National Museum of Antiquities
National Museum of Antiquities
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Reslysten54
Vienna, VA2,703 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
Different cultures, religions, and elites have battled each other over the many centuries of history on display in this richly endowed museum. The one item that was most surprising to me was to come across a 13m long Buddha in a Sleeping Lion position. Found in the Buddhist monastery Ajina Tepe from the 7-8th centuries, this statue was excavated and cut into 92 pieces that were then assembled.
Written May 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,589 contributions
Aug 2019
This museum is easily reached by taking trolleybus 2 to the Opera House bus stop on Rudaki Avenue. After getting off the bus, cross the road and walk west on Academics Rajabov Street. The museum is in a white Soviet era building on the right. Entrance fees are 50 somoni for foreigners and 5 somoni for locals. Before entering the museum, the attendants will request that you place "shoe covers" over your footwear. The museum exhibits are on two floors.
The lower floor has exhibits on the stone age and bronze age. In this section was an interesting map of archaeological sites in Dushanbe, and the periods which related to the discoveries. Another interesting display, was a map of the route which Alexander the Great took through Tajikistan (Bactria). We had visited Takhiti Sangin (Temple of Stone) in southern Tajikistan, so were very interested in the items on display here, as they were all original pieces removed from the site. We were also pleasantly surprised that English explanations were available.
Exhibits from the Kushan period were very good. The Kushan Empire was responsible for the spread of Buddhism in this region, and we thought that these displays were also well done. They included burial urns and petroglyphs. Our favourite area was the "sleeping buddha" display from Ajina Teppa. We had visited this area in southern Tajikistan a few days before, and were very impressed with the quality and detail of the exhibits. Most of the displays were badly damaged during the arab invasion of the site in the 7th century, but quite a few pieces were still in good condition.
The beautiful murals which hung in the passageway seemed to have been taken from ancient wall displays. The final exhibits were of decorated bowls and stones with Persian script. We thought that this was a great museum, but we probably appreciated the exhibits more than the typical visitor, as we had toured southern Tajikistan extensively, and visited many archaeological sites. We had also visited Buddhist sites in Termez, Uzbekistan and Merv, Turkmenistan. The museum is expensive when compared to other attractions in town, but if you are interested in history, and original artifacts, this is a must see.
After visiting the museum, walk back to the main road to view the Opera House and the Alisher Navoi Park which is nearby. If you walk to the right on Rudaki Avenue, the Ayni sculpture can be viewed, and if you walk to the left, the Mahatma Gandhi bust can be visited on Bukhoro Street.
The lower floor has exhibits on the stone age and bronze age. In this section was an interesting map of archaeological sites in Dushanbe, and the periods which related to the discoveries. Another interesting display, was a map of the route which Alexander the Great took through Tajikistan (Bactria). We had visited Takhiti Sangin (Temple of Stone) in southern Tajikistan, so were very interested in the items on display here, as they were all original pieces removed from the site. We were also pleasantly surprised that English explanations were available.
Exhibits from the Kushan period were very good. The Kushan Empire was responsible for the spread of Buddhism in this region, and we thought that these displays were also well done. They included burial urns and petroglyphs. Our favourite area was the "sleeping buddha" display from Ajina Teppa. We had visited this area in southern Tajikistan a few days before, and were very impressed with the quality and detail of the exhibits. Most of the displays were badly damaged during the arab invasion of the site in the 7th century, but quite a few pieces were still in good condition.
The beautiful murals which hung in the passageway seemed to have been taken from ancient wall displays. The final exhibits were of decorated bowls and stones with Persian script. We thought that this was a great museum, but we probably appreciated the exhibits more than the typical visitor, as we had toured southern Tajikistan extensively, and visited many archaeological sites. We had also visited Buddhist sites in Termez, Uzbekistan and Merv, Turkmenistan. The museum is expensive when compared to other attractions in town, but if you are interested in history, and original artifacts, this is a must see.
After visiting the museum, walk back to the main road to view the Opera House and the Alisher Navoi Park which is nearby. If you walk to the right on Rudaki Avenue, the Ayni sculpture can be viewed, and if you walk to the left, the Mahatma Gandhi bust can be visited on Bukhoro Street.
Written November 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mehzabin87
Pune, India108 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
The exhibits are very well displayed. The huge Buddha is enourmous and the best part of the museum . The Mughal area stones with scriptures and shiva parwati statues are the high lights and
Written July 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JGDynamo
Canada2,084 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
The National Museum of Antiquities in Dushanbe houses the original reclining Buddha from the ancient Buddhist Monastery Ajine-Tepa we had seen earlier that same week. The exhibits at the NMoA are great with all the original artifacts and well set up even though it is much smaller than the NMoT. Very worthwhile if you want to feel like Indiana Jones or are interested in the ancient originals which we are and thoroughly enjoyed.
Written May 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noor8888
Brussels, Belgium36 contributions
Apr 2018
You can visit this museum in 30 mins, but if you are lucky you might meet a friendly lady who would tell you stories about Sogdia and Bactria. The Buddha is a must if you are in Dushanbe
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mickyryan
Portland, Oregon63 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
this is a wonderful place with many important antiquities found all over Tajikistan. Our guide at the museum was wonderful.
Written March 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland28,818 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
Dushanbe has a new and grand museum, the National Museum of Tajikistan, which is very much worth seeing, but there is in a distance of about a kilometer the smaller and older National Museum of Antiquities, which should not be left out by anybody interested in the rich past of this area (which was not always called Tajikistan).
The rooms here in this neoclassical building are smaller and the exhibits arranged in a more old-fashioned way, but at least here can be seen the originals, of which had been made copies for the National Museum. This is especially the case with the 12m long reclining Buddha, which had been found in a former Buddhist monastery in southern Tajikistan.
And in about the time, when the Taliban were busy destroying the standing Buddha statues of Bamyan, the government of Tajikistan gave the orders for a restoration of their giant Buddha by specialists from the Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg.
Apart from the Buddha statue one is fascinated by the very rich past of Tajikistan, which involved so many cultures and religions: from the Zoroastrians to the Hellenistic-Greek Pantheon to Buddhists, to Nestorian Christians up to the time of the early Islamic expansion.
There are museum guides available, and while I usually prefer to go on my own, this time I really enjoyed the guided tour by Kamila, who not only spoke very well English, but also was very knowledgeable. It was not stuff, she had learned by heart, no, she really seemed fascinated by all the pre-islamic cultures, as I soon discovered, and she could answer questions about this period, which were not related to certain exhibits.
What comes a bit as a surprise is the fact that the entry here is with 50 TJS exactly the double of the much bigger National Museum. Next door is the Ethnographic Museum, but when I went there, I was told by the staff that they had an electricity problem and thus no light (and no visitors).
The rooms here in this neoclassical building are smaller and the exhibits arranged in a more old-fashioned way, but at least here can be seen the originals, of which had been made copies for the National Museum. This is especially the case with the 12m long reclining Buddha, which had been found in a former Buddhist monastery in southern Tajikistan.
And in about the time, when the Taliban were busy destroying the standing Buddha statues of Bamyan, the government of Tajikistan gave the orders for a restoration of their giant Buddha by specialists from the Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg.
Apart from the Buddha statue one is fascinated by the very rich past of Tajikistan, which involved so many cultures and religions: from the Zoroastrians to the Hellenistic-Greek Pantheon to Buddhists, to Nestorian Christians up to the time of the early Islamic expansion.
There are museum guides available, and while I usually prefer to go on my own, this time I really enjoyed the guided tour by Kamila, who not only spoke very well English, but also was very knowledgeable. It was not stuff, she had learned by heart, no, she really seemed fascinated by all the pre-islamic cultures, as I soon discovered, and she could answer questions about this period, which were not related to certain exhibits.
What comes a bit as a surprise is the fact that the entry here is with 50 TJS exactly the double of the much bigger National Museum. Next door is the Ethnographic Museum, but when I went there, I was told by the staff that they had an electricity problem and thus no light (and no visitors).
Written July 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol A S
Marietta, GA4,153 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Dushambe has two museums with historical artifacts: the newer and larger National Museum of Tajikistan (on the north side of Rudaki Park), and the older and smaller National Museum of Antiquities (at the intersection of Istravshan Street and Academics Rajabov Street). NMoT has four floors of exhibits on Tajik geology, flora and fauna as well as artifacts and historical reconstructions. NMoA is the real deal: selected artifacts from Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Hellenistic, Islamic and Pamir cultures are displayed on two floors. The best is the Buddha in Nirvana, a 13 meter statue of Buddha peacefully lying on his right side from the Kushan era (500 AD) excavated from Ajina-Tepe. Also of note is "the princess", a flexed burial with beads and other grave goods from an archaeological site in Sarazm (near Penjikent). Burial markers, ceramics, tapestries, carved ivory and other artifacts illustrate the rich blending of cultures influencing Tajikistan over the ages. The museum is open 9-5 Tues to Saturday, 9-1 Sunday and closed Monday. The admission charge is 50 TJS. Tour guides are available (highly recommended) speaking Tajik, Russian, and English. There is a public toilet in the museum. Cafes and restaurants are available on nearby Rudaki Street.
Written October 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M A
Pleasanton, CA69 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
This museum deserves attention for its excellent collection of antiquities that begin with the prehistoric moving forwards, covering various cultures (Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Islamic). Its most famous piece is the reclining Buddha which is still here (some websites say it was moved to the new National Museum but it is still here and worth seeing!). The museums even has a fine small collection of gravestones with nastalique engravings. The staff are friendly and helpful with at least one speaking fine English (Kamila), otherwise Tajik and Russian are best. The once next door Museum of Ethnography that I saw in 2006 has closed down, but this museum continues to hold its own. The easily overlooked desk to the right of the entry has treasures: fine books on it for sale which include gems such as several on Tajik Miniatures published here and not likely available elsewhere, so peruse what is on offer.
Written May 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KMLondon22
London, UK206 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
If you are interested in history then this museum is well worth a visit. It was the forerunner of the new National Museum in Ismoil Somoni Avenue, and is seemingly not that well known anymore as I was the only visitor. The older trip advisor reviews seem to confuse the two locations.
The original wooden recumbent Buddha is here (Central Asia's largest, dating from 5th century AD), and there are other interesting exhibits from the time of Alexander the Great and wall paintings from Penjikent. It is rather strange to see that there was so much time devoted to archaeology by the Soviet Union in such a poor country and without looting of finds.
Some exhibits have labels in English, others in Russian only and some no labels at all. However, there was a lady custodian who followed me around, and when spoken to she was very happy to explain all the exhibits and spoke good English.
The original wooden recumbent Buddha is here (Central Asia's largest, dating from 5th century AD), and there are other interesting exhibits from the time of Alexander the Great and wall paintings from Penjikent. It is rather strange to see that there was so much time devoted to archaeology by the Soviet Union in such a poor country and without looting of finds.
Some exhibits have labels in English, others in Russian only and some no labels at all. However, there was a lady custodian who followed me around, and when spoken to she was very happy to explain all the exhibits and spoke good English.
Written January 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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