Dushanbe until 1929, Stalinabad, population 679,400 people (2008 est.), is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means "Monday" in Tajik, and the name reflects the fact that the city grew on the site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace.
Dushanbeis the capital and largest city ofTajikistan. Dushanbe meansMondayin theTajik language.It was so named because it grew from a village that originally had a popular market on Mondays. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian asDyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 asStalinabad. As of 2014, Dushanbe has a population of 778,500.Although archaeological remnants dating to the 5th century BC have been discovered in the area, there is little to suggest that Dushanbe was more than a small village until the early 20th century.