Although little remains of Tashkent’s history, there has been a settlement on this site, where the western outreaches of the Tien Shen Mountains meet the Kyzylkum Desert, since at least the 1st century BC. The city was a major meeting point on the Silk Road trade routes by the 8th century AD, and its fortunes fluctuated thereafter as it passed from dynasty to dynasty. Captured by the Russians in 1865, it became the capital of the Turkestan (and later the Uzbek) Autonomous SSR after the Russian Revolution. In 1966 it was devastated by an earthquake, which allowed the Soviet designers free reign to rebuild the city with lots of open spaces and a real dearth of interesting architecture.
Destination
Small group tours and tailor-made holidays in Tashkent
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Standard
Group Tour
Specialist-led
Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand
12 days 11 nights
From £3,495
Visit the most magnificent cities of the ancient Silk Road with Islamic expert Diana Driscoll or William Taylor
Standard
Offer available
Group Tour
General Interest
Uzbekistan: Heart of Central Asia
12 days 11 nights
From £2,895
Many moons ago, caravans laden with silk, tea, perfume and porcelain crossed Asia to the markets of Europe and Africa
- Tailor-made
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