Despite their livelihoods revolving around livestock, the Pamiri people, especially the villagers of Bulunkul in the Pamir Mountains (known as the "roof of the world" in Persian), feel happy and prefer to stay in their homeland rather than move to a big city.
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| The landscape is untouched by the passage of time:Known as "Bam-i-Dunya" (meaning "Roof of the World" in Persian), the Pamir Mountains in Central Asia, located mostly in Gorno-Badakhshan, an autonomous region in eastern Tajikistan bordering China, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan, are among the highest mountain ranges in the world. Once part of the legendary Silk Road, the area was closed to foreigners during the Soviet era and has recently reopened to tourists. |
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| The road through the mountains:Gorno-Badakhshan is connected to the outside world by the Pamir Highway, which traverses the Pamir Mountains across Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is the world's second-highest highway (after Pakistan's Karrakoram Highway), with its highest point being the Ak Baital Pass in Tajikistan, at 4,655 meters. Visitors can only reach Gorno-Badakhshan between May and September, when the snow cover is no longer heavy. |
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| Evidence of a glorious past:The Pamir Mountains held a crucial position in the southern part of the ancient Silk Road. The 3rd-century Yamchun Fortress is one of the most impressive structures in the Wakhan Valley, located on the Afghan border. Built atop a cliff, the fortress served as a key point on the Silk Road, controlling traffic, ensuring security, and facilitating the movement of goods. |
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| The Afghanistan horizon:A Tajik border guard stands atop the ruins of the 4th-century Khakha Fort in the Wakhan Valley, gazing toward Afghanistan, just a few hundred meters across the Panj River. The border is heavily guarded for security reasons, but a weekly border market is held in the village of Ishkachim. Here, buyers and sellers from both sides of the border meet, and of course, it remains under military control. |
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| Distinct heritage:Due to their isolation from the outside world, the Pamiri people maintain a very distinct culture, different from the rest of Tajikistan. The Pamiri are largely Ismaili, Shia Muslims, while the Tajiks are Sunni Muslims. They have their own language, as well as many traditional crafts, jewelry, music, and dances. Every July, the region's capital, Khorog, hosts the "Roof of the World" festival. Dancers and artisans from across the Pamir region and the mountainous areas along the Silk Road gather. The festival is not only a stop for cultural exchange but also an event aimed at preserving the unique heritage of each region. |
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| Pamiri's eyes:In Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, double eyebrows are considered a symbol of beauty and purity in women and strength in men. If women don't have natural double eyebrows or if they are not well-defined, they often draw them on with an eyebrow pencil. The girl (pictured) is from Ishkachim and traveled about 100 km north to the Khorog region to attend music festivals. She wore her most beautiful traditional dress to the event. |
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| The men's livestock:In stark contrast to the vibrant colors of their festivals, the Pamir people's livelihoods are very simple. They mainly raise livestock and work in the mines, and many of them only manage to make ends meet. The photo shows a man trying to herd his yaks back to the village of Bulunkul as dusk approaches. Yaks, similar to goats and sheep, are the villagers' main source of income, providing them with meat and also for sale. The Pamir people have few other employment opportunities. |
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| Far from the world:In Bulunkul, 20 families live in simple houses built from brick, mud, wood, and stone. The nearest road is the Pamir Highway, 16 kilometers away. "In the village, we only have a small shop inside, selling things like oil, rice, and a few small chocolate bars. Every 15 days a truck comes from Khorog to provide us with necessities," shared Zainab, a resident of Bulunkul. |
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| Choices for the future:About 50 children attend the village school, where there are only two teachers. By the age of 18, some choose to stay in the village to care for their families and livestock. Others (mostly men) will go to Khorog, other parts of Tajikistan, or Russia to find work. Despite this, the Pamiri people remain resilient, and many prefer to stay in their homeland rather than leave. "In Bulunkul, we are used to this kind of life, with our livestock, our homes, and our children. Why would we leave? This is our life. I've been to Khorog many times, but I never wished to live in a city. We are happy here," confided Sakina, a resident of Bulunkul. |
According to VNE
