Tashkent is the most cosmopolitan city in Uzbekistan, with large ethnic Russian minority. The city is noted for its tree lined streets, numerous fountains, and pleasant parks. Since 1991, the city has changed economically, culturally, and architecturally. The largest statue ever erected for Lenin was replaced with a globe, complete with a geographic map of Uzbekistan over it. Buildings from the Soviet era have been replaced with new, modern buildings. One example is the "Downtown Tashkent" region, which includes the 22-story NBU Bank building, an Intercontinental Hotel, International Bu
siness Center, and the Plaza Building. In 2007, Tashkent was named the cultural capital of the Islamic world as the city is home to numerous historic mosques and religious establishments. Picture: Memorial to earthquake victims in 1966.And onwards to Shymkent in Kazakhstan. This city, founded in the 12th century as a caravanserai to protect the Silk Road town of Sayram, 10 km to the east. Shymkent grew as a market center for trade between nomads and the settled people. It was destroyed several times: by Genghis Khan, soldiers from the southern Khanates, and by nomad attacks. The name Shymkent comes from two words: shym meaning turf, and kent meaning city. Shymkent (Kazakh) and Chimkent (Uzbek) have identical translations. After Kazakhstan gained independence, the city was renamed Shymkent in 1993 as part of the government’s campaign to apply Kazakh names to cities. The border crossing from Uzbekistan was good and Chrissy comments that Kazakhstan is really pretty so far. Picture: Mountains just outside the city of Shymkent.
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