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Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan

General information about Tashkent

Tashkent, the capital of Independent Uzbekistan, has another name “peace and friendship city”. It was founded more than 2200 years ago. The population of Tashkent has already grown up to more than 3 million people. The region is situated at the foothills of the Tian Shan mountain range. It lies in the north-east part of the country.

The history of Tashkent

Scientists confirm the initial inscriptions about Tashkent belong to the II century B.C. Thus, one can meet the name of Tashkent as “Yueni” or “Shi” in Chinese annals; “Chach” in Shampur’s manuscripts – the Persian King; “Shash” in Arabic, “Binkent” in some other sources.

For the first time, the word “Tashkent” appeared in Turkish documents of the IXth-XIIth centuries which has meaning: Tashkent – “a stone city”. The city got this name because of its people’s braveness. Throughout history, they had to protect it from neighboring tribes, empires, and enemies. Because of its geographical favorable location on the crossroad of the Silk Road, it was always the aim of invaders. Besides, Tashkent has another name “a city of fountains” …

During the XIV-XV centuries, Tashkent was under the Timurid empire. While in the XVI century the Shaybanids dynasty took it over. From 1865 the Russian Empire captured it. Afterward, finally in 1930 Tashkent got the status – a capital of Uzbek Soviet Socialistic Republic replacing Samarkand.

Tashkent today

Today, Tashkent is a city of big contrasts: modern and ancient. You can see many historical monuments together with modern buildings. For example, one of the oldest repositories named after Alisher Navoi, founded in 1870 as Tashkent Public Library. Moreover, the national library is the richest one in Central Asia. Its collection is more than 10 million publications including rare and antique editions, manuscripts, lithographs, first national periodicals, and books.

Tashkent Metro / Underground

Also, Tashkent is famous for its Underground/Metro stations. Foreign tourists’ excursions of Tashkent always include a visit to Underground/Metro. The first line of Tashkent metro, the first metro in Central Asia, launched in 1977. Its length was 12.2 km and it had nine stations. Later the second line started and continued till 1991. The third Yunusobod line, whose total length was 7.6 km and six stations, opened in September 2001. The total length of all lines nowadays is 36.2 km with twenty-nine stations.

Each station is unique in architectural designs and decorations: alabaster carving, marble carving, glass, granite, tiles, smalt, ceramics, plaster carvings, and other decorations.

Tashkent Metro is mostly famous for its cleanness: no litter, no plastic bottles, no graffiti… Once, one of our French tourists said: “If I had a chance to give birth, I would love to do it in one of Tashkent Metro stations!”

Last but not least, due to the well-arranged air ventilation and conditioning systems, passengers can enjoy it throughout the year!

What to do in Tashkent?

Here are the main historical and modern sights/monuments of Tashkent which can be included in your Tashkent city tour:

Kukeldash Medresah (XVI century);
Abdulkasim Medresah (XIX century);
Alay/Oloy bazaar;
Alisher Navoi Theatre (1942-1947);
Amir Temur Square;
Applied Art Museum;
Barakhan Medresah (XVI century);
Chorsu bazaar;
Courage monument/Earthquake monument (1976);
Friendship Square and concert hall;
Grand Duke Romanov’s residence palace (XIX century);
Independence Square;
Juma Mosque of Khoja Ahror Valiy (XV-XIX centuries);
Kaffal Ash-Shoshiy Mausoleum (XV century);
Kaldyrgach-biy mausoleum (XV century);
Khovandi Takhur Sheikh Mausoleum (XVIII-XIX centuries);
Ming-Uruk settlement (I century BC);
Muyi Muborak Medresah library (XVI-XIX centuries);
Railway Museum;
Shakhidlar xotirasi memorial complex (2000);
Sheikh Zayniddin Bobo Mausoleum (XII-XIII centuries);
Tashkent Fine Arts Museum;
Tashkent TV Tower (1978-1984);
Tashkent Clock Tower (1947);
Temurid’s museum;
Uzbekistan History Museum;
Yangiabad/Tezikovka bazaar;
Yunus-khan Mausoleum (XV century);
Zangi-Ota pilgrimage site (XIII-XIX centuries).

Hotels in Tashkent

Tashkent can boast with its modern world-known branded hotels like Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Radisson, Wyndham, and Radama. Traditional boutique hotels are mostly in the regions. For more detailed information about the hotels of Tashkent, you can visit our page Tashkent hotels.