Independence Square (Mustaqillik Maydoni)
Mustaqillik maydoni
Once Lenin Square, this Soviet-era parade ground was remade as Independence Square, with the Stork Arch, a globe monument, the Grieving Mother statue, and an eternal flame. It is Tashkent's largest public space.
Independence Square was originally Lenin Square, the parade and rally center of Soviet-era Tashkent. It was renamed after independence in 1991, and since the 1990s it has been redeveloped in stages. The entrance is the Arch of Goodness and Nobility (Ezgulik Arch), with 16 white marble columns supporting an arch crowned by outstretched storks, symbols of happiness. In the center, the Independence Monument, a gilded globe engraved only with the map of Uzbekistan, and a statue of a mother holding a baby, the Happy Mother, replace the former statue of Lenin. On the north side are the Grieving Mother statue and an eternal flame commemorating the 400,000 Uzbek soldiers who died in World War II. Bronze books in the side corridors bear the names of the fallen. Around the square stand the Senate, the Cabinet of Ministers building, and the presidential palace, along with wide lawns, fountain groups, and the Ankhor Canal.
The square is free and open all day. Because it borders government buildings, security is strict, some areas are fenced off, and it is closed during holidays. Getting there: the exit from Mustaqillik Maydoni station on the red metro line leads directly to the square. The station itself is one of the most ornate in the system. From Amir Timur Square, it is a 10-minute walk along Broadway. Allow 45 minutes. The fountains and lights look best in the evening. Afterward, stroll along the canal or visit the nearby Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, built in 1947 with the participation of Japanese prisoners of war, where evening performances have inexpensive tickets.
Note: Do not photograph government buildings or security personnel. Drones are prohibited.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
- Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Palace of Prince Romanov
- Broadway (Sayilgoh Street)
- Tashkent Metro
- Amir Timur Museum
- Amir Timur Square
- State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan