Tashkent TV Tower

After the 1966 earthquake destroyed much of Tashkent, the city was rebuilt as the showcase capital of Soviet Central Asia. The TV tower was one of its most ambitious projects. Construction began in 1978 and the tower was opened in 1985. At 375 metres, it was among the tallest towers in the world at the time and remains the tallest structure in Central Asia, used for television and radio broadcasting across the region.

Its design responds to the seismic risk. Instead of a single shaft, the tower stands on three curved steel legs that join the central shaft some distance above the ground, giving it a wide, stable base. The structure was designed to withstand strong earthquakes. The tower is painted in white and red bands and is lit at night, a landmark visible from much of the city.

A fast lift takes visitors up to the observation deck at around 97–100 metres. From here, the whole of Tashkent spreads out below: the wide avenues and green parks of the centre, the domes of the old town, the canals, the new high-rise districts and, on clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the Tian Shan foothills to the east, where the Chimgan mountains lie. The deck has telescopes and information panels.

Higher up, at around 100–110 metres, there are restaurants, including one that revolves slowly, completing a full turn in about an hour, so that you can see the whole panorama during your meal. Menus and opening times change; check before you go if you plan to eat there.

Location: in the north of central Tashkent, near the Bodomzor metro station on the Yunusobod line, next to the Japanese garden and the Botanical garden area.

Getting there: by metro to Bodomzor and a short walk, or by taxi.

Passport: you must show your passport to buy a ticket and pass security; photocopies may not be accepted. There is a security check similar to an airport, and some items, such as large bags, may need to be left in a locker.

Tickets: an entrance fee for the observation deck; restaurant visits may require a separate booking.

Opening hours: daily, generally from morning to evening; check current times.

Time needed: about an hour, more with a meal.

Best time: late afternoon to watch the light change and the city lights come on; on clear days in spring and autumn for mountain views. Summer haze can reduce visibility.

From the observation deck, it is easy to see how the city was rebuilt after 1966. Broad avenues run in straight lines between parks and residential blocks, while the old town around Chorsu, to the south-west, has a denser pattern of low houses and narrow lanes. Canals, lined with trees, cross the city from north-east to south-west, carrying water from the Chirchik river as they have for centuries. In recent years, clusters of high-rise buildings have appeared, especially in the Tashkent City business district, changing the skyline. Information panels on the deck help you identify landmarks such as Amir Timur Square and Independence Square.

The tower stands beside the Memorial to the Victims of Repression, a park and museum commemorating the people of Uzbekistan who suffered under Soviet repression, especially in the purges of the 1930s. It is a sobering but important place to visit.

A short walk away are the Japanese garden and the Botanical garden, and further along the canal the white Minor mosque. For a ride on one of the most beautiful lines in the world, continue by metro to the centre.