tashkent, UzbekistanUzbekistan. Landlocked nation with the exception of the bordering Aral Sea, the Uzbek countryside is a series of deserts and dunes. Many wonderful sights can be explored following the route of the former Silk Road as it passes through Uzbekistan and is a good start to exploring the flat and seemingly endless countryside.
Tashkent, a.k.a. Stone City, the capital city of Uzbekistan, is the largest city in Central Asia and was the fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union. Little remains of the ancient city after the 1966 earthquake and earlier modernisation work following the 1917 revolution. Tashkent is a very Soviet city that has little remaining from its ancient Central Asian past. The city has a mixture of modern new office buildings, hotels, parks. Tashkent is quite a pleasant city and worth a visit. Like other towns and cities developed by the Soviets in this part of the world it is well laid out, low rise and leafy. The Tashkent Region consists of 15 districts, 16 towns, 17 settlement, and 147 kishlak (villages) councils. Although Uzbek is the official language, Russian is the native language for most Tashkent dwellers, although most also speak Uzbek. Chorsu bazaar is where everyone shop, Independence Square is an impressive green space setting off the public buildings with colonnades and sculptures. It has an impressively decorative metro system, each station is unique, everything from cupolas, colonnades and chandeliers to Timurid tiles and cosmonaut-inspired art. Kosmonaut station is particularly beautiful with exquisite blue tiles and glass cladding on the pillars. The Tashkent train museum is simply awesome, filled with fabulous old USSR behemoths from the last 60-70 years. Must see: Tashkent's greatest treasure - a 7th C Koran, generally recognised as the oldest in existance. No visit to Tashkent would be complete without a visit to the gracious Alisher Navoi Theatre. They put on a different show every night. About Tashkent - Uzbekistan
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Within City Walls (Clicking on red colored text will link to more info or videos or official sites)
Kukeldash Madrassa
Kukeldash Madrassah in Chorsu Square ranks as the largest madrassah in Tashkent and one of the leading Moslem theological education establishments in the whole Central Asia. In this very place in the ancient times there was crossroads of caravan roads – ‘chorsu’, and the main town’s trading square was formed, surrounded by workshops of craftsmen. |
History Museum
A must-stop for anyone looking for a primer on the history of Turkestan from ancient times to the present. The 1st floor has ancient Zoroastrian and Buddhist artefacts, including a small Buddha from a Kushan temple excavated at Fayoz-Tepe near Termiz. The 3rd floor, dedicated to Karimov. A placard contains Karimov's more ironic quotes. |
Tashkent Train Museum
Simply awesome, filled with fabulous old USSR behemoths from the last 60-70 years. At present time 13 steam-engines, 18 diesel and 3 electric locomotives of historical series, produced in the last millennium, different kinds of cars and carriages, the most interesting samples of last century's repair-construction equipment are exhibited in Museum. |
Fountains of Tashkent
With the onset of summer in the crowded public spaces of Tashkent spring to life magnificent fountains. Varying in size, some of them more than half a century old, and some have been installed only recently. None of the cities of Central Asia can boast such a variety. ountains can be seen in a variety of local settings and play an important role in its architectural layout. |
Museum of Applied Arts
In a quiet Tashkent street, hidden from the city’s noise in one of the neighborhoods, a passerby will notice a building with Uzbek traditional ayvan terrace decorated with beautifully carved columns. This is the Museum of Applied Arts. It occupies the building whose construction was commissioned by a wealthy tsarist diplomat. |
Yunus-khan mausoleum
Across Navoi are three 15th-century mausoleums. The biggest, on the grounds of the Tashkent Islamic University, bears the name of Yunus Khan, grandfather of the Mughal emperor Babur. The mausoleum itself sits locked and idle, but you can check out its attractive Timurid-style pishtak (entrance portal). Access is from Abdulla Qodiri kochasi. |
Barak-khan Madrassah
Close to Khazret Imam Square there stands Barak-Khan Madrassah – one of the most remarkable medieval architectural monuments. The height of its portal, decorated with majolica and glazed tile mosaic, is accentuated by a deep lancet niche with little decorative arches. At the corners of the facade is lined with guldasta towers with little domes. |
Tashkent Metro
Currently the only subway in Central Asia, is fantastically designed in a unique, monumental Uzbek-Soviet style. It is never crowded, and the easiest and cheapest way to quickly transit the city. The famous formula of architectural trinity (durability, usefulness, and beauty) is perfectly embodied in such a complex and monumental structure. |
Khazrat Imam Complex
In the old Tashkent residential neighborhood called Sibzar, lies Khazrat Imam Square with a complex of architectural monuments that sprang up here in the course of several centuries. Scientists believe that early in the Middle Ages this place was the town's center, which was then called Shash. |
Sheikhantahur Complex
One hundred years ago today's Navoiy Street, one of the widest and most beautiful avenues of Uzbek capital, was called Sheikhantahur Street. It had been named after Sufi sheikh Khavendiy at-Takhur (Sheikhantahur). His mausoleum is located in this part of the city. |
Abdulkasim Madrassah
Just behind "Istiqlol" Palace, is Abdulkasim Madrassah, whose carved doors are always open for visitors interested in antiques and Uzbek traditional arts and crafts. Here are the workshops of the craftsmen working under the aegis of The International Fund Oltin Meros ('Golden Heritage'). |
Courage Memorial
Dedicated to events 50 years ago and left a deep trace in history. On the granite podium of the monuments stands a black labradorite cube. One of its sides contains the engraved inscription: April 26, 1966; on another side is the image of a clock-face whose hands show the time: 24 minutes past 5. |
Independence Square
Tashkent residents have all the reasons to be proud of their Mustakillik Maidoni ('Independence Square'), which is another city's attraction. Wide granite stairs coming up between the cascades of 7-meter-high squirts of the fountains lead to a huge colonnade that in an arc-form manner flanks the square in the east. The 16 white marble columns with capitals in the form of the traditional sharafa stalactites are spanned with silvery metal roof decorated with sculptures of storks. |
Navoi Theatre
Theater Square with its shady chestnut alleys, well groomed flowerbeds and cooling fountains has been for a long time one of the favorite rest places of Tashkent’s residents. In the center of the square stands the building of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. Its appearance elegantly blends the design philosophy of a classical theater building and traditions of oriental architecture. Enjoy quality classical Western opera almost any night. The interior harbours various regional artistic styles. |
Tashkent TV tower
Can be seen from almost everywhere in the city; it comes into view from behind every structure. The height of the tower is 375 meters. The lightness of local tower is especially noticeable, topped with an antenna, the graceful dodecahedral stem of Tashkent TV Tower looks soaring on its three conical props. A complex engineering project, this tower was built within a record length of time – eight years. Tower became a member of World Federation of Great Towers. |
Chorsu Bazaar
One of the largest in Central Asia. Under huge blue green dome seven huge domes covered with colored glazed tiles are the pavilions where farmers sell their produce. In the fruit and vegetable sections you are dazzled by the abundance and variety of the merchandise. On the stalls are piles of ruddy apples and honey-tasting pears, fuzzy peaches, prunes, large quinces, and bunches of black, pink and amber-colored sweet grapes. It's a delightful slice of city life. If it grows and it's edible, it's here. |
Below are popular side trips from the city and can be covered with/without an overnight stay. (Clicking on red colored text will link to more info or videos or official sites)
Charvak Lake
Surrounded by green slopes of the mountains which are crowned with snow caps.The lake is fed by the waters of mountain rivers. It's the favorite place for summer holidays for tourists of Tashkent. Enjoy the views on a ride on the Chair-lift. Charvak lake is popular name for the visitors for summer vacation of Tashkent. The lake looked like a blue pearl which has to be framed by the mountains. |
Samarkand
Samarkand, also Samarqand, is perhaps the most famous city of modern Uzbekistan. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Samarkand had a central position on the Silk Road between China and the West. In the 14th cent. Temur (Tamerlane) made Samarkand the capital of his empire. Samarkand is a must see for all travellers visiting Central Asia. |
Bukhara
Historically one of the great trading cities along the Silk Road. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of museums", contains more than 140 architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. Such ensembles as Poi - Kalan, Kosh Madras, mausoleum of Ismail Samoni, minaret of Kalyan and others were built 2300 years ago, and today they attract tourists. |
Khiva
A top stop; formerly a capital city now a wonderful open-air museum on a city that flourished in riches from the Silk road trade. Check out the East Gate, which was once home to a slave trade market. There’s the Tash Havli palace, with rooms for all of the different suitors and concubines. And of course, the iconic Kalta Minaret, a tower intended to be Central Asia’s tallest minaret. |
Chimgan Mountains
With its lush river valleys, rugged hill sides, apple orchards a sight to behold. Mountains include such beauty as Gulkam, Beldersay. For its beauty and health improving properties Chimgan is called Uzbek Switzerland. Slopes of mountains are covered with relict fir-tree woods. Mountains and hills are indented by mountain rivers, which people call "sai". |