Tashkent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tashkent Toshkent Ташкент, Tachkent, Tashkand, Toshkent
Capital city
Tashkent
Clockwise from top: Skyline of Tashkent, Kukeldash Madrasa, Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Supreme Assembly building, Amir Timur Museum, Humo Ice Dome, Hilton Tashkent City, Tashkent at night.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Tosh (A rock)
Motto(s):  Kuch Adolatdadir ("Strength is in Justice")
Tashkent Location in Uzbekistan Show map of Uzbekistan Tashkent Location in West and Central Asia Show map of West and Central Asia Tashkent Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Country	Uzbekistan
Settled	3rd century BCE
Divisions	12 districts
Government
• Type	City Administration
Area
• Capital city	631.29 km2 (243.74 sq mi)
• Metro	6,400 km2 (2,500 sq mi)
Dimensions
• Length	25 km (16 mi)
• Width	30 km (20 mi)
Elevation	455 m (1,493 ft)
Population  (1 January 2024)
• Capital city	+3,040,800
• Rank	1st in Uzbekistan
• Density	4,816/km2 (12,470/sq mi)
• Urban	2,575,431
• Metro	2,633,661
• Metro density	412/km2 (1,066/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (Uzbekistan Time)
• Summer (DST)	(Not Observed)
Area code(s)	71
Vehicle registration	01
HDI (2019)	0.820 very high
International Airports	Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport
Rapid transit system	Tashkent Metro
UNESCO World Heritage Site Official name Western Tien-Shan Mountain Criteria Natural:  Inscription 2016 (40th Session) Area 528,177.6 ha (1,305,155 acres)

Tashkent (also spelled Toshkent in Uzbek) is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the biggest city in Central Asia, with over 3 million people living there as of April 2024. Tashkent is located in northeastern Uzbekistan, close to the border with Kazakhstan.

Long ago, before Islam arrived in the mid-8th century, the city was influenced by Sogdian and Turkic cultures. In 1219, Genghis Khan destroyed the city. But it was rebuilt and became important because it was on the Silk Road, a famous trade route.

From the 1700s to the 1800s, Tashkent was an independent city. Then, it was taken over by the Khanate of Kokand. In 1865, the Russian Empire took control, and Tashkent became the capital of Russian Turkestan. During the time of the Soviet Union, the city grew a lot. Many people moved there, sometimes because they were forced to.

In 1966, a big earthquake destroyed much of Tashkent. However, it was quickly rebuilt as a modern Soviet city. At that time, it was the fourth-largest city in the Soviet Union.

Today, Tashkent is the capital of independent Uzbekistan. It has many different ethnic groups, but most people are Uzbeks. In 2009, the city celebrated 2,200 years of its written history.

History of Tashkent

What's in a Name?

Tashkent has had many names over its long history. The name "Tashkent" comes from the Turkic word tash (stone) and the Persian word kent (city). So, it means "Stone City" or "City of Stones."

Long ago, the city was known as Chach. The famous Persian poet Ferdowsi also called it Chach in his book, the Shahnameh. Over time, the name changed from Chachkand to Tashkand, and then to the modern "Tashkent."

Early Beginnings

Tashkent was first settled between 500 and 300 BC. It was an oasis (a fertile spot in a desert) located on the Chirchik River, near the Tian Shan Mountains.

Some historians believe that a "Stone Tower" mentioned by the ancient writer Ptolemy was located here. This tower was said to be the halfway point between Europe and China on the old Silk Road.

Chach: An Ancient Trading Hub

Before Islam, the city and its area were called Chach. Around 500 to 300 BC, a square fortress was built about 8 kilometers south of the Syr Darya River.

By the 600s AD, Chach had over 30 towns and more than 50 canals. This made it an important trade center between the Sogdians and Turkic nomads. The Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who traveled from China to India, also mentioned the city.

Coin from Chach, around 625-725 CE

Ambassadors from Chaganian and Chach visiting a king in Samarkand, 648-651 CE.

Under Islamic Rule

In the early 700s, Chach was taken over by the Umayyad Caliphate, an Islamic empire. The city was divided into different parts: a fortress, an inner city, and two suburbs. The fortress held the ruler's palace and a prison.

Silver coin from Tashkent, 805/806 CE.

Later, under the Samanid Empire, the city was known as Binkath. However, the Arabs still called the surrounding region ash-Shāsh. A famous Islamic scholar named Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ali ash-Shashi was born in Tashkent in the 900s.

Mongol Invasion and Revival

In 1219, Genghis Khan and his Mongols attacked and destroyed Tashkent. Many people were lost, and the city suffered greatly.

However, under later dynasties like the Timurids and Shaybanids, Tashkent slowly came back to life. It became an important center for learning, business, and trade along the Silk Road once more.

The Zangiata shrine.

During the time of Timur (1336-1405), Tashkent was rebuilt and became a key city in his empire. Timur even started a military campaign from Tashkent in 1391.

Uzbek and Kazakh Rule

In the 1500s, the Shaybanid dynasty ruled Tashkent. One ruler, Suyunchkhoja Khan, was known for supporting scientists, writers, and poets.

Later, from 1598 to 1723, Tashkent was part of the Kazakh Khanate.

Independent Tashkent and Kokand Control

In 1784, a local ruler named Yunus Khoja united the city and created an independent Tashkent state. This state grew to control large areas by the early 1800s.

But in 1809, Tashkent was taken over by the Khanate of Kokand. At this time, Tashkent was a very rich city with about 100,000 people. It traded a lot with Russia, but people were unhappy with the high taxes from Kokand.

Russian Empire Takes Over

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built by the Russian Orthodox Church in Tashkent.

In May 1865, a Russian general named Mikhail Grigorevich Chernyayev attacked Tashkent. Even though his army was much smaller, they captured the city after two days of fighting. Chernyayev became known as the "Lion of Tashkent."

He tried to win over the people by removing taxes for a year and meeting with them. He wanted Tashkent to be an independent state under Russian protection. However, the Russian Tsar had other plans.

Coat of arms of Tashkent, 1909.

Instead of independence, Tashkent became the capital of a new Russian territory called Russian Turkistan. Many Russian settlers and traders moved to the city. The Trans-Caspian Railway arrived in 1889, bringing more people and new ideas, including those that led to the Bolshevik Revolution.

The Soviet Era

Tashkent around 1910.

After the fall of the Russian Empire, Tashkent became the capital of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1918. The city started to grow as an industrial center in the 1920s and 1930s.

During World War II, many factories and people were moved to Tashkent from western Russia and Ukraine to keep Soviet industry going. This caused the city's population to grow to over a million people. Many of these refugees stayed in Tashkent after the war.

The Courage Monument in Tashkent on a 1979 Soviet stamp.

On January 10, 1966, the leaders of India and Pakistan signed a peace agreement in Tashkent. The next day, the Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, sadly passed away.

On April 26, 1966, a powerful earthquake hit Tashkent. It destroyed much of the old city and left over 300,000 people without homes. Other Soviet republics and countries like Finland helped rebuild Tashkent.

The city was rebuilt as a modern Soviet city with wide streets, parks, and large apartment buildings. The Tashkent Metro (subway system) was also built during this time. By 1970, about 100,000 new homes were constructed.

When the Soviet Union ended in 1991, Tashkent was the fourth-largest city in the USSR. Because of the earthquake and rebuilding, not much of Tashkent's very old architecture remains today.

Tashkent as Uzbekistan's Capital

Today, Tashkent is the capital of independent Uzbekistan. It is known for its tree-lined streets, fountains, and parks.

Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Since 1991, the city has changed a lot. New modern buildings have replaced many Soviet-era structures. The "Downtown Tashkent" area now has tall buildings, international hotels, and business centers.

Japanese Gardens in Tashkent.

Tashkent is a special place for business development in Uzbekistan. New skyscrapers, hotels, apartments, and shopping malls are being built.

In 2007, Tashkent was named a "cultural capital of the Islamic world." It has many historic mosques and important Islamic sites, including the Islamic University. The city also holds the Samarkand Kufic Quran, one of the oldest copies of the Quran in the world.

Tashkent is the most visited city in Uzbekistan. More and more tourists are coming thanks to new rules that make it easier for people from other countries to visit.

Television's Early Days

In the summer of 1928, the first fully electronic TV set was shown to the public in Tashkent. A scientist named Boris Grabovsky had patented a new way to create TV images using electron beams. This method is still used in many old TV screens today. While other scientists are often credited, Grabovsky's demonstration in Tashkent was one of the earliest known.

Tashkent and its surroundings, seen from space in 2010.

Geography and Climate

Tashkent is located on a flat plain with plenty of water, between the cities of Samarkand and Shymkent. It is only about 13 kilometers from the border with Kazakhstan.

The city sits where the Chirchiq River and its smaller rivers meet. The area experiences many small tremors and some earthquakes because it is in an active earthquake zone.

The local time in Tashkent is 5 hours ahead of UTC/GMT.

Tashkent has a Mediterranean climate with some influences from a humid continental climate. This means it has cold, often snowy winters and long, hot, dry summers. Most of the rain and snow falls during winter and spring.

Summers in Tashkent are long, usually from May to September. July and August can be extremely hot. The city gets very little rain during the summer months.

People of Tashkent

Bread vendor in a market street of Tashkent.

In 1983, Tashkent had about 1.9 million people. By 1991, when the Soviet Union broke up, the population grew to about 2.1 million. Tashkent was the fourth most populated city in the former USSR. Today, it is still the fourth most populated city in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

As of 2020, the city's population was over 2.7 million. Most people in Tashkent are Uzbeks (78%). Other groups include Russians (5%), Tatars (4.5%), Koreans (2.2%), and Tajiks (2.1%).

Uzbek is the main language spoken in Tashkent. However, Russian is also widely used for communication between different groups. You will often see signs in Tashkent written in both Latin and Cyrillic letters.

City Districts

Panorama of Tashkent in 2010.

Amir Timur Street in 2006.

Residential towers.

A downtown street in 2012.

Since 2020, Tashkent has been divided into 12 districts, called tumanlar in Uzbek.

Bektemir

Chilonzor

Yashnobod

Miro-
bod

Mirzo
Ulugbek

Sergeli

Shaykhon-
tohur

Olmazor

Uchtepa

Yakka-
saray

Yunusobod

K a z a k h s t a n

T a s h k e n t
R e g i o n

Nr	District	Population (2021)	Area (km2)	Density (area/km2)	Map
1	Bektemir	31,400	17.83	1,761
2	Chilanzar	260,700	29.94	8,707
3	Yashnobod	258,800	33.7	7,680
4	Mirobod	142,800	17.1	8,351
5	Mirzo Ulugbek	285,000	35.15	8,108
6	Sergeli	105,700	37.36	2,829
7	Shayxontoxur	348,300	29.7	11,727
8	Olmazor	377,100	34.5	10,930
9	Uchtepa	278,200	24	11,592
10	Yakkasaray	121,600	14.6	8,329
11	Yunusabad	352,000	40.6	8,670
12	Yangihayot	132,800	44.20	3,005

Famous Landmarks

Because much of Tashkent was destroyed in the 1917 revolution and the 1966 earthquake, not many very old buildings remain. However, Tashkent has many interesting museums and monuments from the Soviet era.

Kukeldash Madrasa inner yard.

Prince Romanov Palace.

Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Museum of Applied Arts.

A statue of Taras Shevchenko.

The iconic Hotel Uzbekistan, opened in 1974.

Here are some of Tashkent's important landmarks:

• Kukeldash Madrasah: This old school dates back to the 1500s. It is being restored and is currently used as a religious school.
• Chorsu Bazaar: This huge open-air market is in the old part of Tashkent. You can find almost anything for sale here, and it's a popular spot for tourists.
• Hazrati Imam Complex: This complex includes mosques, a shrine, and a library. The library holds a very old copy of the Quran from 655 AD, said to be stained with the blood of a murdered leader.
• Qaffol Shoshi mausoleum: This tomb was built in 1542 to honor a famous Islamic scholar.
• Yunus Khan Mausoleum: This is a group of three tombs from the 1400s. The largest one belongs to Yunus Khan, the grandfather of Babur, who founded the Mughal Empire.
• Palace of Prince Romanov: This palace belonged to a Russian prince who was sent to Tashkent in the 1800s. It's now used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre: This beautiful theater was built by Japanese prisoners of war after World War II. It hosts Russian ballet and opera shows.
• Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan: This museum has a large collection of art from before the Russian period, including ancient murals and statues. It also has a collection of paintings that once belonged to Prince Romanov.
• Museum of Applied Arts: This museum is in a traditional house that is a work of art itself. It displays traditional applied art from the 1800s and 1900s.
• State Museum of History of Uzbekistan: This is the largest museum in the city, located in what used to be the Lenin Museum.
• Amir Timur Museum: This museum has a bright blue dome and beautiful decorations inside. It shows exhibits about Timur and Uzbekistan's first president, Islam Karimov. Next to it is Amir Timur Square, with a statue of Timur on horseback and lovely gardens.
• Navoi Literary Museum: This museum honors Uzbekistan's famous writer, Alisher Navoi. It has old manuscripts and miniature paintings.
• The Tashkent Metro: Tashkent's subway system is famous for its amazing designs and architecture in its stations. For a long time, taking photos inside was not allowed, but this rule changed in 2018.

Tashkent also has a World War II memorial park and a monument honoring defenders of the homeland.

Education in Tashkent

Many important scientific centers in Uzbekistan, like the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, are in Tashkent. The city also has many universities and colleges, including:

• Amity University in Tashkent
• New Uzbekistan University
• Tashkent State Pedagogical University
• TEAM University
• Tashkent State Technical University
• Westminster International University in Tashkent
• Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent
• National University of Uzbekistan
• University of World Economy and Diplomacy
• Tashkent State Economic University
• Tashkent University of Information Technologies
• Inha University Tashkent
• AKFA UNIVERSITY
• Webster University in Tashkent

Media and News

Tashkent has several newspapers published in Uzbek, English, and Russian. The city also has many television and cable television services. The Tashkent Tower is the second tallest building in Central Asia and is used for broadcasting. Tashkent also has advanced digital broadcasting systems.

Getting Around and Shopping

Inside a Tashkent Metro station.

• Tashkent Metro: The city has a subway system.
• Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport: This is the largest airport in Uzbekistan, connecting Tashkent to cities in Asia, Europe, and North America.
• Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line: A fast train connects Tashkent to Samarkand.
• The trolleybus system was closed in 2010.
• Tram service ended on May 1, 2016.

Tashkent has several shopping malls, such as Next, Samarqand Darvoza, and Kontinent. Many of these malls are managed by the Tower Management Group.

The most famous theater in the capital is the Alisher Navoi Theater, which regularly hosts ballet and opera shows. The Ilkhom Theater, started in 1976, was the first independent theater in the Soviet Union. It is still open today and is known for its history.

Sports in Tashkent

Football is the most popular sport in Tashkent. The main football clubs are Pakhtakor Tashkent FK, FC Bunyodkor, and PFC Lokomotiv Tashkent. All three teams play in Uzbekistan's top league. Famous footballers like Maksim Shatskikh were born in Tashkent.

Humo Tashkent is a professional ice hockey team started in 2019. They play their games at the Humo Ice Dome. Both the team and the arena are named after the mythical Huma bird.

Many athletes from Tashkent have become famous, including cyclist Djamolidine Abdoujaparov and tennis players Denis Istomin, Akgul Amanmuradova, and Iroda Tulyaganova. Gymnasts Alina Kabaeva and Alexander Shatilov were also born in the city.

Tashkent hosted the 2021 Weightlifting World Championships. Uzbekistan has won gold medals in weightlifting at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games.

Famous People from Tashkent

Alisher Usmanov with Vladimir Putin.

• Behzod Abduraimov, a classical pianist.
• Nodirbek Abdusattorov, a chess grandmaster.
• Abdulla Aripov, a politician and the current Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.
• Rustam Kasimdzhanov, a chess player and former World Champion.
• Alisher Usmanov, a well-known businessman.
• Milana Vayntrub, an American actress and comedian.
• Zulfiya, a famous writer and poet.

Sister Cities

Tashkent has sister city relationships with many cities around the world:

Images for kids

• 

  Tashkent around 1865

• 

  Tashkent in 1913

• 

  Tashkent in 1940

• 

  Tashkent in 1965

• 

  Tashkent after the 1966 earthquake and rebuilding

• 

  Tashkent in 1981

• 

  Tashkent in 2000

See also

In Spanish: Taskent para niños