Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cutting-edge plays as well as occasional jazz
concerts and art exhibitions in its lobby.
Imitations of the Koran
remains in the
repertoire today.
Pakhtakor¨Stadium¨
FooTBALL
(Cotton Picker stadium;
m
Pakhtakor)
Soccer
matches are held at the Pakhtakor Stadium,
in the central park between Uzbekistan
and Navoi. Tickets (local matches 2000S
to 8000S, international matches 5000S to
15,000S) can be bought directly from the
stadium box office.
Alisher¨Navoi¨Opera¨¨
&¨Ballet¨Theatre¨
TheATRe
(
%
233 90 81; Ataturk 28;
m
Kosmonavtlar)
Tashkent's main opera and ballet theatre
was undergoing a total renovation at the
time of research. Once it reopens, it will no
doubt be well worth visiting, as much to see
the impressive interiors as to see the reper-
toire of classical opera and ballet normally
performed here.
Circus¨
CiRCUS
(
%
244 37 31; gafur gulom 1; tickets 2000-7000S;
h
3pm Sat, noon & 3pm Sun, closed Jun-Aug;
m
gafur gulom)
This popular kiddie diversion
sells out quickly.
Academic¨Russian¨¨
Drama¨Theatre¨
TheATRe
(
%
238 81 65; www.ardt.uz; Ataturk 24; tickets
4000-7000S;
h
shows 6.30pm Wed-Fri, 5pm Sat &
Sun;
m
Amir Timur hiyoboni)
Classical Russian
and Western drama as well as some more
modern pieces, all performed in Russian.
Muqimi¨Musical¨Theatre¨
TheATRe
(
%
245 16 33; M gafurov 187; tickets from 3000S;
h
shows 6pm;
m
Bunyodkor)
Best bet for tra-
ditional Uzbek folk singing, dancing and
operettas.
Tashkent¨State¨¨
Conservatory¨
CoNCeRT hALL
(
%
241 29 91; Abai 1;
m
ozbekistan)
Chamber
concerts, Uzbek and Western vocal and in-
strumental recitals in an impressive new
edifice. Entrance is around the back.
7
¨Shopping
Ask around about private sellers who peddle
high-quality Turkmen carpets and
suzani
from their apartments at reasonable prices.
It's recommended that you certify antique
purchases with the vendor or with the
Culture¨Ministry¨Antiques¨Certification¨
Office
(
%
237 07 38; Lashkarbegi 19;
h
9am-
5pm Mon-Fri;
m
hamid olimjon)
, which is rough-
ly opposite the Latvian embassy.
The multiple sister restaurants of Cara-
van double as art galleries and have on-site
handicraft shops. The prices are competitive
with shops across the country, making them
reasonable places to stock up on items you
might have missed while travelling. The ce-
ramics of Rustam Usmanov and other Rish-
ton masters are also sold here.
Tashkent has at least 16 open-air farmers
markets or bazaars (Uzbek: dekhon bozori,
Russian: kolkhozny rynok or bazar). Chorsu,
Mirobod and Oloy bazaars are the most in-
teresting to visit.
o
Abulkasim¨Medressa¨
hANDiCRAFTS
(Navoi Park;
h
9am-6pm;
m
Milliy Bog)
Close to
the Oliy Majlis in Navoi Park, this medressa
has been turned into an artisans' school and
workshop where local wood carvers, lac-
querware makers, metal workers and mini-
ature painters ply and teach their craft. It's a
great place to buy the fruits of their labour,
plus souvenirs such as
suzani,
rospic
(lac-
quer boxes) and ceramics.
Chorsu¨Antiques¨
ANTiQUeS
(Sakichmon;
h
10am-5pm;
m
Chorsu)
It's not
one but rather several antique shops nestled
amid a row of hardware and trinket shops
behind Chorsu Bazaar. There are some
su-
zani
of exceptional quality here, but you'll
want to haggle hard.
Human¨House¨
CLoThiNg
(
%
255 44 11; www.humanhuman.net; Usmon Nosir
30/9;
h
10am-7pm Mon-Sat;
m
oybek)
This shop
not only has carpets, skull caps,
suzani
and
textiles from various Uzbek provinces, but
it also doubles as one of Tashkent's most
fashionable boutiques, featuring modern
clothing infused with Uzbek styles and de-
signs. Tours of the factory are available by
appointment.
Knizhny¨Mir¨
BooKS
(Book World; Toytepa 1;
h
9am-7pm Mon-Sat;
m
Amir Timur hiyoboni)
This bookshop has a
decent map selection along with a smatter-
ing of English-language classics.
Sharq¨Ziyokori¨
MAPS
(Bukhara 26;
h
9am-6pm Mon-Sat;
m
Kosmon-
avtlar)
Has maps of Tashkent, Uzbekistan
and most provincial centres, plus excellent
1:450,000 maps of most provinces published
by Ozbekiston Viloyatlari.
