Six hours is a comfortable format to see the many sides of Tashkent: from the memory of the 1966 earthquake and old madrasas to a bustling bazaar, real plov and an evening at an amusement park. The programme combines history, food and leisure.
Chorsu Bazaar
The memorial is dedicated to the earthquake of 26 April 1966 and the rebuilding of Tashkent. It opened on the tenth anniversary of the disaster, near the epicentre. Its central image is a split black cube: one face bears the date, the other a clock stopped at the moment of the tremor. Beside it is a bronze sculpture of a man shielding a woman and child. Paths lined with relief stelae tell how the city was rebuilt. A fitting place to begin getting to know Tashkent.
The cultural and religious centre of the old town: mosques, madrasas, a mausoleum and a library, surrounded by the narrow lanes of the mahalla. You will learn how the Islamic tradition took shape in Uzbekistan and what role it plays in local life. Among the ensemble’s treasures are the manuscripts of the Muyi Muborak Madrasa and the Quran of Caliph Uthman, one of the oldest manuscripts of the holy book, now displayed in the neighbouring Center of Islamic Civilization. There are souvenir shops here too.
Tip: Clothing should cover shoulders and knees.
Tashkent’s main traditional market, unmistakable thanks to the turquoise dome rising over its stalls. The name means “crossroads”. Under the dome are mountains of dried fruit, nuts, spices and sweets; nearby, flatbread is baked in tandoors and fresh herbs, meat, dairy and souvenirs are sold. Vendors will often offer you a taste before you buy.
Tip: Bargaining is expected, and small banknotes are handy. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowd.
A caravanserai was the historic inn of the trade routes: merchants and their caravans stopped in the courtyard, surrounded by rooms, storehouses and shops. Today the space is home to crafts — ceramic workshops where you can watch potters shape and paint their wares and buy handmade pieces, a good souvenir of the trip.
The residence of Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich Romanov, a grandson of Emperor Nicholas I who lived in exile in Turkestan. Built in the late 19th century to a design by A. L. Benois, the palace combines European style with oriental motifs. It is one of Tashkent’s most unusual mansions, and its ornate façades show how the Russian elite lived in imperial Turkestan. Today it is the Foreign Ministry’s reception house, so it is usually viewed from the outside.
Tashkent’s central square and a symbol of Uzbekistan’s sovereignty. The entrance is framed by the Ezgulik Arch (Arch of Good Aspirations) topped with storks, and at the centre stands the Monument of Independence and Humanism. The Grieving Mother memorial and the Eternal Flame honour those who died in the Second World War. Fountains, shady alleys and wide pedestrian spaces make it a pleasant walk in any season.
The place to taste the signature dish of Uzbek cuisine and learn the secrets of cooking it. The name means “five kazans” in Uzbek. Plov is cooked in huge cauldrons over an open fire: what matters is the quality of the rice, the fat in the meat, a proper zirvak (the base of onion, carrot and spices) and the cook’s experience. It is usually served with fresh salads, flatbread and green tea.
Tip: If you have dietary restrictions after treatment, let your coordinator know in advance.
Shahidlar Xotirasi (“In Memory of the Victims of Repression”) is a memorial opposite the Tashkent TV Tower: the complex opened in 1999 and its museum in 2002. The museum is dedicated to people who suffered under the repressions, and every 31 August the country marks the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Repression. Next to it rises the 375-metre TV tower, whose observation deck offers a panorama of the city. A striking contrast — serious history and a view of Tashkent from above.
A year-round amusement park on Babur Street, with scaled-down copies of landmarks from cities around the world — you can “walk” through several countries in one evening. An illuminated musical fountain, rides, an oceanarium, shops, cafés and restaurants make it a fitting end to the day for adults and children alike. Come towards evening, when the lights come on.
Photos: Courage Monument (CC BY-SA 4.0), Khast-Imam Ensemble (CC0), Caravanserai (CC BY-SA 4.0), Romanov Palace (CC BY-SA 4.0), Independence Square (CC BY-SA 4.0), Besh Qozon Plov Centre (CC BY-SA 3.0), Shahidlar Xotirasi Memorial and the TV Tower (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons.
