Introducing Dushanbe

pop 600, 000 / elev 800m

With a cool backdrop of mountains, lazy tree-lined avenues and pastel-hued neoclassical buildings, Dushanbe is Central Asia’s best-looking capital – especially now that the bullet holes have been plastered over. Once scary and more than a little dangerous a decade ago, the Tajik capital is currently blossoming and is now one of Central Asia’s most pleasant cities, if just a little dull.