The extreme conditions of high-altitude desert and strong winds, combined with lack of opportunities beyond yak and sheep breeding, make life in the High Pamir Mountains of eastern Tajikistan a fight for survival. Yet in recent years, the village of Alichor has seen a turnaround in its fortunes, with a nascent tourism industry slowing the outflow of people to neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Photojournalist Janyl Jusupjan paid the village a visit.
Tourism Revives Remote Tajik Mountain Village
13
A group of Belgian bikers at the hostel.
14
Several women in the village clubbed together and opened a yurt as a guest house. The yurt is beautifully decorated with traditional Kyrgyz carpets and other handwork made by local women.
15
Single mother Aichurok Kochorbaeva keeps her family going by making yak wool carpets for tourists.
16
The street name is written in Kyrgyz and Tajik. Usually, only the Tajik language is used on public signage. Beyond the mountains in the background lies Afghanistan.