Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan is an oasis city on the Chirchik River, near the foothills of the West Tian Shan Mountains. Destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1219, the city was rebuilt by the Timurid and Shaybanid dynasties to become a prominent strategic center of scholarship, commerce and trade along the Silk Road.
Unfortunately, due to the destruction of most of the ancient city during the 1917 revolution and the 1966 earthquake, little remains of Tashkent's traditional architectural heritage. It was rebuilt as a model Soviet city of wide streets planted with shade trees, parks, immense plazas for parades, fountains & monuments such as the Courage Memorial to the 1966 earthquake.

Mustakillik (Independence) Square is the main square of Tashkent. The entrance is through the Arch of "good and noble aspirations". This Colonnade is crowned by 4 storks - a bird of happiness and prosperity. A white path - Ok yul ( happy path) leads to The Independence Monument, a globe with the outline of the republic of Uzbekistan & at its foot, a monument of Happy Mother holding a baby. The monument symbolizes the hope for a great future for Uzbekistan.
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Amir Timur Square, its centrepiece amongst the gardens & fountains is the statue of Amir Timur (Tamerlan). The Ankhor Canal runs through the square, there’s an Art Market, Palace of Youth Creativity & Art Gallery of Uzbekistan.
In the centre of the old town is Chorsu Bazaar, Prince Romanov Palace and Hast Imam Square (Hazrati Imam) with the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari, where future preachers are taught.
Hast Imam Square has the tomb of the famous scientist, Koran scholar, poet and craftsman Hazrati Imam ( Abu-Bakr Muhammad Kaffal Shashi), a new mosque: Hazrati Imom (built 2007), Telyashayakh Mosque (Khast Imam Mosque) & Library, which has the Uthman Qur'an, considered to be the oldest Qur'an in the world. During warm season storks walk here.