Informations on Darwaz

About Darwaz

Darvaz, alternatively spelt Darwaz, Darvoz, or Darwoz, was an independent kingdom up until the 19th Century. Darvaz was ruled by a mir and its capital was at Kalai-Khumb. The kingdom controlled territory on the left and right banks of the Oxus River. In 1878 Darvaz was invaded by neighboring Bukhara and absorbed into the Bukharan Emirate. In 1895 the left bank of Darvaz was transferred to Afghanistan as part of a border agreement.

Today the northern half of Darvaz is the district of Kalai-Khumb in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan. The southern half of Darvaz is the district of Darwaz in province of Badakhshan in Afghanistan. They are connected by the Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge, a permanent overland link that carries commercial and passenger traffic. The bridge was openned in July, 2004. Darwaz District in Afghanistan has a population of approximately 21,000 after sub-division in 2005 which led to the formation of Darwazi Bala District.