Travel: Tashkent, Uzbekistan May/8-9/2025

A continuation of a guided tour to Uzbekistan which started on May 7th

TLV to Tashkent. 5/8-9 (here)

The flight to Tashkent -Uzbekistan's capital and largest city- was originally due for 6:00pm on May 7th, however was moved up to 3:30pm, then delayed to 5:30pm, and once again to 7;40pm when it finally took off at 9:00 pm.

After passport control and retrieving luggage at Tashkent airport, the group was welcomed by the Tour's guides, and finally made it at 5:00 am the following morning, to the Tashkent's hotel,

Catching up only just few hours of sleep during early morning hours, the group of 29 ,mainly composed of the "Golden age troopers" was eager and ready to start the planned city's tour, a

All were sharp on the bus at 11:00am.

and amazingly all members stayed alet and interested in the sites tiourse and the information shared until late evening hours, before colapsing into their hotel's beds.

(General background on Uzbekistan

is in my previous post)

Tashkent the Capital

The ancient city on the Great Silk Road from China to Europe is the Capital city of Uzbekistan of 3 Milions, is also the largest city in Central Asia, which was probably founded in 3rd C BC. It is also known as: Binkent, Chachkent, Dzhadzh, Shashkent, Toshkent.

Little remains of the ancient city after the 1966 earthquake and earlier modernisation work following the 1917 revolution.

Tashkent, means “Stone Village” in Uzbek, and was first mentioned in the 11th c.

Tashkent lies in the northeastern part of the country. situated at an elevation of 1,475 to 450 to 480 metres in the Chirchiq River valley.

The city which was an important center of trade and handicrafts on the caravan routes to Europe and East Asia, was conquered by the Arabs at the beginning of the 8th ce and later became part of the possessions of various Muslim ruling lines before falling to the Mongols in the early 13th c. and subsequently ruled by the Timurids and Shaybānids Then led an independent existence before being annexed in 1809 by the khanate of Kokand When it was captured by the Russians in 1865, it was a walled city of some 70,000 inhabitants and already a leading center of trade with Russia.

In 1867 it was made the administrative center of the new governorate-general of Turkistan, and a new European city grew up beside the old native one.

Soviet rule was established in 1917 by Russian colonists after an armed uprising.

Tashkent remained the capital of the new republic of Turkistan in the U.S.S.R., but when the latter was split in 1924, Samarkand became the first capital of the republic of Uzbekistan, U.S.S.R. The capital was transferred to Tashkent in 1930.

Tashkent is a very Soviet city that has little remaining from its ancient Central Asian past.

Tashkent again rose to be the main economic and cultural center of Central Asia. with Cotton as the chief crop of the region and much of its industry is connected with it. Wheat, rice, jute, vegetables, and melons are also grown, and silkworms are bred.

The city lies in the most industrially developed part of Uzbekistan, Manufacturing agricultural and textile machinery as well as cotton textiles. and various food-processing industries, are its forte.

Uzbeks constitute the bulk of the population, with Russians being a significant minority. Pop. (2017 est.) 2,829,300.

The city’s skyline is distinguished by Tashkent Television Tower, a 375-metre-high constructed in 1978 and is the twelfth tallest tower in the world.

It was the fourth tallest tower in the world from 1985 to 1991

Although it offers city views from its observation deck, we observed the tower only from the bus' window

Located near the Tashkent TV tower in the new part of the city, and is a notable example of Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan, is the "White Mosque" known also as the Minor Mosque. 

It is a modern gorgeous structure built in 2014 with white marble, and features two minarets, blue and white geometric patterns, and Quranic inscriptions.  It has the capacity of accommodating 2,500 prayers at once.

Another focal point in the city often passed during the bus rides is

Amir Temur Square

was founded in 1882.

Originally it was called Konstantinovsky Square, but in 1994, it was renamed in honor of the great Amir Temur who created the Timurid Empire, which lasted 200 years, and who was adopted by the modern Uzbekistan as its Fatherland Founder and National Hero

Monument of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) is a bronze figure sitting on a horse in the middle of the square.

Timore (1320s – 1405), was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire  in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty.

The city has been extensively rebuilt since an earthquake in 1966 left 300,000 people homeless and only left standing very few 15th- and 16th-C religious buildings and mausoleums.

The city has a mixture of modern new office buildings, hotels, parks and crumbling Soviet style apartment blocks. The streets are generally wide and clean

The Amir Timur Museum

opened in 1996, dedicated to the Turco-Mongol warlord Amir Timur, the museum houses manuscripts, weapons and other relics from the Timurid dynasty.

Nearby, is the huge State Museum of History of Uzbekistan founded in 1876

formerly known as the Lenin Museum,

It has centuries-old Buddhist artifacts.

In addition to the many museums, there are numerous institutions of higher learning, and research establishments include the university, founded in 1920, and various institutes of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, set up in 1943,

State Musem Of History Navoi Theater University Building

The University building was once an Officer Club during the Russina Tzar rign

The city's mix of modern and Soviet-era architecture. also includes a numerous theatres, Uzbek and Russian, include the Navoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet. with capacity of 1,400 spectators.   "Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theater. was esigned by Alexey Shchusev,  was built in 1942-1947 and was opened to the public in 1947,

Congress Hall (2009) Hotel Uzbekistan (1974) Once Officer club

Simoziumlar Saryoi

1966 Earthquake Memorial

Set in a riverfront park, this" Monument to Courage," as is named, which was unveiled in 1976 to mark the 1oth anniversary of the disaster, (D.B. Ryabichev, the sculptor, S. R. Adylov, the architect). honors the 1966 earthquake an is dedicated to the victims & the city's men and women who rebuilt their flattened city following the earthquake of 1966 and brought about its recovery,

The earthquake had a moment magnitude of 5.2 with an epicenter in central Tashkent at a depth of 3–8 km.

and caused massive destruction to Tashkent, destroying most of the buildings in the city, killing between 15 and 200 people and leaving between 200,000 and 300,000 homeless.

It is in the form of a granite cube displaying the time (5:22am) of the first tremor while an Uzbek man shields a woman and child from the earth opening up before them. Granite reliefs picture the reconstruction. A zig-zag crack from the spall of the cube is lined.

It is the only architectural and artistic complex, dedicated to rectification of the consequences of Tashkent earthquake .All the former republics of the USSR took part in the reconstruction of Tashkent. New houses were built several months later, and in three and a half years Tashkent had been fully restored.

The Complex also includes the museum building of Friendship of Peoples of the USSR.

Today, the monument represents peace and tranquility. The surrounding Square is a popular place for walks of Tashkent residents. The newlyweds traditionally bring flowers to the monument.

Hazrati Imam Ensemble (Holy Imam)

the impressive architectural monument dating from the 16th to 20th c which is located in the "Old City" Olmazor district of Tashkent city, had survived the strong earthquake of 1966.

The ensemble was built around the tomb of imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ali Ismoil ash-Qaffol Shoshiy.(born in 903) in Tashkentand

This Holy (Hazarati) Imam, buried in the mausoleum in the complex, is still revered by Muslims around the world. He was the first imam-khatib of Tashkent, a scholar, one of the first Islamic preachers in Tashkent, a poet and an artist.

According to historical sources, this Imam spoke more than 70 languages and performed the translation of the Old Testament into Arabic. He was also a master of making locks and keys, for which he received the nickname "Qaffol", meaning "locksmith".

Till 2007 Khazrati Imam Square was not known as an ensemble, due to the dilapidated condition of the buildings.. Since then, the Hazarati complex has been under renovation works to restore its original grand historical appearance.

It constitutes of several buildings:

the Qaffol Shoshi mausoleum,

the Baroqxon Madrasa,

the Tillashayx mosque,

the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute.

and the Moʻyi Muborak madrasa, - the only one the group actually visited

The Muyi Muborak Madrasah  ("Sacred Hair")

 Built in the 16th c, the madrasa is distinguished by its unique history. Allegedly the hair of the Prophet Muhammad is stored in this madrasah, due to which it got its name.

There is evidence that in 1856-1857 by decree of the Kokand Khan Mirza Ahmed Kushbegi, the madrasah building was rebuilt again.

Currently, the Muyi Muborak Madrasah houses the library of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, which has a collection of about 20,000 books, including about 3ooo manuscripts and translations of the Koran in more than 30 languages.

The most unique manuscript stored in the library is the "Uthman Koran" ("The Quran of Osman"), dated 644-648 years

Quran Uthman/Osman - The Oldest

Recognized as a remarkable and unique holy artifact, this oldest extant hand written manuscript of the Qur'an, dated 644-648 years, an essential part of Muslim historical and cultural heritage, is believed to have been stained with the blood of the 3rd Caliph, of Islam, Uthman ibn Affan from the Umayyad clan.

During the reign of the third caliph, Usman divine revelations were recorded in six copies on sheets of deerskin in the calligraphic handwriting "kufiy". Five copies of the Koran were sent to the main cities of the caliphate, and the sixth copy of the caliph was left to itself.

The successor of Caliph Usman - Ali took this manuscript from Medina to Kufa, his new capital. It was from there that it was taken by Amir Temur to Samarkand, where it was carefully kept in a specially equipped cell of the Nodira Divanbegi madrasah, until the Russian imperial authorities seized it in 1869. The Quran was taken to St. Petersburg and stored in the imperial library,

After the October revolution, at the request of Russian Muslims, it was transferred to Ufa. From there, a unique manuscript was returned to Turkestan in 1924. The manuscript was stored first in the mosque of the Turkestan Islamic Society, then in the Historical Museum of the Peoples of Uzbekistan.

In 1989 Osman's Koran was transferred to the Spiritual Council of Muslims of Uzbekistan

It continues to be an unflagging attraction for researchers, pilgrims and tourists from many countries of the world, thus also our group was taken to spectate it

It has been kept since in the Muyi Muborak Madrasa, one of the buildings of Imam Hazrati Imam Ensemble.

Thanks to this holy Quran and other numerous historic mosques and significant Islamic sites, including the Islamic University, Tashkent was named in 2007, a

"cultural capital of the Islamic world" .

The honorary title is given by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), which is one of the units of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

 Descending from the Spiritual spheres, back to the more mundane, yet gratifying spheres of life, a visit to the Grand Bazaar, was indeed an alleviating experience

Chorsu Bazaar

Local public largest Market in Tashkent dating back to the 16th c

It is one of the oldest and largest and most iconic impressive markets in Central Asia, Located on the main square of the historic Eski-Juva district, which was at a Cross Road on the silk road. in the same place for over 2000 years.

"Chorsu" is a word from the Tajik language, meaning "crossroads" or "four streams". 

Since the 11th c, Central Asian cities began constructing covered bazaars with interconnected halls - a tradition that, Chorsu Bazaar, reconstructed in the 1980s, continues to embody. by its unique architectural ensemble of domed trade halls,

For centuries the market has always been a vibrant trading hub serving not only as a commercial center but also as a social and cultural landmark. at the heart of the city’s daily life.

The current trading complex was built on the foundations of earlier markets, preserving the spirit and structure of its predecessors. .

The stalls of the bazaar stand under seven huge domes covered with colored glazed tiles. At the center of Chorsu Bazaar stands a grand domed pavilion richly adorned with oriental ornamentation. With a diameter of nearly 300–350 meters, this impressive three-story winter building is equipped with an elevator system.

The basement level houses numerous storerooms and service corridors, The middle and upper floors accommodate a vast network of retail stalls.

Fresh produce, meat, milk products and pickled food are on the ground floor.

Nuts, dry fruits, cooking herbs and spices. are on the first floor. It is famous for peanuts boiled in sugar or honey, covered with sesame seed

Under the small domes, craftsmen sell

arts and crafts

And at the exterior parameter around the covered Bazaar also vegetable and fruits stalls circle the market space. Across of Bazaar's main entrance attractive colored Ceramic artifacts are also sold

The market is located across the street from Tashkent Metro "Chorsu Station" near the medieval yellow brick, Kukeldosh Madrasah which was  built around 1570, by the Shaybanid ruler Dervish Sultan, and is situated at the edge of the Bazaar.

Visit to Tashkent Metro of Soviet Era

An underground worldof Soviete opulance

Public transit was central to Communist ideology. During Soviet times, if a city’s population topped one million, it would become eligible for its own metro.

Planners wanted to brighten the lives of everyday Soviet citizens, and saw the Metros, with their tens of thousands of daily passengers, as a singular opportunity to do so.

In the 1930s, car production took a backseat to metro expansion, with top artists and sculptors enlisted to turn stations into grand public spaces.

It was built as both a metro and a bomb shelter, featuring Cold War engineering

thus until 2018 it was illegal to photograph the Tashkent metro

The Tashkent rapid transit system serving the city of Tashkent, opened in 1977, Construction began two years after the devastating earthquake of 1966

It was the first subway in Central Asia and was the 7th metro to be built in the former USSR, It consists of four lines, operating on 70.4 km (43.74 mi) of route serving 50 stations

It has been considered as one of the most beautiful Soviet metro systems in the world.

Each of the stations is designed around a particular theme, often reflected in the station name. Furthermore, it has its own unique architectural features: some with domed ceilings and painted tiles reminiscent of Uzbekistan's Silk Road mosques, while others were decorated with chandeliers and marble, to give the appearance of European ballrooms..

,Granite, glass, smalt, art ceramics, carved alabaster, mosaics, ganch, and other decorative lighting features are in use

In 2024, the metro carried 270.3 million passengers, which corresponds to a daily average of approximately 741,000 passengers.

The exciting visit, of the 31 of us in the group, into and out of the fast trains, through only 4 stations , was remarkable and amazingly without any-one lost or staying behind.....

1. Kosmonavtlar -Cosmonaut station

At Cosmonauts Station, opened in 1984 deep blue walls and a  Milky Way, stars glass ceiling pay tribute to the pioneers of the space race

The space-programme-themed station honors Soviet cosmonauts such as Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova,, the first man and woman in space.

Above ground at the entrance to the station there is a bust of Vladimir Dzhanibekov - a retired Soviet Air Force Major General and a cosmonaut veteran of five orbital missions.

And a bigger statue with three people, left to right: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a Russian rocket scientist who pioneered astronautics , Yuri Gagarin first person to journey into outer space and Vladislav Volkov flew on the Soyuz 7 & 11 missions.

The quote by Tsiolkovsky

“Humanity will not remain on Earth forever, but in pursuit of light and space, at first it timidly penetrates beyond the atmosphere and then conquers the whole of solar space”

The project of the metro station was developed by the Uzbekistan greatly awarded architect Sergo Sutyagin born to engineer family in 1937, Moscow – and died in 2021, Tashkent. During WWII he was evacuated to the Uzbek SSR, and since lived there.

The stationis decorated in bright-colored anodized aluminium. The interior is decorated with blue ceramic medallions with images of Ulugbek, Icarus, Valentina Tereshkova, Yuri Gagarin, Vyacheslav Volkov and Sergei P. Korolov ,Vladimir Dzhanibekov and a mural runs the full length of the loading platform, depicting major space-related events and icons such as Galileo, Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin

Icarus - Greek Mythology First "Pilot" Mirzo Ulugh Beg - 14C Sultan

Timurid sultan, astronomer and mathematician.

Valentina Tereshkova, Sergei P. Korolyov Yuri Gagarin

For all images (here)

2. Alisher Navoi. Metro Station

is one of Tashkent Metro’s most famous stops

Opened in 1984 and named after the famous 15th-c Alisher Navoi, (1441 –1501) who was a Timurid  poet and philosopher, writer, statesman, linguist, Hanafi Maturidi[ mystic and painter, as well as the greatest representative of Chagatai literature.

This 2nd station we passed through. also reflects an iconic and ornate blend of Uzbek national motifs and Soviet-era architectural grandeur.

The structure is constructed of concrete and clad in both granite and marble.

Its design is based on a series of cupolas resting on tapered marbel columns, and detailed with painted ceramics., intricate tilework, and colorful mosaics that depict scenes from Navoi's literary works, embodying the rich cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.

The station not only serves as a transportation hub but also as a testament to the artistic and historical significance of the region.

3. Pakhtakor  - Cotton Picker Metro Station -

In true Soviet fashion, the work of the proletariat is also celebrated.

Stylised images of cotton are depicted in huge mosaics across the metro walls.

Mosaics representing cotton picking images are on buildings, columns, and ceilings,

The Soviets envisioned Uzbekistan as a vast cotton-producing nation, reworking the agricultural economy and diverting waterways until the country produced 70% of the USSR’s cotton needs. This famously led to environmental disaster when the Aral Sea – once the world’s fourth-largest freshwater lake – began drying up, leaving fishing fleets and port towns rusting in newly created deserts.

Now a days Uzbekistan is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of cotton, with an annual output of about 1 million tons of fiber It is the 8th largest producer and the 11th largest exporter of cotton in the world 1 million tons of cotton fiber grown domestically fully processed in Uzbekistan 2022

It is Uzbekistan's main cash crop, accounting for 17% of its exports (2006.)

Cotton's nickname in Uzbekistan is "white gold" (Uzbek: oq oltin).

4.Amir Temur Hiyoboni Metro Station

The last station the group passed through and got off to explore the square above named after the father of nation Amir Temur around which the new Usbekistan built its national narrative. The station which was opened in 1977 is of a very wide underground passage which covers the entire Amir Temur Square.

Prior to to 1992 it was called "October inkilobi" ( "October Revolution"), before it was renamed "Markaziy xiyoboni" ( "Central Square"). The station received its current name in 1993. It is a column-type station with two underground vestibules, combined with pedestrian subways.

Precast concrete.is was used in design and construction of the station,

Floor slabs are hidden behind a false ceiling, lighting fixtures installed in the beams. Facing the station are columns Nuratau white marble. The walls of the tunnel track are Gazgan reddish marble.

Earlier, the walls of the track tunnel had panels of hammered copper made by sculptors V. Lunev and L. Ryabtsev. Probably because of the revolutionary theme, after independence they were dismantled.

Back at Amir Temur Square

Amir Timur mounted on horseback, symbolizing the leader's enduring influence.

On the monument Temur's words: “The strength is in justice”, inscribed in 3 languages. 

This picturesque urban oasis now a days is .a popular spot for locals and tourists alike

The huge square at the intersection of several major streets, literally forms the center of Tashkent dates back to 1882.

It is a lush, green space with plenty of flowers and fountains. Roads radiate from here to the north, east and south of Tashkent, and the city's most important buildings, both political and cultural, are concentrated on the square and in the immediate vicinity.

Soaked in the history of the city its culture, and stunning architecture it was firstly designed in 1870 by Imperial Russian architects as a central park of the new Tashkent and was called Constantine Square.,setting the women and men's gymnasium, normal school and state bank surrounding the park.. Also seen are the Uzbekistan Hotel, various government offices, Renamed in 1994 the square is also home to the Amir Timur Museum..

During the group's visit at the square on May 8th a brass instrument bend was march-practicing for the actual march of May 9th "Victory Day" commemoration of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in WWII, to the pleasure of the by-passers in the park

This year marks its 80th anniversary.

The Pedestrian Walkway off the Square

Stretching from Amir Timur Square to Independence Square, (ustaqillik Maydoni befor 1991 was called "Lenin Square",) Tashkent Broadway, known as Sayilgoh Street, is an energetic promenade, a bustling pedestrian avenue a popular destination both for tourists and locals, that offers a plethora of activities and sights. and provides a glimpse into modern Uzbek life,

Street artists, local vendors selling crafts and souvenirs, more upscale stores and an array of cafes, restaurants, and stalls serving delicious Uzbek and international cuisine., are encountered with many American brands and English signs.

It is hard to believe that in less then 35 years since Uzbekistan gained its independence (1991) American branding won such a strong hold on the country's culture

At the end of this vibrant and colorful Pedestarin walkway while walking toward Independance Square, the group marveled over this perfact pictorial palace structure.

The Romanov Palace -The palace of Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich

The palace of Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich Romanov, (1850-1917) the grandson of Russia’s Emperor Nicholas I,

who, exiled by his royal parents to Tashkent in 1877, and stayed there until his death in 1918, He was banished due to a scandalous affair he had with a married American woman, Henrietta "Harriet" Ely Blackford. including the planned theft of some Romanov jewels,

To protect the imperial family's reputation, he was officially declared insane and incapacitated, and his property was placed under guardianship. He was also stripped of his titles and honors, and his name was removed from official records of the imperial house. 

The art nouveau styled palace, which was highly popular at the time,and  is still in a perfect state of preservation is

perhaps, the most romantic building in the Uzbek capital.

located at the end of a Pedestrian Tashkent, In the very heart of the city, it isnext to the Square of Independence and close to Tashkent’s Broadway and the Amir Timur Square.

This one-storey fine  firebrick building was built in 1891 according to the design of architect V.S Geintselman and A.L. Benois , to accomade the exiled Duke at the farest outskirts of the empire in the Turkestan region. . It is surprisingly small in size, but set amongst pleasant gardens just back from the street.

The Duke was also famous in Tashkent as a competent engineer and irrigator, constructing two large canals, the Bukhar-aryk (which was poorly aligned and soon silted up) and the much more successful Khiva-Aryk, later extended to form the Emperor Nicholas I Canal, irrigating 12,000 desyatinas, 33,000 acres (134 km2) of land in the 'Hungry Steppe' between Djizak and Tashkent. Most of this was then settled with Slavic peasant colonisers.

Nikolai died in 1917, though sources disagree as to whether pneumonia or Bolshevik bullets caused his demise. He was buried in St George's Cathedral (now demolished) and was survived by his wife, two sons, and at least six illegitimate children.

Currently, the building is used as a reception house for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan

Food Experiences

Lunch Osh Markazi The Central Asian Plov Center

Guards Colonel Khodjaev Street, Tashkent, near TV Tower

998 71 200 94 44

The Central Asian Plov Center (Osh Markazi) in Tashkent is a well-known location for traditional plov. 

It's a large restaurant, often described as unusual, where visitors can experience plov being prepared and cooked in large bowls. The center is a popular spot

for both locals and tourists, offering a chance to see a fragment of everyday life in Tashkent and enjoy a traditional meal

“Palov”, also known as “Osh” is a classical very filling fatty main dish of Central Asian countries, consisting of many ingredients like garbanzo beans, barberries, eggs, quince, pomegranate incorporated to the main ingredients like onions, rice, oil and Lam meat/fat long-cooked and flavored with also dry fruites and local hurbs.at special deep ovens

It was shoking to spectated the process of cooking this hearty dish at the open kitchen next to the restuarnt, only after dinning, and not before...as it might have curbed the apetite....

Dinner at  Sim Sim Restaurant

This beautifully decorated traditional at

 15-uy, Mukimi Street, 100115, Tashkent

+998 71253 54-34 , 99898 137-33-99. +99898 160 -20 - 21

The interior of the restaurant «Sim-Sim» is decorated in Uzbek lavishly ornamented style.wood carvings on the stairs and columns till ceramic floor and wall.

The large winter hall decorated with ceramic panels in the oriental style accommodates 180 seats.

Another large hall is outside under the bluish glass dome. There is also bolohona-mansard for 80 seats and 3 trestle beds. The restaurant reminds the house of hospitable host.

Hotel stayed in

Hotel Radisson Panarams

 2, Yuqori Qoraqamish St. Yashhnabod District Tel:998 78 1133331

Located 20 minutes ride a away from the Tashkent airport, this modern hotel location's is close to many of the city's unique landmarks, and with its 105 large rooms easily accommodates large groups. The bffet breakfast is good

City's Sites

To be Continued......