UZBEKISTAN -TASHKENT

TASHKENT

TASHKENT –“The mirror “of the East, the capital of friendship and warmth.

The capital of Uzbekistan and is the city of magnificent beauty, sunny welcoming, the city of harmony of ancient architecture and modern urban planning. Known since the II- I c BC, there are different names for the area-Shash –Tepa, Chach –Tepa. Since XI century known as Tashkent, which presumably means the Stone City (from Uzbek Tosh-‘Rock”).In 2009, by the Dercree of UNESCO  Tashkent celebrated its 2200 years anniversary.

Tashkent –the economic, religious and political center of Uzbekistan. Most travel involves entering and leaving Uzbekistan through Tashkent the capital city of Uzbekistan.

Tashkent was the fourth largest city in the Soviet Union but you would not know it with the sheep that wander the street under the watchful eye of their turbaned shepherds. But as Tico after Tico races by followed by hundreds of Daewoo Nexias and the metro rumbles underneath .You begin to understand the complexity that is Tashkent.

In pre-Islamic times, the province was knowns as “Chach”. Later , the town came to be known as Chachkand, meaning “Chach City “. However, in the mid 7^th century under the Samanid Dyansty ,the place adopted the name Binkath.The Arabs however ,retained the old name but pronounced it as ‘Al-Shash”.Eventually ,after a string of name changes, the name Tashkent was used because it had more meaning to the new inhabitants as it  means “Stone City “when translated literally.

First mentioned were Chach ,Shash and Binkent before the “City of Stone”. Tashkent central capital of Uzbekistan was a major caravan crossroad in AD 751 for its advantageous geographical locational and favourable climate. It was also one of the main points of the Great Silk Road.

Toshkent is the capital of modern Uzbekistan, the city with 2200 years of history. Today Tashkent is a megapolis with its population in excess of 3 million. After destructive April’s earthquake of 1966,the city was rebuilt anew to become one of the most modern, well planned and well organized administrative, cultural and industrial centres of Central Asia.

Architectural style of Tashkent bears distinct features of Uzbek national colouring where ultramodern high rise buildings harmoniously match with medieval monuments and city’s multiple canals green parks and fountains. A good dozen of museums and art galleries, the Opera House, multiple concert halls, cafes and restaurants, sport and night clubs and other venues provide tourists and guests of the city variety of choices where they enjoyably spend their time it.