The Site of Ancient Town of Pyanjekent

The site of ancient town of Penjakent lies on a hill just south of the modern town. It is within walking distance (1 km) from the town center. Penjakent is 60 km of Samarkand and the border between the two countries is now open (for most, e-visa necessary for Tajikistan, but no visa anymore for Uzbekistan).

It is on Tajikistan TL twice (on its own right, and as part of the “Silk Roads Sites in TJ” serial project). It is also part of a trans-national serial nomination called Silk Road: Penjikent-Samarkand-Poykent (or Zarafshan) Corridor, referred in 2014, but still being worked on.

It consists of a citadel in the west, with three belts of fortifications and the vast city proper, on the east, defended by fortress wall. The city was built in the V century. The total area is large with 35,5 hectares of ruins and walls.

In the city, remains of two temples, streets, shops, workshops, markets, multiroom two- and even three-story dwelling houses can be seen. Some of the richest houses were decorated with wall paintings and wooden statues, most of them now in display in the Hermitage Museum in Saint-Petersburg. A few can be seen in the Rudaki Museum in central Panjakent. On the southern end of the site lies a very small museum with mostly reproduction of those wall paintings, and a few original artifacts.

This site is vast, and makes a pleasant walk. The remains od the city are not clear, …

In May 2007, I visited from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, making a day trip visit to Penjikent, a city a few miles from the Uzbek/Tajik border -- the ruins of Penjikent were unspectacular, but the bazaar was colorful and photogenic. The trip required a double entry Uzbek visa. The overland border crossing between Samarkand and Penjikent may now be closed, so instead a visitor would be required to make a lengthy journey from Dushanbe.