Tajikistan contains some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes, extraordinary trekking, a multitude of cultures and a long tradition of hospitality. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, fishing and bird watching by the lakes are a few activities, which entice the adventure and nature lovers to this landlocked country. Perched in Central Asia, majority of the terrain of Tajikistan is sprawled by mountains of the Pamir and Karakoram ranges. Rest of the country is also situated over high landscapes of something around 000 meters (approx. 10,000 feet) above sea level. Tajikistan also possesses some exclaves within Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan territories, Vorukh being the largest of them all.
Tajikistan meaning the 'Land of the Tajiks' was part of the ancient Persian Empire before being conquered by Alexander the Great. Islam arrived in the region around seventh and eighth centuries with the Arabs. After the reigns of Uzbeks and Afghans, Tajikistan went under Russian domination in the 1860s. It was recognised as Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and gained full-fledged republic status in 1929. Tajikistan declared its sovereignty in August 1990 after the dissolution of Russia. After surviving the brutality of civil wars, this smallest nation of Central Asia is now gradually regaining normalcy in social life.