Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Tashkent reveals itself in contrasts. Mornings begin at Khast Imam Square, where domes glow turquoise under rising sun, and calligraphy graces walls of centuries-old madrassas. In hushed halls lies the Quran of Caliph Uthman — one of Islam’s oldest manuscripts, its presence both spiritual and historic. From there, city shifts into life. Chorsu Bazaar bursts in color: pyramids of saffron and cumin, towers of melons, mounds of nuts, bread stacked in golden rings. Vendors call in Uzbek, Russian, Tajik — languages mingling as they have for centuries. Underground, Soviet legacy shines differently. Metro stations are marble-clad, chandeliers glitter, mosaics depict science, industry, heritage — each stop an art gallery, each hall echoing grandeur of era. Above ground, museums reveal Uzbek artistry. The Museum of Applied Arts glows with textiles, woodcarvings, ceramics, suzanis embroidered in jewel tones. Navoi Theater carries echoes of Bolshoi, its stage alive with opera and ballet that balance Uzbek tradition with European classicism. Squares anchor city: Amir Timur astride horse, Independence Square vast with fountains and monuments. Around them, boulevards shaded, parks filled with laughter, cafés humming with modern life. Beyond city, mountains call. At Chimgan, trails wind into alpine meadows, Charvak Reservoir shimmers turquoise beneath peaks. In a single day, you move from mosque to market, marble metro to mountain air. Tashkent is crossroads embodied — ancient yet modern, Silk Road and Soviet, Islamic and cosmopolitan — always vibrant, always layered.