🕌 Outside Tashkent: top 10 places in the surrounding area
Insanely beautiful Uzbekistan with its capital Tashkent is the embodiment of that same oriental fairy tale. The country is rich in stunning views, incredibly beautiful places and… steppes. What? How did they get on this list? The fact is that about 70% of the country is desert. And they can also be considered a must- see attraction. Since it’s mandatory, it means we’re going to a country of incredibly beautiful mountains, waterfalls and rivers.
December is a relatively good month to visit Uzbekistan, but it has its own characteristics. For example , you need to be prepared for short-term rains with a temperature of 10 degrees. There have been no severe frosts in the country in recent years. However, you need to stay alert, so it’s better to bring a warm jacket, hat, and scarf.
First of all, we will go to see the pride of Uzbekistan – the new Amirsoy resort, which occupies an area of more than 900 hectares. It is located 65 kilometers from Tashkent and was opened in 2019. If you like active recreation, then this place will definitely not leave you indifferent: modern infrastructure, European quality equipment, 15 kilometers of trails of varying difficulty levels. And this is not to mention the park hotel, shops, restaurants. Speaking of the last one! At the highest point – an altitude of 2290 meters – there is an establishment with the same name of the resort. Check in and eat in the highest place in the country and, perhaps, in Central Asia? Why not!
By the way, here we have already told you what mountains there are near Tashkent. And here about where to climb the Tien Shan.
The Charvak reservoir is a relatively new natural attraction that appeared for a sad reason. After a strong earthquake in Tashkent in 1966, when it was necessary to rebuild the city, there was a shortage of electricity. They decided to fill it with the help of the construction of the Charvak State District Power Plant.
So, in 1970, a lake with azure water appeared 80 km from the capital of Uzbekistan. There are well-equipped recreation centers on the reservoir; the water temperature in summer warms up to 25 degrees, so the place is very popular among the locals. Fishing is also not prohibited. If you rent a fishing rod, they promise rainbow trout, whitefish, and carp.
In winter, the views of the lake are no less magnificent – majestic mountains create a beautiful panorama, so it’s definitely worth a visit!
How to visit the most beautiful waterfall in the country, Kulasya. It is located in the southeastern part of the Charvak reservoir. You can come see it in winter – yes, access at this time of year is difficult, but with good physical fitness you can walk the route. Moreover, the waterfall covered in ice looks especially beautiful.
Somewhere between the mountains, steppes and other active attractions, be sure to find time to try the most delicious samsa in Tashkent. Opinions differ, but more often than others you hear about the establishment Samsa Minor, which is located near the Minor Mosque. Be prepared that it won’t be crowded during lunchtime, so it’s best to come in the morning or evening. In addition to the unique taste, visitors can expect a whole gastronomic show: to see how the cook tears the samsa from the walls of the tandoor, uses a metal brush to clean off the carbon deposits from the bottom of each samsa, and places this miracle hot on your plate – delight!
Read here what else you should definitely try in Uzbekistan.
Having virtually refreshed ourselves, we will also go online to explore the wonderful nature of Uzbekistan. Next up is Beldersay. This is a mountain range 80 kilometers from Tashkent. The resort is suitable for experienced skiers. The peculiarity of the place is that snow stays here even at a temperature of +15-18 degrees! That is, when trees are already blooming in the regions of the country, tourists can still roam the expanses of Beldersay!
By the way, you can not only ski here. For tourists who are not fans of extreme recreation, there is an offer in the form of a network of entertainment services – mountain forests, rocks, gorges, snowfields, caves (in which rock paintings are still preserved), various sanatorium-therapeutic, health-improving and excursion ion-educational complexes.
And, of course, where can you go in the country of steppes without visiting them? This is not particularly difficult, considering that they are located throughout Uzbekistan. On the way to any of them, you should definitely look into some neighboring city. The steppe towns are very hospitable. It seems that there is everything a tourist needs here – delicious Uzbek cuisine, rich fabric of national costumes and ancient crafts.