Uzbekistan Report - Tashkent Home Menu

MAIN TRAIN STATION OF TASHKENT:

Tashkent City has several train stations, but only one large Main Central Station. The original station building was one of the historic buildings dated to the early Russian Tsarist days in Tashkent. It was built in the year 1899, however naturally has been renovated, expanded and upgraded many times since. In 1957 and entirely new Soviet styled Station was built to replace the historic station.

The current Tashkent Central Station is a huge Soviet-styled building which, since 1984, directly connects to the Vokzal Metro Station and the Metro (Subway) Network of Taskhent.

The Station is situated at exactly 2.14 kilometers due southwest by south of Amir Timur Square, along Turkistan Street (Turkistan Ko'chasi).

The Tashkent Central Station offers trains to various National destinations (Buchara and Samarkand), as well as regional and International destions such as Dushanbe, Bishkek, Kharkov, Chelyabinsk, and Moscow beyond.

HIGH SPEED TRAIN NETWORK OF UZBEKISTAN:

Notably, since August of 2011 a high speed train connection exists between Tashkent and Samarkand. In 2017 a new extension of the line to Bukhara (Buxuro) was opened. Currently the high speed train line traverses five provinces of Uzbekistan, these being; Tashkent Province, Sidaryo Province, Jizzakh

Tashkent has not one but two Airports. The first of these is the Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport. The secondary Tashkent Vostochny Airport only serves Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport and for the time being is not a public airport, but a Military Airbase ostensably involved in cargo transport and experimental aircraft for the Uzbek Defense Forces. In the future hwoever, a was decided in 2017 Taskhent Vostochny Airport will be renovated and reconstructed to become the second International Airport of Tashkent.

Tashkent has one Central Train Station with in addition a few minor stations within the city. Minor local train stations in Tashkent are Vokzal (adjacent Tashkent Central Station), Navoi and Salar Station. The Chukorsoy Train Station is not a passenger tran station but a Freight Train Station, which is why it is situated at the very northern edge of the city.

The Central Station is the starting point for regional and International Train Travels. Main destinations within Uzbekistan are the other great silk road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand.

International destinations available at Moscow in Russia and Almaty in Kazakhstan. In addition one may travel to Dushanbe, Capital of Tajikistan and Bishkek, Capital of Kyrgyzstan. Main destination in Central Russia, is Kharkov in Eastern Ukriane or Chelyabinsk, the worlds most nuclear polluted city in Chelyabinsk Oblast.

For local public transportation Tashkent has a Subway / Metro Transportation system. Bus Lines criss cross the central city.

VISA ARRANGEMENTS FOR UZBEKISTAN:

Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaidjan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine do NOT Need to apply for a Visa. Others are required to apply for Visa through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in their country.

Visa at the Airport:

Applying for Visa after arrival at the airport is only possible for those whos native country does not have an Embassy of Uzbekistan, or in case their passing through the country they have just left (arrived from) did not allow proper time for applying for Visa.

In case of applying for Visa at the Airport, please note: you will still need to arrange for a Letter of Invitation (LOI). You can acquire an LOI before flying to Uzbekistan, by booking at an Uzbekistan Tourist package at an agency in your country of origin, by requesting them to issue you an LOI to fit with the booking.

Please Note: In addition "all" (There are exceptions) tourist travelers to Uzbekistan are required to turn over a "Letter of Invitation" (LOI), which is an essential added travel document which can only be acquired when the tourist books a tour group (tour group travel itenerary) arranged by a certified tourist agency.

In effect, this means that single persons CAN NOT travel at random throughout Uzbekistan, but instead are required to travel pre-chosen and designated routes and visit only (thereby) permitted locations.

Exceptions for LOI:

Tourist from Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia (Latvian Republic), Malaysia, Thailand, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (Britain), are NOt required to have an LOI when applying for Visa. Australia was added in 2017.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL WARNINGS / NOTIFICATIONS:

Prohibited items in the Republic of Uzbekistan include no information avaiilable. Legal Penalties may be substantial. Passengers should confirm with their airline of travel for further information and refrain from risk seeking behavior.

FOR FULL INFORMATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF TRANSPORTATION IN TASHKENT CITY, PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO THE DEDICATED PAGE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TASHKENT >>>>

As may be gathered from the brief introduction to Tashkent above, the city has a long and rich history of well over 2 millennia, becoming truly world famous as one of the main cities and civilization centers in Central Asia during this period.

According to Uzbek historians the city of Tashkent was founded by 191 BC. Historically most noted for its Islamic Architecture and heritage, since its conquest by the Russian Empire and in 1865 AD, the city also has its notable Russian influences and blessings.

Notable moments in the history of the city were the passing by of the Tang Dynasty Era Monk Xuánzàng (玄奘) (602/603? – 664 AD), who travelled from China to India through Central Asia, and then mentioned the name of the city as Zhěshí (赭時) in his writings and memoirs of his travels. Several centuries later, the sacking of the city by Genghis Khan's armies in 1219 A.D. and the subsequent dying out of the city for decades before it once more recreated itself of a crucial center of trade, commerce, culture and science, became the next most historic upsweep of Tashkent as a city and civilization.

As a monument to the restauration of the city to its proper status as vital stop over along the silk road, in 1579 AD a new mausoleum of Sheikh Babahodzhi was built in Tashkent, laying further foundations for the area today identified as Hast Imam Square (or lately even more modern and fashionable as Khazrati Imam Architectural Complex). Sheikh Bbabhodzi, more commonly identified as the historic personality of Kaffal Shashi became an Islamic saint after his death in 976 AD. Subsequently, his grave in Tashkent situated nearby the Ash-Shash city wall in Bogi- Keykaus Garden became a pilgrimage place, establishing a religious tradition which would come to dominate life at the site.

In the 16th century, during another thriving period of Tashkent as a civilization center of the central silk road, a mausoleum was built over the grave, and the area around it, with a cemetery stretching to the south, was named Khazrati Imam (‘saint imam’) thus creating the first religious site of Hazrat Imam Square.

1809: The annexation of Tashkent City by the Kokand Khanate.

1856 - 57: Tilla Sheikh Mosque (‘golden sheikh mosque’), standing opposite Barak-Khan Madrasah at what today is Hast Imam Square (Khazrati Imam Architectural Complex) was built. Today it still is a functioning mosque, featuring minarets, a praying hall, a library and household facilities and also one of the main historic buildings to visit and see in the city of Tashkent. Inaddition, Tilla Sheikh Mosque also holds an iwan (a gallery-like structure with one side or two sides entirely open) which was added on to the mosque for people to be able to pray outdoors during large religious ceremonies and gatherings.

In what so far has been the last major conquest the Russian Empire became the major power in Central Asia with its conquest of the Islamic Khanates of Central Asia, with the fall of Tashkent and Uzbekistan in 1865.

Conquered by Tsarist forces under the command of General Cherniaev in 1865, the city of Tashkent became a testing ground for Russian experiments in formal colonial administration, with urban development along French Haussmannian lines became a major expression of governance and grand imperial status. Although, much of the city built in the Tzarist Russian days of the 19th and 20th century have now gone, many lost in the 1966 earthquake disaster, the new Imperial style would set a trend that would be followed by subsequent aspiring masters with Interntionally oriented designs.

Most notably, the formerly ancient city of Tashkent developed new European styled suburbs, which over time would grow to dominate the city landscape, even before a new era was ushered in by the 1966 earthquake of Tashkent.

Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate, which means that the air humidity is generally low and that temperatures vary considerably between night and day time. It is generally warmest in the south and coldest in the north. Uzbekistan, much more so since the mismanagement and then drying up of the large Aral Lake (since the 1960s), is generally a Nation of Mountains and Deserts and so is notorious for its summer heat. Although, generally during the summer temperatures can reach 45°C (113°F) and above, with its eastern location surrounded by mountains on three sides, temperatures in Tashkent remain somewhat mitigated.

Temperatures in December average -8°C (18°F) in the north and 0°C (32 °F) in the south. However, in winter extreme fluctuations can cause temperatures to drop to lows of some -35°C (-31°F).

Spring (April to June) and Fall (September through October) are in generally held to be the most pleasant times to travel to Tashkent and other parts of Uzbekistan. More specifically for Tashkent; Tashkent has dry periods in January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, concluding that April is (on average) the rainiest month.

Fewer people travel in Uzbekistan in summer, mostly due to extreme drought and heat however sunny and dry weather allow for excellent viewing of monumental historic sites. July is recorded as the dryest also hottest month of the year in Tashkent. However, daytime temperatures remain around an average 26 degrees celsius (79 F) with peaks around noon time going up to some 33 Degrees Celsius (91 F).

In fall, weather is usually sunny while temperatures remain at comfortable levels in daytime. Due to the fall being harvest time, this is a most popular season for culinary travels and explorations in Uzbekistan.

Local sources hold that in recent years Uzbekistan was notably affected by the global warming and dry-out of the Aral Sea, which turned snowy cold winters to mild with less precipitation by allowing to travel in the wintertime. The following is the average temperatures in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

SPECIAL WARNING: Tashkent is situated in highly earthquake prone regions. The City was nearly completely destroyed by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale in 1966. Earlier in 1948, the city of Ashgabad (Turkmenistan) was also heavily damaged.

Although in modern day Tashkent construction methods and design have sufficiently improved, mitigating the worst risks, please be aware that earthquakes may strike without warning at any time.

An earthquake monitoring institute is situated in the city, and if possible, this institute will warn the population of impending doom. However, earthquake are still considered unpredictable. No safe travel guarantees may be given.

TASHKENT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (IATA: TAS ; ICAO: UTTT) :

In may of 2017 the new President Shavkat Mirziyaev signed a resolution renaming the previous Tashkent International Airport to Islam Karimov International Airport in honor of the dead autocratic ruler. Nevertheless, the most commonly used name for the airport remains Tashkent International Airport.

The Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport is situated at exactly 6 kilometers due south of Tashkent's central Amir Timur Square.

Tashkent International Airport is the home of Uzbekistan's National Airline Uzbekistan Airways. Tashkent International also ranks among the busiest airports in all of Central Asia. It has wide international, regional and National flight connections available to destinations in Europe, all of Asia and also New York Cities John F. Kennedy Airport. There are too many destinations to summarize here. Main Regional destinations are; Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan).

National destinations include all major cities in Uzbekistan; Nukus, Urgench, Bukhara, Navoi, Termez, Samarkand, as well as the three eastern cities of Namangan, Kokand and Adizhan (Andijan).

The International Airport has two parallel runways of some 4 kilometers in length. There two separate terminal buildings. Importantly for travelers, the old and main passenger Terminal building sits along the north side of the field and is easily accessible from the city including via the "Airport" Station of the Tashkent Metro (Subway).

Oddly, the new International Terminal 3 sits on the south-west side of the field and has a separate entrance and connection roads. There is no Metro connection with Airport Terminal 3.

When traveling through Tashkent International Airport, please note the Terminal you need to use before planning anything else.

Transport from Tashkent Airport:

As mentioned, for all International Passengers, the Terminal 2 is the designated terminal. This means that conveniently one may pass directly from the Airport via "Airport" Metro Station to the city wide Trashkent Metro System. In addition one may transfer to Bus or Taxi.

Passengers arriving or leaving on flights to National Destinations (other cities in Uzbekistan) must pass through Terminal 3, which is inconveniently situated along the south end of the International Airport. Currently, there is no Metro Station at Terminal 3, which means that all passenger must first travel to the city by Bus, Taxi or private transport.

For a full overview of both history and existing train connections in Tashkent, please refer to the dedicated page:

ROAD CONNECTIONS IN TASHKENT:

Traditionally and historically the city of Tashkent is situated at an international crossroads of pathways leading south, east, west as well as north. Taken clockwise around the main and international road connections today start with the A-2 Highway connecting northward and across the International border to Simkent (Shimkent) in neighboring Kazakhstan. At Shimkent this A-2 highway turns eastward following along the border to Taraz and ultimately Almaty in Kazakhstan. Although the A-2 Highway follows a lengthy roundabout route, it is geographically the easiest route as it avoids most mountainous areas. Therefor, today this is the perefered road transport route to both Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Bishkek, Capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Almost all important roads out of Tashkent are mostly National Roads which thus connect with National Destionations. Although a spider web of lesser roads emmanates in a circular and radial pattern from Tashkent, the most notable routes are; A373 Road eastward to Kokand and Andizan (Andijan) near the border with Kyrgyzstan ; the M34 Road leading southwestward to Gulliston, and from there connecting to the western parts of Uzbekistan via M39 Highway. No main roads lead directly eastward as this is all high mountain terrain which is part of the Tianshan Mountains.

No additional information available. See Sections:

"Transport in Tashkent and Turkmenistan".

FOR FULL INFORMATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF TRANSPORTATION IN TASHKENT CITY, PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO THE DEDICATED PAGE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TASHKENT >>>>

Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent, Тошкент, تاشكېنت ; Russian; Ташкент) is an ancient historic city situated along the Silk Road in Central Asia. Already in the first half of the first millennium A.D. it was one of the main centres of culture, science, trade, wealth and according powers along the main pathways of the Silk Road. In the 8th century A.D. and onwards it was one of the Great Centres of Islam in Central Asia, until In the beginning of the 13th Century the city was destroyed by the Mongolian Armies led on a conquest by Genghis Khan. Rebuilt there after it was once more thrived on trade in Central Asia until the slow dying of merchant travel on land gave way to more profitable international see routes. After falling to Russian conquest in 1865, it became a major pillar of Russian influence.

Nothing much of immediate relevance to today's visitor to the city of Tashkent happened until in the year 1966, when a very heavy earthquake wiped much of the city off the map in a matter of minutes. Most notably, as much as 80% of the outlying parts of the city were destroyed, whereas some 50% of the buildings in the ancient core historic city had fallen as well. Needless to say, the apocalyptic event left scores of dead and many more, some 300 thousand people altogether, homeless, whereas essentially the entire city had to be rebuilt. As much as tourists today remember the crushing of the city by the armies of Genghis Khan, citizens of Tashkent mainly remember the life shattering 1966 Tashkent Earthquake event. For this reason, this day, one of the main sites to visit are the Earthquake Museum and according monument to the many victims. In the aftermath of this earthquake, an earthquake monitoring Institute was created in the city. It is still active, as Tashkent is situated in earthquake prone regions.

As tourists may notice upon their browsing about the city, much of the new city built after 1966 was designed entirely along Soviet Lines, which drastically reshaped and modernized the face and live of Tashkent. Crowning Piece of the Soviet Era City of Tashkent was the tallest Lenin Statue in the world, however this has since been torn down to be replaced by the downtown Business Center of a now International Tashkent. What is however still visible in modern day Tashkent has wide boulevards lined with shady trees, obligatory large spaces for monuments and parades, whereas surrounding suburbs mainly consist of large blocks of flats for working citizens. In spite of the devastating earthquake, in some 20 years it once more grew and so became to fourth largest city (by number) in all of the Soviet States.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and according National Independence of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is the largest city and Capital City of the Nation. After a turbulent first decade a new stabile government has been reshaping the city once more, bringing life in the Capital up to speed with Internationally expected standards. The most modern side of life in Tashkent is found in its various modern highrises, International Business Center and facades, as well as variety of a new modern art works annex monuments to the achievements of the new regime.

Tashkent is situated in the far eastern parts of Uzbekistan, where the sprawling city is situated along the Chirchik River. To the east lie the foothills and mountains of the western Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains) range on the other side of which lies Kyrgyzstan and more to the east and also south, the Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China (P.R.C.). Immediately to the north of Tashkent City lies the international border with access to the wide steppes of Kazakhstan, while only some 60 kilometers to the south one may find the twisting and winding border with the northern most extensions of neighboring Tajikistan. Altogether the city is situated in a fertile river plain while strategically situated at a point which gives access to various passes through the rugged mountains of the Heavenly Mountains (Tian Shan) to the east and the high and fractured mountains of the Karakoram Range to the south while giving access to the more open (and historically more fertile and green) regions to the north and north-west.

Among avid silk road travelers, Tashkent is one of the, traditionally remote and exotic, gem destinations to visit and travel to. Most notable historic landmarks are the various mosques dating to the early highs of the city during its lengthy Islamic period (which is still ongoing). Among these the Barak-Khan (ancient) Madrassa and the old central city of Tashkent.

Other monuments of the city involve the cityscape and architecture planned in the Soviet Era, and the modernity which has been attempting to plaster this over under the current autocratic rule of the Nation. A multitude of gardens, modern buildings and according inspirational art may be found throughout the modern parts of the new city of Tashkent.

Airport :

Tashkent International Airport (IATA: TAS ; ICAO: UTTT)

Tashkent Vostochny Airport (Status yet to be identified).

Although travel guides often represent Tashkent as the ancient city of Mosques and dusty markets reminiscent of old silk road days, in reality modern day Tashkent has far more to offer, ancient and modern. Altogether some 100 plus worthwhile sites to visit can be found around town, among them a venerable listing of museums, a Buddhist Temple, various Churches and an abundance of Mosques.

Modern Tashkent also includes various interesting theatres and several art galleries and art museums to entertain and connect past, present and future of Uzbekistan and Tashkent City.

Unfortunately, as already summarized in our introduction to Tashkent, much of the city was destroyed in an epic earthquake in the year 1966, among things wiping out several ancient Mosques in Tashkent. With these lost, since, the oldest and earliest buildings still remaining in the city after the devastating 1966 earthquake were several Churches and Mosques dated to the Middle Ages, and as travelers will find any and all of the ancient historical religious buildings in the city are worth a visit as each has unique features and considerable history reflected.

Although not listed as such on any tourist itenerary, one interesting remnant of the new Soviet City

1899: Construction of the current Tashkent Central Train Station building.

1906: A New railway connecting Tashkent to Orenburg (Orenburg Oblast, Russia) is built.

1912: The Tashkent horse-trolley system of public transportation was converted into a modern electric tramway, there after becoming one of the iconic sights of the city. As of its closing in 2016, the network consisted of six lines of 87.8 kilometres (54.6 mi) of route, a decline from the tram system's maximum of 24 lines.

1913: Tsarist forces brought one of the first figurative sculptures to the newly constructed area in Tashkent; a statue of Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufmann, the first Russian Governor-General of Turkestan who had gained reputation by conquering the silk road cities of Samarqand and Khiva, was placed in the second largest square.

The von Kaufmann statue could be understood as an occupation of public space, supplanting native signs of sovereignty with Russian ones. Once the Communist Party consolidated power in the city in 1917, they renamed the space Revolution Square, tore down the von Kaufmann statue, and in its place raised a large flag of the Soviet Union on the granite pedestal.

1920; An Obelisk to Commemorate the 1917 Russian Revolution is erected in what by then is known as Revolution Square in Tashkent.

1924: Death of Lenin inspires a nationwide propaganda personality push. In Moscow, the Committee for the Immortalization of Lenin’s Memory was formed, which was responsible for the “correct manufacture of busts, bas-reliefs and pictures” featuring the late and now rapidly deitified leader’s likeness. With all of these works of art,

of Stalin was destroyed and the remaining pedestal was inscribed with the new party platform in both Russian and Uzbek languages

1966 Tashkent Earthquake levels up to 80% of the new city and 50% of the old city of Tashkent. The disaster requires a complete reconstruction of the city. Workers from many Soviet States are sent down in order to help with this reconstruction effort. This brings new ethnic groups to the city.

Following the massive earthquake in Tashkent in 1967 and onwards, the areas around Revolution Square in new Tashkent were dramatically refashioned, with much of the earlier primitive adobe housing and European styled buildings in ruins, Tashkent’s traditional architecture replaced by drab, massive and identical looking Soviet-style housing blocs and commercial buildings. In order to increase its importance, automobile and pedestrian traffic were focused at and around the square, adding to the symbolic potential of the site and public exposure to its monuments and meaning. Within a year after the earthquake, city planners replaced the stele in Revolution Square with a monument to Karl Marx, which , due to its venerable political neutrality, stood until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

1968: First planning of Tashkent Metro (subway) transportation system.

1972: Start of construction of the first Metro (Subway) Line in Tashkent.

1977: First opening of the Tashkent Metro system.

1980: Extension of the first line of the Tashkent Metro.

1984: Opening to the "Tashkent" Metro station at the Tashkent Central Train Station in Tashkent and addition of the second Line of the Tashkent Metro.

September, 1991: Independence of Uzbekistan from the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) which thereby ceases to exist. In 1991, the newly independent Uzbek government dismantled the Marx bust at Revolution Square, renamed this space the Amir Temur Square. A monument to historic Uzbek hero Amir Temur thus replaced the socialist era with images of a Nationalist Uzbek future.

After the proclamation of Uzbekistan's independence in September 1991, in 1992 the famous "Lenin Square" of Tashkent was renamed as "Mustaqillik Maydoni", which translates to "Independence Square" in English. The monument to Lenin, the largest such statue in the world entire, was dismantled, and in its place the Monument of Independence of Uzbekistan, in the form of the globe, was erected.

Later, in front of the pedestal was set a figure of a woman, symbolizing the Motherland.

Since 1992, the Independence Square of Tashkent is the central square of Tashkent as well as the larger Uzbek Nation; it hosts celebrations and military parades in the days of special events and public holidays.

2001: Opening of the first section of third line of the Tashkent Metro, the Yunusobod Line.

2007: Celebrating Uzbek Islamic Culture a new building is erected at the religious complex of Hast Imam Square (also Khazrati Imam Architectural Center). The new building is mosque named Hazrat Imam and is which keeps in line with the architectural traditions of the square set in the 16th century and consists of the mosque itself, and two minarets. At the same time the muftiate building (the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan or Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Uzbekistan) is built and opened at Hazrat Imam Square and complex.

2009: Celebrating the (supposed) 2200 year of the founding of the city of Tashkent, the International Congress Hall of Tashkent (International Forums Palace) was constructed on Amir Temur Square (Formerly Lenin Square) in Tashkent. Today it is considered as perhaps the most representative building for Uzbekistan in all of the Nation.

In the ongoing process of modernization and prospering of the City of Tashkent as the International Capital of Uzbekistan, the second clocktower is built adjacent the famous 1947 "Tashkent Chime" which stands due south of what today is Amir Temur Square. This creates the renovated monument of the twin Clocktowers (Chimes) of Tashkent, a facility which not only houses the antique Tashkent Chime brought in after World War 2, but also houses a contemporary museum of Uzbek made watches and clocks.

2013: After two decades of fresh modernizations and a decade of persecution and repression of former Soviet Heroes and their expressions, the public in Tashkent is stirred when yet another 240 street and place names in the Uzbek capital renamed were ordered renamed by the Cities Authorities (Source: olam.uz website). Names formerly carrying the names of Soviet but also many Uzbek Soviet Heroes were erased to be replaced by more neutral names referring to such things as flowers and natural beauty.

2016: Death of Islam Karimov, long time autocratic ruler of Uzbekistan, ushers in a new era for Uzbekistan and the city of Tashkent.

FOR MORE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF TASHKENT, PLEASE REFER TO THE VARIOUS LANDMARKS OF TASHKENT AND / OR CLICK THROUGH TO THE DEDICATED PAGE "HISTORY OF TASHKENT" >>>>>

TASHKENT METRO (SUBWAY) OR ''TOSHKENT METROPOLITENI'':

The first Metro Station and Line in Tashkent were opened in 1977. Today the system has 3 lines, the last of which was added in 2007. Under a new Government since 2016, in an expanding modern system the system continues to be expanded across the city. Apart from being a modern public transportationsystem it also serves as a historic museum of sorts. Drive abouts the various older stations to enjoy and find the differences. According to a standard rule, at each of the 29 stations the architecture and décor of the station depicts its name through symbolism, architecture and art.

The current system has some 29 Metro Stations along 3 lines crossing the city. Altogether rail length of the metro system has now surpassed 36.2 kilometres (22.5 mi) in length. The three railway lines of Tashkent are: Chilonzor Line (Line 1) with a length of 15.5 km, Oʻzbekiston Line (Line 2) with a length of 14.3 km, and Yunusobod Line (Line 3), the latter still being further elongated.

WARNING: It is considered (highly) illegal to take pictures inside the metro system or any of the stations because they are considered military installations. Although after the death of Dictator Islam Karimov in 2016 a new Government has slightly relaxed its control of public life, one would be well advised to be careful on this point.

TRAMS IN TASHKENT:

Historically, for about a 100 years, the city of Tashkent, reflecting its ambitions for a modern and globalized lifestyle of convenience and grandeur, operated an electrical tram system. First operational in 1912, the trams system was finally abandoned in 2016 as cheaper and better alternatives came available, mainly in the shape of the extended subway system. Trams no longer operate in Tashkent and have become Museum items.

high. Citizens are hopefull about a possible coming economic revival of the Nation in what has already been dubbed an "Uzbek Spring" (The Guardian; Joanna Lillis).

The current rule seems only slightly more relaxed on the point of public liberties. Local Journalists are still obstructed in their work or even imprisoned and indighted by the Government. On the other hand, forced laborers working in the country-side have been allowed their returns, and notably, the BBC Office in Tashkent, suspended in 2005 in the aftermath of reporting on the notorious Andizan (Andijan) City massacre of protestors, has been allowed to reopen in early July of 2017 (The Diplomat; July 06, 2017.).

MEDIA AND CENSORSHIP:

Under the Leadership and Rule of Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan had virtually no freedom of speech, and Media in Uzbekistan are generally controlled by the State. Indpendent journalism does not exist in Uzbekistan and foreign journalists and NGO's are essentially banned from operating within the Nation.

Only as late as 2017, some mainstream Foreign Media notably BBC, have been allowed to reopen their offices in Tashkent, a move generally perceived as a gesture to western and world criticism.

Censorship by of Media by the Government is extremely tight. Security Forces, in uniform or undercover, operate throughout the country in order to control crowds, and check on foreign visitors.

Illegal acts and behavior are generally dealt with harshly. For Uzbek citizens the situation is far worse than for visiting Foreign Nationals.

Likewise, across Tashkent and Uzbekistan people live in fear of speaking their mind, particularly of giving any public criticism of the Government.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET IN TASHKENT:

Social Media in Uzbekistan, particularly, Foreign operated social media platforms such as facebook, twitter and instagram are banned in Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, for now many citizens who have an internet connection are able to skip the Government firewalls by using VPN technology and other technological trickery. Therefor, reportedly, foreign media oulets are the most popular among the general Uzbek public. Reportedly, in 2017, there are some 450 thousand Uzbeks with a facebook account and some 900 thousand users of the Russian social media site Odnoklassniki. These numbers may grow in the future as more an more Uzbek citizens go online.

Foreigners traveling to Uzbekistan can go online in Tashkent, but only through censored (filtered) connections. Make use of your own VPN while traveling in Uzbekistan. Please note: use of VPN is an illegal practice in Uzbekistan. Although social media postings from Uzbekistan do appear infrequently, visitors are well advised to stick to social media postings on tourist landmarks and the like. Political criticisms are likely to be found and dealt with according to law.

Province, Samarkand Province and Bukhara Province. Train Stations of the High Speed Line are Tashkent, Jizzakh, Samarkand and Bukhara (2017).

Travel time between Tashkent and Samarkand (344 kilometers (214 Miles) is about two hours (previously seven) and between Tashkent and Bukhara some 3 hours. Travel time between Samarkand and Buchara is currently 1 hour and 12 minutes for 256 kilometers.

Altogether, the high speed train network in Uzbekistan now has a length of around 600 kilometers. Currently, the existing railway system connecting Tashkent with Almaty in Kazakhstan is being upgraded with plans for a high speed train connection in the future. On a parallel with these development, in cooperation with China (P.R.C.), similar upgrades are being performed on the existing Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Urumqi (Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region, China (P.R.C.) railway lines. It is expected that in the near future, a high speed train connection will be made from Urumqi to Almaty, which will then connect through to Tashkent to link up with the high speed train system of Uzbekistan.

which replaced the ruined old Tashkent, is the Subway / Metro system of Tashkent. First planned in 1968 in the time of rebuilding of the city and opened in the year 1977 the subway not only serves as a convenient and cheap way of conduit abouts town but is also one of those fascinating examples of old Soviet Styled architecture. Although the Tashkent Metro, for obvious reasons, does not feature a very deep tunnel system (to withstand bombings), it may be visited at all times as a venerable museum of Soviet Era Uzbek Arts and Architecture, as at the time many of the to Uzbek designers and artists were involved in the creation of this project.

Although not a monument of stone and mortar, the Tashkent "Chorsu" Bazaar is probably the one must see place to visit and explore extensively as it is the oldest, most famous and also biggest (open) market in Tashkent.

The latest notable sites of Tashkent are those in The "Downtown Tashkent" district, which formerly was the Soviet Revolutionary Center featuring the largest Statue of Lenin in the world entire,