The World's Largest Teahouse

After completing our official UCA business, we had a few a moments to spare in Dushanbe, so we visited the World's Largest Teahouse, which isn't terribly far from the World's Tallest Flagpole. The teahouse is strange in that it is not actually a teahouse because you can't get a cup of tea unless you've been invited to a special event held there.  Really, the place is better described by it's bureaucratic name:  the Palace of Cultural Entertainment and Special Events.  In addition to its formal conference rooms, it has a bowling alley, billiard hall, and ballroom that anyone with at least $3500 can rent for a wedding, bar mitzvah (however unlikely that might be in Tajikistan), or other gathering of their choosing.

The opulence, luxury, and size of the place is staggering and reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles or other royal property built in 17th Century Europe.  All the stonework and woodwork was made by hand by an army of Tajik craftsmen.  It was completed last year after five years of construction and no one knows the total cost, although I have seen speculation that this rather impressive building used up to five percent of Tajikistan's GDP during each of the years of its construction.  However, our tour guide said that only private funds were used in building the teahouse--if you say so, Ms. Tourguide.  All of this in a nation that spends only about $35 per year per capita on education (necessitating our organization's construction of a campus in the mountains of Tajikistan to serve underdeveloped populations, opening in 2017).  Knowing what life is like for the average Tajik, when one is finished touring the "teahouse" a person is filled with awe at the over-the-top architectural display, but ultimately one is met with a feeling of profound dismay after considering the excess.  As I left the teahouse I couldn't help but imagine this might be the kind of project a President Trump would insist upon developing if he happens to be elected; perhaps he would situate his huge teahouse somewhere in the vicinity of that World's Largest Wall he's planning to build.

By the way, some wealthy Middle Eastern dude saw the World's Tallest Flag Pole in Dushanbe and was so impressed that he decided to build a taller one in Jeddah making the flagpole in Tajikistan second best only a few years after it was completed.

Exterior of the World's Largest Teahouse:  notice on the far left in the background, about a mile from where this picture was photographed, the world's second tallest flagpole

Entrance to the teahouse

President's Conference Room (used for official events only)

Lapiz mosaic in the President's Conference Room, with hand carved wood columns

Mosaic of the Nation's President and his mother. 

Large Conference Room

Dome of Large Conference Room, encrusted in gold leaf, with a 1600 bulb chandelier  

Official Banquet Hall; the hall is almost entirely made up of hand carved cedar; there is so much cedar in the room, the aroma deceives you into almost thinking you are strolling through a dense grove of cedar trees

The billiard room is open to the public, but is almost empty as it a bit pricey for the average Tajik; notice the Russian-style billiard tables which are almost twice the size of US-style pool tables

Tajik cleaning ladies in the ballroom running to escape being photographed while caught sitting, taking a break

Main public ballroom:  for $3500 you too can rent this room for a few hours (food and services not included)

View of mountains and outskirts of Dushanbe from the tearoom terrace