What You Will Do
We would like to offer you to change the tourist route and go to the very heart of the many-sided Tashkent, to its residential quarters mahallas, where the passage of time, social foundations and traditions continue to flow in the same rhythm as several hundred years ago. Here, children play merrily under the supervision of old people among the narrow streets, the hypnotic quail songs sound from behind the high walls, the baker takes fresh fragrant bread from the oven, and a merry wedding is celebrated on the neighboring street.
Mahalla is worthy of attention not only for those who are interested in the traditional architecture of the cities of Uzbekistan, but also for those who want to see the real life of local residents, plunge into the daily rituals of a traditional Uzbek family, which tightly intertwine history, religion, life, traditions and social life.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
1
Ensemble Hazrati Imam
1 hour
09:00 – Guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby or in another place convenient for you.
We will start our tour with a visit to the memorial and cultural Khazrati Imam Complex, on the territory of which there are several places of worship. We will start with a visit to the Friday Mosque, where we will try to understand the daily spiritual rituals of the locals and how the daily prayer schedule affects their daily routine. You will then be able to see one of the oldest Qurans in existence, located in a nearby building. You will also visit the Barak-Khan Madrassah, which vaguely resembles a mini-version of the famous Registan Square in Samarkand.
Note: the visit time of religious places, or the order of visits could be alternated due to Friday praying times or Muslim holidays.
2
Ensemble Hazrati Imam
1 hour
After studying the religious component, we will go to the residential area of the mahalla, where we will visit a traditional Tashkent house.
A cozy workshop of technologist of Uzbekistan traditional fabrics is located not far from this house. Here you can take a mini tour of the varieties and styles of traditional fabrics during a tea break, and you will also learn to identify the characteristic ornaments of the Ferghana Valley, Shakhrisabz and Boysun. You will also be able to see a functioning loom used for hand-weaving ikat and adras fabrics.
The continuation of the tour will take place in the format of a walk along the narrow streets of the mahalla along the Kalkauz canal (estimated walking distance is 0.5 km). Here your guide will tell you many amazing stories and local legends, and he will also show you the technology that makes the walls of traditional houses withstand various seismic loads. You can also become a casual witness to a traditional wedding or family celebration.
3
Chorsu Bazaar
1 hour 30 minutes
After the cultural part, we will go to explore the social life that has always been seething between the bright stalls of the oriental bazaars. One of these places today is the oriental Chorsu Bazaar. Like many centuries ago, today the bazaar is the center of attraction for the local population, where acquaintances and neighbors exchange news, buy or sell various goods, competing in the ability to bargain. You can also practice this «competition» and consolidate your skills in getting the «best prices».
The bazaar is famous not only for its food stalls and commodity shops but also for its street food complex. In addition to traditional pilaf and barbecue, here you will be offered almost the entire range of national dishes that will make even those who are not hungry. Optional: You will be offered a lunch in the format of street food tasting.
4
The Rakhimov's Ceramic Studio
45 minutes
At the end of a day full of impressions, you will visit the Rakhimov’s unique house workshop, of the family of hereditary ceramists. Here you can communicate directly with the master over tea and oriental sweets after a leisurely walk through the workshop, a garden in a small courtyard and an exhibition hall of the author's works.
At the end of all visits, the guide and driver will bring you to a hotel or other place convenient for you in the central part of Tashkent.
We hope very much that this day, which you spent in the circle of your new hospitable Uzbek friends, will warm you with pleasant memories for a very long time.
Note: the visit time could be alternated due to the availability of visit times and/or due to special exhibitions the venue may hold. The guide will inform you during the tour. In case of no-visiting days (very rare), we will provide you with alternative experiences.
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