Tashkent

Where Tashkent is in Uzbekistan.

Panorama of Tashkent.

Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent or Тошкент, Russian: Ташкент)) is the capital city of Uzbekistan. It is also the most populated city in Central Asia, with a population of 2,603,000 in 2023.^[1] Its name means "Stone City" in English.

Tashkent has been inhabited by people for thousands of years.^[2] It was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1219, but later profited from the Silk Road. Tashkent was conquered by the Russian Empire in 1865, and became the capital of Russian Turkestan.^[3] Under the Soviet Union, Tashkent grew in population.

In 2008, Uzbeks accounted for 63% of the population, and the city has large minorities of Russians, Tatars, Koreans, and Tajiks.

Geography

Tashkent viewed from space.

Tashkent is west of the Altai Mountains,^[4] and is next to the Chirchiq River. Tashkent is situated at around 430 m (1,411 ft) above sea level. Tashkent also suffers from earthquakes, and the major 1966 earthquake destroyed most of the city.^[5]

Tashkent has a mediterranean climate with continental climate influences.^[6] Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are hot, sunny, and dry.^[7] The record high temperature was 44.6 °C (112.3 °F), and the record low temperature was −29.5 °C (−21.1 °F).^[8] The city has an average of 427 mm (17 inches) of precipitation each year.^[8]

Main sights

Tashkent is full is historical sights, and this article will just mention a few.

The Amir Timur Museum.

The Kukeldash Madrasah in 2014.

The Navoi Theater.

The Amir Timur Museum was opened in 1996, and is dedicated to Mongol conqueror Timur. There are at least 5,000 artifacts on display at the museum. Around 2 million people visit the location each year, and the museum is featured on the 1,000 soʻm bank note. The museum is located downtown next to the Amir Temur Square.

The Kukeldash Madrasah (Tashkent) is an ancient madrasa located close to the Chorsu metro station. It was built in the 16th century during Shaybanid rule.^[9] Throughout its existence, it functioned as a caravanserai, museum, and fortress. It was one of the few buildings to survive the 1966 earthquake.

The Navoi Theater, formally the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, is the possibly the most notable opera house and theatre in Uzbekistan. It was designed by Alexey Shchusev, who also designed Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow. It was partially built by the Japanese prisoners of war from 1945 to 1947.^[10] The theatre can house at least 1,400 spectators.

Sports

Tashkent is home to some of the most successful Uzbek football clubs. These include Pakhtakor Tashkent, Lokomotiv Tashkent, Bunyodkor, and Spartak Tashkent.

Some notable athletes from Tashkent include cyclist Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, gymnast Elvira Saadi, and footballer Maksim Shatskikh.

Tashkent Media

Coinage of Chach circa 625-725 CE
Ambassadors from Chaganian (central figure, inscription of the neck), and Chach (modern Tashkent) to king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.
Arab Caliphate under Abbasid dynasty c 850. (Tashkent was ruled by Umayyad and Abbasids)
Silver Dirham of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid minted in Tashkent (Tachkent, Mad'an al-Shash) in 190 AH (805/806 CE)
Mausoleum Zangiata
Barak khan madrasa, Shaybanids, 16th century
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built by the Russian Orthodox Church in Tashkent.
Coats of arms of Tashkent, 1909
Tashkent. Kaufman avenue, Arif Khodzha passage
Tashkent. The building of town council