Murgab

Introducing Murgab

The wild-east town of Murgab is a day’s drive (310km) from Khorog. A former Tsarist garrison like Khorog, but rougher around the edges, Murgab isn’t exactly charming but it is a good base from which to explore the eastern Pamirs. The town itself is half-Kyrgyz, half-Tajik (the surrounding communities are almost all Kyrgyz) and there is some tension between the two communities. On clear days, the 7546m-high Chinese peak of Muztagh Ata is visible to the northeast of town.

Electricity alternates daily between the two halves of town but is of such low voltage as to be of marginal use, so don’t expect to recharge batteries here.

Murgab operates on Badakhshani time, which is an hour after Dushanbe, and the same as neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.

Murgab House, a new ecocentre in the northern outskirts of town, houses META, the Yak House, a small museum and an internet café. The cleverly-designed building incorporates architectural elements from both a Kyrgyz yurt and a Pamiri house.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009