The central square of Dushanbe, flanked by the government buildings, the National Library, and the Presidential Palace, is the formal heart of the city. The scale is Soviet: broad paved plazas, monumental facades, a fountain at the center. In the evenings, families promenade and children play around the fountains, bringing a human scale to the grandeur.
The Tajik flag flies over the square, adjacent to the famous Dushanbe Flagpole. The surrounding buildings include the parliament, various ministries, and the imposing Palace of the Nation. The square is a good orientation point — most of central Dushanbe's sights are within a 15-minute walk.