Khatlon Province

Understand

During the Soviet era, Khatlon became one of the two main cotton regions in Tajikistan, along with Sughd. Collectivisation of agriculture was implemented aggressively in the early 1930s, to expand cotton cultivation in Tajikistan as a whole, with particular emphasis on the southern part of the republic. The process included violations against peasants, substantial expansion of the irrigation network, and forcible resettlement of mountain peoples and people from Uzbekistan to the lowlands. A results of this policy is that the Tajik population identifies themselves either as Gharmis (resettled from the mountains) or Kulobis. These groups never merged, and fought against each other during the 1992-97 Civil War in Tajikistan. Khatlon oblast suffered the heaviest damage in Tajikistan. Since the conflicts leading to the civil war were never really resolved, tensions in the region still exist.

Getting there

Bokhtar International Airport in Qurghonteppa handles flights from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Dushanbe. Beyond that, driving or riding in a mashrutka or bus are probably the best options.

See

Cultural heritage sites of ancient Khuttal In 2025, a set of 11 places in southern Khatlon was inscribed by UNESCO as a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are related to the Kingdom of Khuttal, which this region was known as between the 7th and 16th centuries, during the heyday of the Silk Road.

1 Ajinatepa Buddhist monastery. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Kalai Hulbuk. (updated Jul 2025) 3 Shahristoni Hulbuk. (updated Jul 2025) 4 Manzaratepa. (updated Jul 2025) 5 Zoli Zard. (updated Jul 2025) 6 Makbarai Mavlono Tojiddin. (updated Jul 2025) 7 Halevard (Kofirkala). (updated Jul 2025) 8 Shahristoni Zoli Zar. (updated Jul 2025) 9 Tohir Caravansarai. (updated Jul 2025) 10 Shahrtepa. (updated Jul 2025) 11 Khishttepa Buddhist temple. (updated Jul 2025)