The flight from Almaty to Tashkent only takes an hour and a half. This means you can head to this hospitable city at the end of a business week and have an exciting weekend. What can you do in Tashkent? How to fit everything into just one trip? We asked Sobir Pulatov, a professional guide in Uzbekistan, to answer these questions.
Tatyana Fominova
Tourist guides are experts in the culture and history of their country who promote intercultural understanding and peace. Sobir Pulatov is taking a practical course led by the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association to train Silk Roads Heritage guides. The training is part of UNESCO’s partnership project with the European Union entitled Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran: International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Sobir will not only get certified after the course but will also become a professional working along the Silk Roads and playing an important role in conserving the region’s history and rich culture.
Culinary Delights in Tashkent
“Of course, you can travel on your own but in that case you won’t probably get to enjoy everything you could during the trip. A guide can tell not only about attractions but also about the city vibes and where to eat. I know the best places to eat and can tell how to best pair the dishes. Every region in Uzbekistan has its own style of cooking palov. In Tashkent, I would recommend trying palov at two restaurants, both located not far from the city’s television tower, The Plov and the Palov Center. And, of course, palov should be eaten around noon as restaurants and cafes do not serve it in the evening.”
There is a saying in Uzbekistan that guests can only leave their host’s house after palov has been offered. In Uzbek homes, palov is served both as a regular meal and on special occasions. Knowledge and skills associated with this tradition are handed down using a master-apprentice model or by demonstration and participation within families, peer groups, and community-based establishments.
This tradition helps to strengthen social ties and solidarity and is part of the community’s cultural identity. In 2016, palov was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
