Uzbekistan

Quick Facts

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Capital

Tashkent

Population

25,982,000

Government

Republic

Religions

Islam, Christianity (Eastern Orthodox)

Languages

Uzbek, Russian, Tajik

Calling Code

+998

Nationality

Uzbek

Local name

Ozbekiston

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Introduction

Bukhara/Kalon Minaret

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Though Soviet rule came to an end in 1991 and Uzbekistan has been an independent nation since that time, the country remains locked into a dictatorial government with a nasty attitude. Uzbekistan is a country that wants tourists to stick to a planned itinerary.

Despite this slight turn-off, Uzbekistan has enough going for it to still attract visitors. Among Central Asian countries, it is arguably the most interesting; cities like Khiva, Samarkand and Bukhara have been around over a thousand years and bear the signs of a long, rich past: mosques, mausolea and minarets stand as proud testimonies to the Timurid period in the 14th century. Of course, for every structure dating back a thousand years, there are at least three ugly Soviet buildings. The best thing to do is to not let the abomination of Soviet design overshadow the glory of Uzbekistan's past.

Provinces

Uzbekistan consists of 12 provinces, 1 autonomous republic (Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikasi) and 1 independent city (Toshkent Shahri)

The 12 provinces, or viloyati are:

• Andijon Viloyati
• Buxoro Viloyati
• Farg'ona Viloyati
• Jizzax Viloyati
• Xorazm Viloyati
• Namangan Viloyati
• Navoiy Viloyati
• Qashqadaryo Viloyati
• Samarqand Viloyati
• Sirdaryo Viloyati
• Surxondaryo Viloyati
• Toshkent Viloyati

Cities

• Tashkent
• Urgench
• Bukhara
• Samarkand
• Nukus
• Namangan

Getting there

Plane

Most flights depart and arrive in the capital Tashkent. The national airline is Uzbekistan Airways, which has flights to neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as connections further away in Asia, like Japan and India. It also serves over a dozen destinations in Russia among which Moscow and St. Petersburg. Frankfurt, Paris and London as well as New York are the most important western cities to be served.

Train

Uzbekistan - Russia vv
There are three trains a week between Moscow and Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Trains leave Moscow on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11.15pm, arriving 3 days later at 7.15 pm in Tashkent. In the opposite direction, trains depart from Tashkent at around 7pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Moscow 3 days later just after 3 in the afternoon.