Uzbekistan
Introduction
Uzbekistan is one among five "Stans" of Central Asia, The others being Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. It's a landlocked country but remember, this country or whatever it was known in its earlier avatar controlled first the Ivory trade from India to the rest of the world, and later it also controlled the famous Silk Route between China and the rest of the world.
It is also an erstwhile Soviet Republic of what was known as the USSR. The gains of being part of the USSR are a 98 % Literacy rate, good infrastructure and a modern state with modern society. It has High-Speed railway trains of Spanish Origin. Tashkent also had a Metro for a long time (since 1977).
Uzbekistan is full of history. Its most famous ruler was Amir Timur (Timur Lung as we know it) whose rule extended from China to Istanbul and Delhi to Southern Russia. That is how most of the famous tourist attractions are formed and built. While the world remembers him as a very cruel conqueror who killed nearly 5 % of the world population of that time during his campaign, he is revered in his homeland because he arose a downtrodden and depressed nation and took them to a very high position.
Visa
Indian need to obtain a suitable visa. For visitors, it is a tourist visa. The application process is online simple and quick. It generally takes three days to get an e-visa and a single-entry tourist visa costs 25 USD (A double-entry visa cost is 35 USD).
Currency
Their currency is called Som. One Som is equal to 0.0072 INR as I write this blog in the month of April 23 (INR 100 - Som 13931.84).
Climate
Summers are hot here. The end of July / early August sees temperatures as high as 50 deg C. Winters are cold. The best time to visit is from March to Jun and from Sept to November.
Cities worth visiting
There is a good number of cities and towns worth visiting. However, one can visit the four most important cities/ locations of Uzbekistan in a quick trip of 8 to 10 days. These places are -
(a) Tashkent.
(b) Samarkand.
(c) Bukhara.
(d) Khiva
We will take you on a virtual trip to Uzbekistan in four parts. In this first part, we are heading to Tashkent.
Tashkent
It can be reached from Delhi by a direct Uzbekistan air flight. There are many other airlines flying to Tashkent with one stop. The direct flight takes around 3 hours. Tashkent Airport is very close to the city and most hotels can be reached in around 15 to 40 minutes from the airport.
Tashkent today is a modern city which was rebuilt by the Soviet Union in 1966 after the original city was destroyed in an earthquake. However, Tashkent as a human settlement is existed since 3 BC.
Today this city boasts wide roads, a lot of forested areas, well laid out houses and above all many gardens. Even the main roads have forested walkways along them with flower beds.
Places of interest
Tashkent is full of museums of various types. It may be worthwhile to visit some of them. The same is the case with parks and gardens. There are many places worth visiting in Tashkent. The must-visit places of Tourist attractions in Tashkent are listed below -
(a) Minor Mosque, also called White Mosque.
(b) Hazrati Imam Complex.
(c) Kukeldash Madarassa.
(d) Amir Timur Square and Park.
(e) Uzbekistan Hotel.
(f) Museum of Applied Arts.
(g) Monument of Courage.
(h) Chorsu Bazar.
(i) Tashkent City Park.
The Virtual Tour of Tashkent.
Let us go and visit them all.
(a) Minor Mosque, also called White Mosque.
Built only in 2014, this is a modern mosque made with white marble (hence also called a white mosque). This mosque can accommodate about 2400 worshipers at any given time. It's a grand place with a huge carpet and beautiful Chandeliers in the prayer hall. The prayer hall can be entered (even for a visit) by only men after removing their shoes. The women, on the other hand, see the inside hall of the mosque from a different entrance, but they are not allowed to enter the main hall. Despite being a new construction, this mosque is visited by a large number of tourists for its beauty and grandness.
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| Minor aka White Mosque |
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| Outside the Mosque |
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| Grand Frontage |
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| Mosque dome and Skylight |
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| Inside decore |
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| Massive Prayer Hall |
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| Big Carpet |
Located in the old residential district of mud houses of Uzbek style, this complex, also known as Hast Imam complex, is the centre of religious activities in Tashkent. This complex is built around Mazar Kaffaliya ash Shashi and is located in the centre of the old avatar of Tashkent called Shash. He was the first Imam as also a preacher of Islam in Tashkent. He got his Islamic education in the Madrasas of Bukhara and Samarkand. Other than the Mazar of the Great (Hazrat) Imam, this area also has a Jami Masjid, A library and Kukeldash Madarassa. This place also has the headquarters of Spiritual Education in Uzbekistan.
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| Entry to the Complex |
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| Closer Look |
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| Islamic Messages on the tiles |
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| The Mazar of the Saint |
Built in the 16 century and named after the Vazir of the Ruling Khan.this Madarass is near Chor-su Bazar. Constructed with Yellow Bricks, this place is very similar to one of the Madarassa of Khiva in design.
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| The Madarass courtyard (Photo curtsey - Internet) |
(d) Amir Timur Square and Park.
AmirTimur is an Icon in Uzbekistan. There are many places named after him. However, this place, Amir Timur Square, did not have this name till 1994. Originally it was built as a Park by the then Governer of Russian Turkestan in 1882, this place has had many Avatars. It was once called Revolution Square after Russian Revolution. Subsequently, a Stalin Statue was placed there. Karl Marx's Statue replaced Stalin's when all the Stalin Statues were removed. Finally, after the independence of Uzbekistan, it was renamed "Amir Timur Square". Amir Timur's horse Mounted Statue was placed here in 1995.
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| Amit Timur Square |
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| Amer Timur's Horse Mounted Statue |
One of the most famous landmarks of Tashkent, this hotel was built during Soviet time in the year 1974. Amir Timur Square is right opposite this hotel. This hotel has over 200 rooms, decorated in period style with wooded furniture. It is a great experience to visit this place.
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| Uzbekistan Hotel |
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| It is Grand and an Icon of Tashkent |
(f) Museum of Applied Arts.
Billu in 1927 in a traditional house belonging to a Russian Diplomate, this place opened in 1927 as the Museum of Handicraft. IN 1977, it was designated as a state museum showcasing over 7 K pieces of the work of Uzbek Craftsmen. The displayed works include Pottery, ceramics, Ikkath clothes, traditional clothes, etc.
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| Uzbek Textile |
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| Loom weaving Ikkath cloth (this cloth is originally an Uzbek creation) |
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| Uzbek Embroidery |
(g) Monument of Courage.
This beautiful place was built to honour the dead of the massive 8.4 Richter Scale Earthquake of 1966. This place has a stopped clock which shows the time when this earthquake occurred and a statue of a Woman, a man a child representing the courage of the Uzbek people amid challenges like earthquakes.
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| The Momerial |
(h) Chorsu Bazar.
This ancient bazaar is identified by its trademark Blue dome under which the central part of the Bazaar is situated. The name of this famous bazaar, "Chorsu" means "Crossroads". It must have been situated at a cross road in ancient Tashkent. It is a very big traditional bazaar selling almost everything that a family needs. From meat and Plotry products to bread, freshly baked ones, to clothes to local eateries, dry fruits, resins and many more such things. This is one place where one gets to connect with locals by way of seeing the ware that they buy and sell, clothes that they wear, and food that they eat. This is also one place where there are wood-fired ovens in its bread section baking fresh aromatic and soft Uzbek bread. One can see the process and eat oven-fresh bread.
(i) Tashkent City Park.
Built in the year 2019, this park is the youngest among various parks of Tashkent, has the largest park area in Uzbekistan and is a modern park, entertainment centre and performance arena. It has a Musical fountain which has 10-minute shows from 6.30 pm every hour. There are performances held here on a regular basis. This also is a full family picnic place with eateries serving many types of cuisine. The musical fountain shows are enjoyable and they can be watched while one eats in one of the eating places in this park.
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| Entrance to City Park |
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| Sunset seen from the park |
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| Lake Inside the Park |
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| One of the Selfie Point |
Tashkent is a good primer to a full Uzbekistan trip and a must-visit place.
A detailed & excellent guide of the city . Would like to visit some day. 👍
ReplyDeleteThank you for liking it. Donlet me know when you would like to visit.
DeleteVery Educative & well researched.
ReplyDeleteThank you Col Khanna
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