Uzbekistan has been on my radar for many, many years. Right back to when we started working with Cox and Kings over fifteen years ago, I was allured by the bright blue domes of the Silk Road cities. Now what is an annual occurrence with ITC (having previously visited Slovenia and the Regent ships in Venice), I was given the choice of Uzbekistan or Peru – and it had to be Uzbekistan.
The former Soviet state which gained independence in 1991 is at the heart of the famous Silk Road, located between Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, it has a long and rich history.
There is only one airline that flies directly to Tashkent, of course, Uzbekistan Airways, which currently has a twice-weekly schedule for Heathrow (and the same offering for Gatwick). We were fortunate to have flown on their 787 both ways (some people would know this as the Dreamliner), which although relatively basic compared to the major carriers, still offers a comfortable service. I had a row all to myself on their way home, which on a 6-hour flight is most welcome. It’s generally the reverse of going to America – an overnight outbound and a day flight home.
Arriving in Tashkent in the early morning as the sun rises over the city is really magical. Regent Holidays is used to this schedule, so they had pre-booked our rooms at the Lotte Hotel for the night before, so we were able to check in straight away and have breakfast. The Lotte is a decent hotel right in the centre of town, opposite the main theatre, which was previously used for VIPs. Although not the most luxurious, it’s still lovely and has the most grand breakfast room.
Having met our Tashkent guide in the morning, our afternoon excursions took in some of Tashkent’s old town- the large Madrassh and Mosque, giving our first glimpse of what we will go on and see in the other cities during our trip. Just around the corner, is Tashkent’s largest market – and just as you would expect from a market of that kind, you will find everything under the sun – from meat to vegetables, clothes, electricals, a bakery and even home wear. It was also an opportunity to ride on the Tashkent metro, with its amazingly ornate stations (and very modern metro trains from Russia).
Tashkent Market
Whenever you go to a new country, it’s really good to do something different. I was really impressed with Rakhimov’s Ceramic Studio, where he works with his father and sons keeping traditional Uzbek ceramic arts alive. The green and black motives are the families ‘house’ style, although they do experiment with different designs and styles. They also take on students, to pass on their knowledge and expertise – but it was just an interesting experience almost like going to someone’s house.
There was also a visit to the Islam Karimov Memorial Complex and Museum – dedicated to Uzbekistan’s first president who ruled the country from 1991 to 2016. It’s worth also understanding the country’s modern history, as well as the more commonly told stories on the Silk Road because it’s just as interesting.
