Exploring Tashkent

After breakfast, we had a guided walking tour of Tashkent, the largest city in Uzbekistan and its capital. It feels totally different than the previous Uzbekistan cities we’ve been to which are so much smaller and focussed or centred on historic monuments. Tashkent feels modern but quite Soviet.

The reason it feels so Soviet is there was a massive earthquake in 1966 pretty much levelling the city, and the Soviets decided to rebuild it as a model city. Large avenues and boulevards were built along with enormous government buildings, an opera house, theaters, as well as a subway system.

While Amir Timur is the hero of Uzbekistan, Tashkent’s hero is Sharof Rashidov, who was 1st Secretary of the Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan from 1957 to 1983 and rebuilt Tashkent following the earthquake. He also began Uzbekistan’s gold mining industry.

We visited a few subway stations as well. Built in 1977 by the Soviets, they are grand. A must see.

We ended our tour at Chorsu Bazaar, the most spectacular bazaar/market we’ve ever seen. It is HUGE. Centred by a large dome building, the market sprawls into the neighbouring streets. The highlight was the food alley where you could have a variety of Uzbek delicacies.

Some of us chose to stay at the market and eat at the food alley, and then walk the almost five kilometres back to our hotel.Read more