When you visit Tashkent, you’ll find a mix of modern and Soviet-era architecture. The city is home to a number of museums, including the Amir Timur Museum, which features Timurid dynasty artifacts. You can also check out the city’s stunning views from the Tashkent Tower.
The Hast-Imam library
This beautiful century-old mosque is a fascinating place to visit. It features striking architecture, as well as one of the world’s oldest copies of the Quran. You can also learn about Islamic history at the library, which has one of the most complete collections of Qurans in the world.
There is a great library of oriental manuscripts in Tashkent, including the world famous Quran of Khalif Osman. This holy book, made up of 353 sheets, travelled from Medina and Bagdad, thanks to the initiative of Amir Temur.
Another notable place in Tashkent is the Hast Imam library, where the oldest Koran in the world is preserved. The Ottoman Koran was copied from this original, written in the 7th century. It has traveled to many places throughout the centuries, including Iran, Iraq, India, and Pakistan. It is currently on display at the Hast Imam Library. Besides the Koran, this library also houses over 30,000 historical manuscripts and books from around the world.
Another important place in Tashkent is the Barak-Khan Madrasah, which is a 16th-century building that housed the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan until 2007. Before that, the Tellya Sheikh Mosque was the city’s main mosque and was built by Mirza Akhmed Kushbegi in 1856. It was constructed with exquisite carved pillars and painted ceilings. However, the mosque was later replaced by the Hazrat Iman Mosque.
Another historical place of interest in Tashkent is the Hazrat Imam complex, which contains many historical monuments. The complex is located in the city’s ancient part and is adjacent to Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi mausoleum. This is the burial place of the first Imam of the city, who was a notable theologian and scientist.
Chorsu Bazaar
In the center of the old town of Tashkent, the Chorsu Bazaar is the place to find the daily necessities. This blue-domed building is an excellent place to buy your daily staples. Despite its name, the market is not limited to food. It also features a variety of souvenirs, art works, and clothing.
The Chorsu Bazaar has three floors and several new covered rows. It’s divided into three different departments. The food section is in one section, while the craft and clothing sections are on another. The food section has an incredible selection of fresh meat and spices. Those who like to sample local food should definitely head to the Chorsu Bazaar.
During the relentless heat of May, farmers from outside Tashkent flock to the Chorsu Bazaar to sell their produce. Uzbekistan’s bounty is as delicious as it is plentiful. The country enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year, which makes the produce extremely tasty. As a result, Uzbek produce smells great and tastes German-quality. While visiting Chorsu Bazaar, keep in mind that farmers and customers don’t necessarily speak English.
Chorsu Bazaar is located behind the bustling Sakimchon street. It is an excellent place to buy souvenirs and other items. The Chorsu Bazaar also sells a variety of traditional Uzbek clothing and textiles. You can also buy skullcaps, ceramics, and knives.
One of the biggest landmarks of Tashkent is the Chorsu Bazaar. It has a history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. The Chorsu Bazaar was the first place the Arab governor of Tashkent began building the city’s first Urda (main mosque). Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Mongols a century later. A second golden age followed after the city gained independence.
The Hast-Imam
This centuries-old mosque has a striking design and one of the earliest copies of the Quran. The interior is also decorated with beautiful frescos and intricately carved wood. Founded in 1270, the Hast-Imam is an important place of worship for Tashkent’s Muslims.
The Hast-Imam is also home to a functional mosque, the Barakhana madrasah, and the mausoleum of Abu Bakr Shashi. The Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari, which is home to the Central Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Central Asia, is also located here. Visitors can also view an Ottoman Koran, considered one of the most ancient in existence.
The mosque is located in the historical spiritual center of Tashkent. It was destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1966, but rebuilt on the same site. It is now made of Soviet concrete, but still contains some ancient features. Nearby is the Hazrat Iman Mosque, which was completed within four months under the orders of President Karimov. It is the largest mosque in Tashkent and is made of dark green marble and sandalwood columns.
The Hast-Imam in Tushkent is one of the most important sites for Muslims in Uzbekistan. This is the religious center of the city, and the first Imam of the city is buried here. He was a poet, scholar, and craftsman. The complex was rebuilt in 2007 and is comprised of a mosque and two minarets. Its entrance is decorated with woodcarvers from various schools of Uzbekistan.
The first Hast-Imam was Abubekr Muhammad Kaffal Shashi, an outstanding Muslim scholar. He studied at the best madrassas of Tashkent and Baghdad and under the famous historian at-Tabari. He had perfect knowledge of the Quran and hadith. He also studied Muslim law. He was an excellent castle builder.
The Bozsu/Anhor canal
The Bozsu/Anhoor canal is located in the central part of the city. It is about 23 km long and represents a diversion of the Bozsu irrigation canal which originates in the Chirchik River. The canal’s banks are home to the German Embassy, Courage Monument, Pakhtakor stadium, and the Minor mosque. Most of these structures still stand today.
The Bozsu Canal is the largest canal in Tashkent and supplies water to most of the canals in the city. It was built in the 1930s to create a hydroelectric power station and was used as a public water supply source. Today, this canal is one of the main reservoirs of the Tashkent water system.
In the summer, the canal’s shoreline is cool and fresh. Many people enjoy a stroll along its shoreline. During the winter, they feed the birds. The canal’s edges are kept very well-groomed. During the spring and summer seasons, trees and flowers bloom on the embankments.
Tashkent’s waterway, the Bozsu/Anhor, has a very distinct atmosphere. It is one of the most beautiful canals in the world. The Bozsu/Anhor canal is also home to the famous Mosque of Minor.
Sheikhantaur
The Sheikhantaur complex is one of the most famous and historic places in Tashkent. It is the site of the burials of many notable individuals, including a great Sufi named Yunus Khoja, who ruled Tashkent in the 18th century. The mausoleum also contains the headstones of many other notable people.
The Sheikhantaur family was very prominent in Tashkent during the time of the Timurids. Some of the most popular residents of the city were born to the Sheikhantaur family, including Yunus-hajja, who became an independent ruler of the city in the XVIII century.
The Sheikhantaur Mausoleum is located in a small garden and is best approached from the north-south lane that connects Kodiry and Navoi. The mausoleum is a small brick structure with dark blue majolica tiles and a metal dome. It was built by a local Sufi saint who died in the city in 1360. His name means “Stone Fortress” and he was buried here with his wife and son.
The Makhalla is a traditional quarter of ancient Central Asian cities, serving as a social center and architectural monument. These buildings serve as a place where local politics and local life come together. The makhallas also hold rituals that regulate human life from the cradle to the grave. They have evolved over centuries of human existence and have shaped the way urban residents live. Today, they are part of a global process of change.
The Sheihantaur cemetery was founded in the XIV century and is the burial site of many important figures in Central Asian history. The XVIII century founder of the Tashkent state is buried in this cemetery, as is the last governor of the Kokand Khanate. Another important person buried in this cemetery is the great poet Zain ad-din Vasifi.
