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Tashkent |
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TASHKENT is the major transport hub for Uzbekistan. There is no direct air or rail access to the more historic cities of Uzbekistan from Europe or from Russia - you have to travel via Tashkent.
Tashkent has a largely “soviet” appearance, but nevertheless remains an attractive city. As a developing state’s capital, there is a small but energetic ex-pat scene, with bars, restaurants, nightclubs etc - the city offers a faster pace of life than the more “historic” cities of Central Asia.
Most of the city was flattened in an earthquake in 1966, although amazingly only two lives were lost. Consequently present-day Tashkent has been rebuilt with relatively modern infrastructure systems for a soviet city. Water, electricity, transport etc are all quite reliable.
Tashkent’s Town Square has been rebuilt in C19th Russian Style - the city was the centre of Tsarist Russian Administration of Central Asia, long before the Communist era. However, there is also evidence of the native Uzbek cultural legacy. The Street With No Windows remains the centre of “not-quite-approved-of” trades (such as liquor) as it has done for centuries. The Central Council for Islam has its offices in Tashkent, near to the main Market area, and this is superbly decorated inside (provided one is dressed respectably-enough to be admitted). The Bazaar is the largest in the country, and all kinds of goods can be seen - dried fruits and nuts, vegetables, flowers, seeds, spices, asian sweets etc.
The Uzbek Museum of Fine & Applied Art is a must-see - it contains almost all of the archaeological treasures unearthed in Samarkand, Bukhara, and across the country generally.
