Hands up who’s been to Tashkent? Hmm, not many of you. Uzbekistan is a wondrous country that is pretty much untouched by mass tourism, and unless you travel overland from one of its bordering countries, your point of arrival will be in Tashkent, the capital. While most people only stay here enroute to Samarkand, it is still interesting to look at some of the highlights of this former Soviet city, and I have listed 8 of the places I visited (in no particular order).
Mustakillik Square is the central plaza of Uzbek independence and always full of people, locals and tourists alike. Along with Governmental buildings and serene-looking gardens, it is a place to find street performers like clowns and magicians.
Chorsu Bazaar is the traditional bazaar located in the centre of the old town of Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Under its blue-coloured domed building and the adjacent areas, all daily necessities are sold, and it is a great place to find the traditional Uzbek man’s cap!
Charvak Reservoir is a popular spot for people to go on weekend breaks to get away from the city. There are plenty of hiking trails around here and the scenery is to die for!
Teleshayakh Mosque is one of the most important mosques in the whole of Uzbekistan and inside its airy, blue-tiled halls you can even observe some praying. From the outside it is just as impressive!
Barak-Khan Madrassa is a great place of Islamic worship and study. The architecture here is spell-binding (looks like the Registan in Samarkand) and inside there are classic manuscripts and giant statues from the Quran.
The Railway Museum may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but there are some amazingly rare and antiquated steam engines on display here in this well-preserved collection.
Alisher Navoi National Park simply has something for everyone. There are lakes, flower gardens, and kids’ playgrounds, and all year round this is a beautiful place to visit in Tashkent.
Old Tashkent is the historic part of the city, and here you will find every street and every house to have its own distinct history and character. It is a great place to learn about the culture of everyday Uzbeks.
