Panjakent

Panjakent, also spelled Penjikent, is a city in western Tajikistan. It is the administrative capital of Panjakent District in Sughd Province, near the border with Uzbekistan. The city is located in the Zeravshan Valley, along the Panj River, at the edge of the Fergana Valley corridor.

The site near Panjakent is the remains of an ancient Sogdian city that flourished between the 5th and 8th centuries CE. It formed part of the larger Sogdian cultural region and served as a local urban center in what is now the Panjakent area. The modern city grew nearby, and extensive archaeological work carried out from the 1940s to the 1960s uncovered a citadel, residential quarters, and religious buildings. The discoveries yielded a rich collection of wall paintings, household objects, and inscriptions that provide insight into Sogdian daily life and beliefs. The Panjakent murals, among the best-preserved ancient Central Asian paintings, are a key highlight of the site.

Today Panjakent functions as a regional market town and administrative center. Its economy is based on agriculture—principally cotton and grain—along with light industry and services. Tourism centers on the nearby archaeological site and the Penjikent Museum, which showcases artifacts from the excavations.

Namewise, Panjakent is commonly tied to the Persian for five, panj, and kent, town, prompting the conventional reading of “five towns.” The climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters.