Kohi Navruz, or the Navruz Palace, stands as one of the largest palaces in the world, having been completed in 2014. This architectural gem has become a crown jewel of modern Dushanbe, showcasing the city’s grandeur and cultural heritage.
Located in the heart of the capital, the palace occupies the site of a former city teahouse. Initially, the architects intended to create a new, modern teahouse in a national style. However, as discussions evolved, the vision expanded, leading to a more ambitious project. At the initiative of Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, the design transformed into a palace, resulting in a five-story architectural complex covering a total area of 40,000 square meters. The chief architect, Tajik specialist Samijon Aziziyon, led a team of local designers, artists, engineers, builders, and craftsmen who worked on the project from start to finish.
The palace and its surrounding area, which includes fountains and gardens filled with maple, cypress, magnolia, and chestnut trees, span approximately 4 hectares. The building itself rises nearly 50 meters into the sky. The construction process took about five years and required tens of thousands of stones, precious gems, wood, parquet, and mirrors. Renowned Tajik artisans were brought in to bring the artistic vision to life, contributing their expertise in wood carving, Florentine mosaics, gypsum molding, and stonework.
Named «Navruz,» which translates to «New Day» in Tajik, the palace symbolizes the equinox, an event celebrated by the Tajik people on March 21st. The palace’s first major event was the 2014 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where it hosted heads of state for the first time. The palace is capable of accommodating over 3,000 guests simultaneously.
The palace features 12 halls, each uniquely designed in a national style, showcasing a diverse range of artistic beauty and craftsmanship. Each hall represents a different color scheme, ambiance, and design concept, offering visitors a fascinating journey through traditional Tajik applied arts. The halls blend ancient Tajik artistic traditions with modern interior design innovations, and each one is named according to its artistic technique and style.
Upon arrival, distinguished guests are greeted at the palace entrance and escorted to the «Dilkusho» tearoom. From there, they proceed to the «Didor» hall, which means «meeting» in Tajik. The walls and ceilings of this hall are adorned with traditional national paintings in the Kundal style, while the floor is crafted from granite. The hall leaves a lasting impression with its masterfully executed designs, traditional ornaments, and rich national color.
Group photographs of guests are typically taken in the «Arzhang» hall, which translates to «artistic.» This hall is decorated with Florentine mosaics made from stones sourced from various regions of Tajikistan. The interior design incorporates 52 tons of semi-precious stones and 29 types of local gems, including jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and ophite. The dome of the hall is made of wood and is embellished with intricate Eastern carvings.
Meetings of heads of state and government usually take place in the «Zarandud» hall, which stands at an impressive height of 38 meters. The hall is decorated in white and gold, perfectly reflecting its name, which means «gilded.» The walls and ceilings are adorned with national ornaments, hand-painted with gold, covering an area of about 6,000 square meters. The hall’s regal ambiance is further enhanced by 16 towering columns, fully decorated in the same style. At the center of the dome hangs a massive crystal chandelier, 22 meters tall, 10 meters in diameter, and weighing 5.5 tons.
The official reception hosted by the Head of State takes place in the largest hall of the palace complex, the «Guliston» hall. The hall’s name, meaning «flower garden,» is reflected in the intricate floral carvings on wood that adorn the ceilings and walls, a testament to the impeccable craftsmanship of artisans from Khujand and Isfara. This is the most spacious hall in the complex, covering an area of 6,500 square meters. The floor is laid with special parquet, custom-made in Russia to the specifications of Tajik designers.
Kokhi Navruz Teahouse, arguably the most opulent teahouse in Central Asia. It functions as an elite club and luxury restaurant, complete with guided tours of its lavish halls. Dining here can be pricey, but it’s worth experiencing at least once to appreciate this modern Dushanbe marvel.