How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 17 Panjakent)

27 July 2024 Panjakent and The Seven Lakes (Haft Kul), Tajikistan

My journey in Tajikistan started with Khujand. I then took a shared shuttle bus to Panjakent, five hours away. In Panjakent, I joined a group of four other Europeans to hire a car to take us to the Seven Lakes, or Haft Kul in Tajik.

Panjakent Town
Panjakent Town

We saw mining activities. Soon, we were greeted by a murky river running fast and furious at the foothill, as though looking guilty. I couldn’t tell if these are the cause and effect. Leave the stones unturned! Leave it alone; it is beautiful as it is!

The bumpy ride began as we drove into the rocky mountains. Dust swirled. We rocked. It is worth it to go deep to get something so tantalizing – the hard-to-get. As the Chinese say, “Ain’t going to get a tiger cub without venturing into the den”.

Soon, we came face to face and were overwhelmed by the enormous and spectacular Fann Mountains, molded by the great hands of nature. They look dehydrated to their last ounce. But there was a silver lining. Like the River of Life, the Shing River charged down the valleys and the deep gorges. There was a lot of jostling. Its light sapphire blue was indescribably exquisite. Soon, the first of the seven lakes appeared. Everything was lifeless-still. The clear jelly blue and green mountain water was kept perfectly mirrorlike by the harsh but protective mountains. It was meant to be, an encrusted gem. We proceeded to other lakes, all of the most vibrant turquoise, trapped and embraced by these mountains. We hiked around Lake 7 and then back toward Lake 6. An easy and comfortable hike, with exclusive stunning views. Even a macho man will be moved to say, Tajikistan, you take my breath away.

Lake 1 of Seven Lakes
Lake 1 of Seven Lakes
Lake 2 of Seven Lakes
Lake 2 of Seven Lakes
Lake 4 of Seven Lakes
Lake 4 of Seven Lakes
Lake 5 of Seven Lakes
Lake 5 of Seven Lakes
Dumbfounded at Lake 6 of Seven Lakes
Dumbfounded at Lake 6 of Seven Lakes
Donkeys working around Lake 7, of Seven Lakes
Donkeys working around Lake 7, of Seven Lakes
Hiking around Lake 7, of Seven Lakes
Hiking around Lake 7, of Seven Lakes
Crystal-clear water flowing into Lake 7
Crystal-clear water flowing into Lake 7
The river flowing into Lake 7
The river flowing into Lake 7
Hiking back from Lake 7 to Lake 6, accompanied by a beautiful stream rushing downhill
Hiking back from Lake 7 to Lake 6, accompanied by a beautiful stream rushing downhill
Lake 7 of Seven Lakes
Lake 7 of Seven Lakes

To go to the next Stop, click the link below:

How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 18 Iskanderkul Lake)

To start from Stop 1, click the link below:

How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 1 Urumqi)

The Stops on this Trip:

China Urumqi > Turpan > Kuerle > Kuqa > Kashgar > Kuqa > Nalati (via Duku Scenic Drive) > Kuerdening > Yining > Sailimu Lake > Yining > Urumqi > Buerjin > Kanas Lake > Hemu > China Urumqi > Kyrgyzstan Bishkek > Bokonbayevo (Issyk kul Lake) > Karakol > Kyrgyzstan Bishkek > Uzbekistan Tashkent > Tajikistan > Khujand > Panjakent (and Haft Kul/The Seven Lakes) > Iskanderkul > Dushanbe > China Urumqi > Hami > Dunhuang > Jiayuguan > Zhangye > Lanzhou > Xian

The route map

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