Good afternoon. How can I get to the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Station? Where does the transport depart from? And how do I obtain permission?
You should head to Sadbarg market. There are taxis there that go to Norak.
You can't access the Nurek HPP without permission, only up to the checkpoint. You can take photos on the bridge, though. If you get permission, you can even spend the night on a floating platform and take a boat ride on the reservoir. There are accommodations available, including 2 rooms, a kitchen, a sauna, and a toilet.
I went through a connection, but based on personal experience, here's the situation. You can drive up to the lower reach of the Nurek HPP and take photos there. Usually, the guards will come over quickly and offer to take you to the dam and the viewing platform. Payment is negotiable; I think it should be possible for around 150 somoni.
This is the view from the lower reach of the Nurek HPP, where the dam (still the highest in the world among rock-fill dams at 300 meters) is clearly visible.
This is a view of the Vakhsh River and the city of Nurek from the viewing platform. The frame also captures the tunnel for catastrophic water discharge with a deep-water intake (KWSDI), spring 2024.
Can the guards take you there for 150 somoni?
Yes, when visiting the dam, going to the viewing platform is a mandatory part of the program. It has always been this way, both during the Soviet era and now.