Tursunzoda, city in Tajikistan
Tursunzoda is a city in western Tajikistan, set in a valley between mountains and fertile plains near the Uzbek border. The streets mix residential buildings, shops, cafes, and factory areas, with a large aluminum plant forming a major part of the urban landscape.
The city was long known as Regar, a name tied to the ancient regions of Bactria and Sogdiana that once spread across this part of Central Asia. During the Soviet period it grew into an industrial center, and in 1978 it was renamed after the Tajik poet Mirzo Tursunzoda.
The city takes its name from the Tajik poet Mirzo Tursunzoda, and references to his work appear in schools and public buildings around town. The bazaars sell locally made fabrics, pottery, and carpets that follow old craft traditions still practiced in the region.
The city lies west of Dushanbe and can be reached by road or by train, both options being straightforward from the capital. Once there, local minibuses cover the main areas, and many destinations in the center are easy to reach on foot.
The city's train station still carries the old name Regar, even though the city itself was renamed decades ago. Travelers arriving by train are greeted by this name before they even enter the city.
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