Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan
After the conquest by the Arab caliphate, the settlement was largely destroyed. The inhabitants then founded a new town on the site of today’s Old Town of Tashkent. This new settlement was first called Binkent and later renamed Tashkent. In Uzbek “Tash” means “stone”, while “Kent” means “settlement”. Tashkent, however, was never built of stone; the name appeared to reflect the courage of Tashkent’s inhabitants in their fight against enemies. Today, Tashkent is a metropolis with about 2,5 million inhabitants.
The city lies in a seismically active zone; therefore, the historical part of the city is relatively small. During the last severe earthquake in 1966, many historical buildings were unfortunately destroyed. Today we see Tashkent, rebuilt by Soviet architects after 1966. Architects thoughts of the wide streets with foresight, which is why, despite the dense population, you will rarely be stuck in a traffic jam. Tashkent is also a very green city, with many trees and parks.
Since the city is very extensive, you are dependent on a vehicle during your visit. Tashkent is the only city in Uzbekistan (and the first city in Central Asia) to have a metro, but not all parts of the city are connected. Nevertheless, it would be best if you ventured a detour under the earth: the stations designed by Soviet architects are reminiscent of the well-known stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg and are worth a visit.
2,5 MLN
Population
2200 years
Age of Tashkent
455 Meters
Above sea level
Tashkent at leisure
In Tashkent, you will find a large number of interesting museums and theatres. The most famous is the Alisher Navoi Theatre, named after a famous Uzbek poet from the 15th century. Although the theatre cannot quite keep up with the big opera houses in Europe, you can enjoy good quality performances at a moderate price.
Tashkent is a city with a variety of ethnic groups. It also has a culinary effect: while the other cities in Uzbekistan mainly offer local cuisine, Tashkent also provides a wide range of international cuisine, from Irish pubs to sushi restaurants.
Flight connections: For most tourists, Tashkent International Airport is the starting and ending point of their journey, with connections to various Western European countries, but also to Russia, Turkey and Southeast Asia.
Railway connections: The city has two railway stations: the North (Severniy Vokzal) and the South (Yujniy Vokzal), from which you can travel through the country by train. The high-speed train “Afrosiyob” runs from the northern train station, where furthermore international trains from Russia arrive. All other trains depart from the southern train station.