuries. Spread across a hillside above the modern town, the excavated mud-brick foundations of temples, palaces, houses and a citadel were once richly decorated with vivid murals, now preserved in museums. The atmospheric site, set against the backdrop of the Fann Mountains, powerfully conjures the sophisticated pre-Islamic Sogdian civilisation.

The main sights

• The city ruins - the mud-brick foundations of the Sogdian city.
• The citadel and temples - the ruined palaces and shrines.
• The Rudaki museum - the murals and artefacts in the town.
• The mountain backdrop - the Fann Mountains beyond the site.

When to go

Spring, April to June, and autumn, September to October, for the mildest weather, as the summers are hot; the site is a natural stop on the way to or from the Fann Mountains and the Uzbek city of Samarkand, which lies just across the nearby border. Morning light is best for the hillside ruins.

Practical notes

It is a ruin of mud-brick foundations rather than standing monuments, so it takes imagination, ideally with a guide or a visit to the town museum where the famous murals are kept, to picture the once-vivid city; the site itself is modest to the untrained eye. For those interested in the Silk Road and the remarkable Sogdian civilisation, though, and as a gateway near the Fann Mountains and Samarkand, it is a worthwhile and atmospheric stop.

Nearby

The Fann Mountains, the Seven Lakes and the Uzbek border to Samarkand are close.