Tashkent, Capital city in northeastern Uzbekistan.
Tashkent is the capital of northeastern Uzbekistan, crossed by wide avenues and canals fed by the Chirchiq River at an elevation of 455 meters (about 1493 feet). The city spreads in a grid pattern with numerous green spaces between residential districts and public buildings, surrounded by the Tianshan mountains to the east.
A settlement appeared here between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC as an oasis along trade routes connecting east and west. Over centuries the site grew into a commercial hub until it came under Russian rule in the 19th century and later became the capital of a Soviet republic.
Visitors experience a tea house culture in which families and friends gather for hours over plov and samsa. The bazaars such as Chorsu draw locals daily to buy fresh bread, spices and textiles, while traditional craftspeople demonstrate their work on site.
An extensive metro network with 50 stations connects all city districts and offers easy orientation for visitors moving between neighborhoods. Islam Karimov International Airport sits near the city center and allows arrivals from many cities across Asia and Europe.
An earthquake in 1966 destroyed much of the old town and led to a complete reconstruction following Soviet urban planning principles. The current cityscape therefore reflects this reconstruction phase with its planned residential districts and wide boulevards more than earlier layers of the past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
