In Soviet times, a replica of the Leningrad Lenin monument once stood here, and the park bore his name. It was created in the mid-1930s by architects M. and N. Baranov, of Leningrad's "Giprogor" institute. Today, not a trace of that era remains — now it's "Bogi Rudaki," a park honouring an entirely different figure from history.
It's named after Abu Abdullah Rudaki, a Tajik poet of the 9th–10th centuries, regarded as the founder of New Persian poetry and the father of Tajik literature. The park's redesign and renaming took place in the 2000s, as part of the broader renovation of central Dushanbe.
The park covers around 8 hectares in the central Ismoil Somoni district and has long been a favourite spot among locals for walks and meetups. In the evenings, the fountains light up with artistic illumination, creating an atmosphere especially cherished by couples — the park is considered one of the most romantic spots in Dushanbe.
