The heart of old Tashkent

This route runs through the historic core of Tashkent (in ancient times, this oasis was called Shash). The area around Eski-Juva Square, home to the Chorsu Bazaar and the Hazrat Imam Complex, has been a magnet for merchants, artisans, and pilgrims traveling along the Great Silk Road for centuries. Madrassas, mausoleums, and mosques were built here beginning in the 16th century, and the bazaar itself has functioned in the same location for over a thousand years. Walking from the quiet, spiritual courtyards of the Hazrat Imam to the bustling Chorsu shopping arcade, you literally retrace the path of medieval caravanners.