Opened in 2011 and constructed to resemble an open book, this US$40 million archive is reputed to be Central Asia's biggest library. It creates an imposing, if less than beautiful, presence on the south side of Rudaki Park in central Dushanbe. Of the many writers whose busts appear on the exterior, only one is female. Until 5pm any day, you can drop in and ask for a guided tour of the interior, but while the guides are sweetly obliging, the spaces you're shown lack much visual impact.