Author: Novastan 
Novastan
Written articles:
Distant Persia?
Tajikistan is the only Persian-speaking country in Central Asia, in a region dominated by Turkic languages and cultures. In Khorog, capital of the independent region of Gorno-Badakhshan or… [...]
Live watermelons or still life?
A few watermelons await their fate in the entrance hall of Kokil Dara Khanagha. Kokildor-Ota Khanaka in Termez, in the far south of Uzbekistan, was originally a resting… [...]
Kyrgyz luthier
One of the few komuz makers, Yrys Ava, welcomes visitors to a timeless workshop where magnificent instruments are on display. All have been handmade using traditional techniques. Credits :… [...]
Fall horizon at the Chorsu bazaar
A woman walks through the bustle of the streets of the Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent. Credit: Daria Novikova (Uzbekistan, @dasha.novasha) Find all of… [...]
The Karlag infirmary
The former infirmary of the Soviet prison labour camp in Karaganda (KarLag) reveals a bare interior where medical care must have been rudimentary. This labour camp, one of… [...]
Old quarter
View of the mahallah, or neighbourhood, north of Osh from Sulaiman-Too, the city’s sacred mountain, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Credits: Simone Bergonzi (Italy,… [...]
The Museum of Musical Instruments of the tajik capital
Hidden behind a small door on a side street, the Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments showcases the rich musical heritage of Tajikistan and Pamir. The impressive collection of instruments… [...]
In the Karaganda Gulag
In this office at the Karlag labour camp in Karaganda, the only decoration is a portrait of Lenin hanging on the wall. Some historians believe that Stalin’s… [...]
At the Afghan bazaar
There are few women at the Afghan bazaar of Shohon , an hour’s drive from Kulob, but women’s clothing can still be found there, among many, many… [...]
The Karaganda Gulag
In the administrative centre of the former KarLag gulag in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, stands a brightly coloured flag, typical of the Stalinist era, bearing a slogan glorifying work. This… [...]
A condensed history
Where history meets the present, the statue of Amir Temur stands proudly next to one of Tashkent’s most prominent landmarks, Hotel Uzbekistan. This building is one of the… [...]