Qal'ai Khumb

Qal'ai Khumb (Russian: Калаихум, Tajik: Қалъаи Хумб, Qal‘a‘i Xumb/Qal'haji Xumв — meaning fortress on the banks of the river of Khumb) or Qal'a-i-Khum, also Kalai-Khumb (transliterated from Russian: Калай-Хумб), is a border town located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan, next to the border with Afghanistan. In the past it was the center of the independent Principality of Darvaz.[2] It is now the capital of the Darvoz District of Tajikistan. The Pamir Highway meets here the Panj River.

Qal'ai Khumb
Russian: Калаихум
Қалъаи Хумб (in Tajik)
قلعۀ خمب‎ (in Persian)
View from eastern end of town (near mosque)
Qal'ai Khumb
Location in Tajikistan
Coordinates: 38°27′59″N 70°47′48″E
Country Tajikistan
RegionGorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
DistrictDarvoz district
Elevation
1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Population
 • Total1,909
Time zoneUTC+5 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5 (GMT)
Area code+992 3552
ClimateCsa
Official languages

The town is an important overnight rest stop between Kulob and Khorugh, located at a distance of 168 km (104 mi) from Kulob (or 368 km (229 mi) from Dushanbe) and 235 km (146 mi) from Khorugh.[3] It has several hotels to accommodate travelers on their way between cities.[4] The town is almost entirely surrounded by the Pamir Mountains.

The town is connected by road with Afghanistan via the Tajik–Afghan Friendship Bridge. The Saturday cross-border trade market, which was closed for several years,[5] has been reopened recently.[6][7][8]

See also

References
  1. "КОНСТИТУЦИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАДЖИКИСТАН". prokuratura.tj. Parliament of Tajikistan. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. Grevemeyer, Jan-Heeren (1994). "DARVĀZ". Encyclopedia Iranica.
  3. Transport projects in Tajikistan (in Russian). Retrieved on 26 June 2009
  4. "Qalai Khumb and Yoged". Caravanistan. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  5. "Kalai-Khumb". Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  6. "Afghans and Tajiks mix in rare but vital border bazaar". Al-Monitor. May 17, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  7. "Afghans and Tajiks mix in rare but vital border bazaar". Business Recorder. May 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  8. د افغانستان او تاجیکستان په پوله شنبه بازار on YouTube, VOA Pashto, May 18, 2024.
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