Chorsu Bazaar

Chorsu bozori

A large old market in central Tashkent under a huge blue mosaic dome, selling dried fruit, spices, bread, horse sausage and grilled meat. It is the first stop for experiencing everyday life in Uzbekistan.

Chorsu, meaning 'crossroads', lies in the center of Tashkent's old city. The market has stood on this spot since the Silk Road era. Today its main feature is a blue mosaic-tiled dome hall built in 1980, about 90 metres in diameter, with two concentric levels. On the ground floor you will find meat (including horse meat and kazy, a horse sausage), dairy products and pickles, including Korean-style kimchi and carrot salad from the Koryo-saram community. On the upper floor are dried fruit, nuts, spices and halva, which you can taste before buying by the kilogram. Outside the dome are fruit and vegetable stalls, rows of tandoor ovens for bread (Tashkent bread is thinner than Samarkand bread, and a fresh loaf costs about 3,000 to 5,000 som), and open-air grill and pilaf stalls on the east side. A skewer of grilled meat costs about 15,000 to 20,000 som, making it one of the cheapest and most authentic lunches in the city. Nearby stalls sell traditional clothing, knives and skullcaps. Entry is free, and the market is open roughly 06:00 to 19:00. Opposite the market stand the 16th-century Kukeldash Madrasa, which is still in use and whose courtyard can be visited, and the Khoja Ahrar Mosque. From here, the Hazrati Imam Complex is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride. Getting there: exit at Chorsu station on the blue metro line. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours and visit in the morning. Tips: bargaining is possible, but the discounts are small. Watch for pickpockets in crowds. Ask the vendor before photographing inside the dome. In summer, the midday heat is intense, but the market interior stays relatively cool.

Chorsu Bazaar

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