Sunday 21 May 2023
Highlights: Panjshanbe Bazaar, Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Border Crossing, Exploring Tashkent.

Today was my last morning in Tajikistan and the start of exploring the fourth Stan, Uzbekistan, of my Five Stan tour.

We started with a visit to Panjshanbe Bazaar, the main Bazaar of Khŭjand. Panjshanbe Bazaar (or Thursday market) is the oldest market in Tajikistan and since the Silk Road days has been a trading place for goods from a world away.

From here is was a 1.5 hour drive to a Tajikistan – Uzbekistan Border. Border crossings in this region can be complicated. On the Tajikistan side we had to go though three sections showing our passports at each point (first was for entry, second for bag scans, third for exit approval). On the Uzbekistan side there were two sections to show your passports. The entire area is over 1 kilometre long that you need to walk and it can get very hot. Luckily it only took an hour to get past Border Control.

From here is took about another hour to get to our hotel in Tashkent. After two hours to relax we headed out for an hour orientation walk to explore Tashkent. One highlight was the ‘Broadway’ area with plent of games, vendors and people.

The other highlight was Amir Temur Square, which included both a statue to Amir Temur, and the Hotel Uzbekistan which when it was built was the highest building in the country in the 1970s.

Timur or Tamerlane was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. He is revered for pushing our the Mongol rulers and uniting the area.

The night finished up with a final dinner with the current group. Tomorrow 7 tour members leave and 8 new members join.