Guide to Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. More than three million inhabitants live here. Tashkent covers an area of 335 km2 on the northern branch of the so-called Silk Road, an ancient and medieval route leading from East Asia through Central Asia to the Mediterranean. In the middle of the 19th century, with the arrival of the Russians, the city began to modernize. In 1966, Tashkent was hit by a devastating earthquake, so construction had to be started almost from the ground up. The Old City forms the center of Tashkent and is home to the Chorsu Bazaar (or Juva Bazaar), the largest bazaar in Central Asia.
Accommodation in Tashkent
We have prepared a varied selection of accommodation for you in Tashkent, which you can book online using the booking form. There are hotels, B&Bs, apartments and hostels to choose from. If you enjoy luxury and a rich selection of services, then do not hesitate to book luxury hotels, of which we would like to recommend Ramada Tashkent, Hyatt Regency Tashkent. In the named hotels you will find spacious rooms and apartments, à la carte restaurants, wellness centers with pools, saunas and whirlpools. From the four-star hotel category, we offer the Radisson Blu Hotel located in the city center with interiors in red and gold colors, the Wyndham Tashkent hotel with a restaurant serving Uzbek specialties. Cheap accommodation can be found in hostels suitable for undemanding clients or larger groups of people. Art Hostel has a sauna and a swimming pool located just 5 minutes from Kosmonavtov Metro Station. At Hayot Hostel, located 3 km from Yuzhniy International Airport, you can use the equipped kitchen with dining room.
History of Tashkent
The city of Tashkent was founded 2,000 years ago and has been an important part of the Silk Road since the beginning. It lies in the valley of the Čirčík river west of the Tian Shan mountain range. In the 8th century, the Arabs began to penetrate this territory. They also brought with them a new religion, Islam. The name Tashkent, consisting of the words taš - stone and kent - city, originated in the 10th century. During the relatively long period of time between the 10th and 19th centuries, a number of rulers took turns here, e.g. Samanians, Karachanids, Mongols, Timurians or Shaibánians. The middle of the 19th century was a significant period for Tashkelt, when the territory fell under the rule of the Russian Empire. The city began to gradually modernize and flourish economically. A sad memory is the year 1966, when the city was hit by a strong earthquake. Over 300,000 inhabitants were left without homes and extensive construction and reconstruction of a large part of the city had to begin. Today, Tashkent is an important political, economic and cultural center.
Transport to Tashkent
Yuzhniy International Airport is located just a few kilometers from the city center. The leading airlines serving the airport are Aeroflot, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Asiana, Uzbekistan Airways and Turkish Airlines. The airport in Tashkent is the main air hub of Uzbekistan Airways, which operates flights to, for example, Almaty, Tokyo, Bangkok, London or New York. There is mainly taxi service from the airport to the center. Watch out for "taxi drivers" right at the arrival halls. The prices are determined by the customers and in fact it is not an official taxi service. Give preference to taxis standing at designated stands just a few steps from the airport. Tashkent is a key railway stop from Central Asia. From Tashkent, you can take direct connections to Moscow or Almaty. As for traveling by car or renting cars, there are no classic rental companies available in Uzbekistan. The car is usually rented with a driver. Traveling across borders is definitely worth mentioning and important information. These may not be freely accessible and in most cases there is a risk of problems with controls. A well-functioning subway system is used for transportation around the city, which is very cheap. Another option are the already mentioned taxi cars.
Sights, attractions and activities in Tashkent
Although the history of Tashkent dates back to the time before Christ, the city was hit by a devastating earthquake in the 20th century, thanks to which modernization and the construction of wide boulevards and parks began. Many may be surprised by the rather oriental character of the city, which distinguishes Tashkent from many Soviet cities. The center is the Old City or Shahristan, which surrounds the largest bazaar in Central Asia. The Chorsu bazaar has been operating for many centuries and you can buy everything from food, wood and metal products to textile goods here. The old town is criss-crossed by narrow streets, among which there is, for example, the oldest Islamic church in the area named after the scholar Kukeldash. A very important building is the Tellya Sheikh Madrasa, a mosque built in the 16th century, a part of which is a library. The oldest preserved Koran in the world from the 8th century is kept in the library. Timur's equestrian statue can be found in the Central Park. It was replaced by the original statue of Karl Marx. Cafes, food stalls and various shops line Satyelgoh kochasi avenue, which the locals call Broadway. For culture, you can go to the building of the architect Ali Schusev, the building of the Uzbek Opera and Ballet. Other sights of the city that you should not miss include the Abu Bakr Kaffal Šoši mausoleum, Independence Square with the building of the Uzbek Senate, or the Ališer Navaí Theater.