Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region

Gorno-Badakhshan is an autonomous administrative region in eastern Tajikistan, covering roughly half the country's total area and sitting almost entirely in the Pamir mountain range. The landscape features narrow valleys, vast glaciers, and mountain summits exceeding 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), while settlements stand at elevations above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet).

Soviet authorities transformed the area into an autonomous region in 1929, investing in schools and roads over the following decades. After the Soviet collapse, the region experienced a civil war in 1993 that still shapes its political structures today.

People here in the Pamir speak various East Iranian languages such as Shughni, Wakhi, or Ishkashimi, which differ greatly from Tajik. Travelers notice Ismaili prayer houses along the roads, reflecting a distinct branch of Shia Islam with strong ties to the Aga Khan.

Visiting this area requires a special border permit for several districts and involves long journeys across unpaved mountain passes. Most villages offer only basic guesthouses, and mobile phone coverage disappears for days at a time.

The regional capital Khorog sits directly on the Panj river border, and visitors can look straight into Afghanistan from the riverside road. In some villages, residents switch between two homes depending on the season, one in the winter valley and one on higher summer pastures.

Location: Tajikistan

Inception: January 2, 1925

Capital city: Khorugh

Elevation above the sea: 7,496 m

Shares border with: Osh Region, Khatlon Province, Districts under Central Government Jurisdiction, Badakhshan Province, Xinjiang

Address: Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, Tajikistan

GPS coordinates: 38.00000,73.00000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:14