About Tashkent
Life in Tashkent
Toshkent or Tashkent city lies in eastern Uzbekistan and is the capital of the country. It is the largest city in Central Asia and the last former Soviet city where an underground subway was constructed. The subway opened in 1977.
Tashkent is located in an oasis near the Chirchik River in a fertile cotton- and fruit-growing region. The city is a major industrial and transportation center with industries producing machinery, cotton and silk textiles, chemicals, tobacco products and furniture.
A center of Uzbek culture, Tashkent has several large libraries and is the seat of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences and numerous other institutions of higher learning.
The first mention of Tashkent dates from the 7th century A.D., although it was probably founded by the 1st century B.C. The city was conquered by Arabs in the 8th century, by Genghis Khan in the early 13th century and by Tamerlane in the 14th century. It was annexed by Russia in 1865 and a new Russian city was built around the older town.
Tashkent, whose name means “Stone Fortress,” has the look of a modern metropolis. Little remains of the old city due to an April 1966 earthquake that leveled much of Tashkent. The city was rebuilt by the Soviets.
Tashkent is a very attractive and vibrant city. The roots of the rich Uzbek culture shine through the city’s architecture, museums and metro stations. Uzbek people are very friendly. The best way to get a full taste of the culture in Tashkent is to visit the local markets, which are social gathering places where every Tashkent resident is bound to visit.
Nightlife in Tashkent is evolving at an incredible pace. There are many nightclubs as well as teahouses and cafes. Uzbek cuisine is unique and very delicious. Some of the dishes to be enjoyed include osh or plov, samsa, shashlik, lagman, and many more.