Tashkent, with a multi-ethnic population of 2.3 million, is the largest city in Central Asia and the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

City with 20 centuries of history. First information about Tashkent (earlier known as Shash, Chach, Binkent) dates back to the 2nd century B.C. Archaeological excavations have revealed that present-day Tashkent was a site of an ancient town which has continued to exist as a developed commercial and cultural center of the East, situated in the northern part of the Great Silk Route. Tashkent city was on the trade route of “Great Silk Road” and connected China with Europe for thirteen centuries.

Tashkent was conquered by the Arabs at the beginning of the 8th century and later became part of the possessions of various Muslim ruling lines before falling to the Mongols in the early 13th century. It was subsequently ruled by the Timurids and Shaybanids and then led an independent existence before being annexed by the khanate of Kokand in 1809. When it was captured by the Russians in 1865, it was a walled city of some 70,000 inhabitants and already a leading centre of trade with Russia. In 1867 it was made the administrative centre of the new governorate-general of Turkistan, and a new European city grew up beside the old native one. Soviet rule was established by Russian colonists in November 1917 after an armed uprising. Tashkent remained the capital of the new republic of Turkistan in the U.S.S.R., but when the latter was split in 1924, Samarkand became the first capital of the republic of Uzbekistan, U.S.S.R. The capital was transferred to Tashkent in 1930.

After the terrible earthquake of 1966, the town was almost ruined. Tashkent was revived from ash and became one of the most beautiful cities of Central Asia, a cultural, scientific and industrial center.

Now Tashkent is the fourth largest in the CIS after Moscow,St.Petersburg and Kiev.

HIGHLIGHTS

MADRASSAH OF ABULKASIM built up in the 16th century,initially was a complex,which comprised mosque,bathhouse and madrassah.For a long time Abulkasim Madrassah was located in a back street,yet,recently it has acquired a new stately neighbor,the Parlament building.Contrasted by modern Central Asian architecture,the historical madrassah looks even more impressive.

THE KHASTI IMAM SQUARE AND BARAK KHAN MADRASSAH were founded in the 16th c.by a descendent of Timur and who ruled in Tashkent during the Shaybanid dynasty.Nowadays,this is the administrative centre of the Mufti of Uzbekistan,the head of official Islam in the Republic.Directly opposite Barak khan is the Tilla Sheikh Khanaka and Mosque,first built in the same era and now employed as the city`s chief Friday Mosque and In the khanaka one have a chance to see the manuscript of Koran from the 7th century A.D.

In the STATE MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS Of Uzbekistan there are more than 7.000 displays of traditional folk art,starting from the first half of the 19th c. until modern times.The museum collection is represented by all regions of Uzbekistan,many of which are recognized as centers of distinct traditional crafts.Among the exhibits you will find ceramic,glass and porcelain plates and dishes,samples of hand-maid and machine embroidery,national fabrics and clothes,carpets,works of wood engraving,varnished miniatures,jewelry and many other things.The museum is renowned for its atmosphere and charm of its objects.It also hosts trade exhibitions of contemporary works of art created on the basis of local traditional techniques.This museum is a must for visitors not only for its collection bu for the building itself,a model of architectural decorative arts from the early 20th century.

MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF THE TIMURIDS. Amir Timur is a stateman,military commander and legislator,the founder of a great empire,the borders of which reached from the Mediterranean Sea up to the Great Wall of China,from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf.

The museum holds a collection of objects related to Amir Timur and Timurids.Descendants of Amir Timur include the great scientists and ruler of Maverannakhr,Mirzo Ulugbek,the ruler of Khorasan,Hussein Baykara,a gifted poet and historian and the founder of the Moghul Empire in India,Zakhiriddin Mukhammad Bobur.

Archaelogical,ethnographic and numismatic objects,armament and armors as well as objects that are linked to the history of Amir Timur`s state,such as the correspondence of Amir Timur and his descendants with Euripian monarchs,furthermore artful miniatures and copies of Amir Timur`s portraits that were painted by Euripian artists.Some of the originals are stored in the National Library of France.

INDEPENDENCE SQUARE – AMIR TIMUR PARK. Independence Square(former Lenin Square)is situated in the centre of the city.Here near the monument symbolizing new independent Uzbekistan pass holidays and parades.The square is surrounded on one side by office buildings – The Cabinet of Ministers and a number of the Ministries and also The State Library,and on the other – several fountains.Strolling down the streets it is possible to get to the monument dedicated to Timur(Tamerlane).The street is famous for a group of local cafes.Here you can buy numerous souvenirs,get your portrait painted in a moment,or buy pictures.The street ends with a small park,in the centre of which there is a statue of the great commander and statesman of medieval Uzbekistan – Amir Timur.