THE 13 MOST BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING METRO STATIONS IN TASHKENT

Some of them are spectacular and stunning; others are not particularly beautiful but worth a visit because they’re so peculiar.

You can visit the 13 stations listed below within a time span of 2 hours. 

OZBEKISTON LINE (ORANGE LINE OR BLUE LINE IN SOME STATIONS):

The majority of the most beautiful and interesting metro stations are part of the Ozbekiston Line, the second metro line that was opened in Tashkent.  

1. BERUNIY 

Beruniy station was opened on the 30th of April 1991. The station is named after the poet Al-Biruni, a polymath from Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan.

What makes this station special is the marble-patterned dome over the platform hall and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. 

This metro station somehow makes me think of a soundproof room. A busker or two playing songs on their guitar would have fitted well in this picture.

 2. TINCHLIK 

Opened on April 30th, 1991, Tinchlik Station was designed by Mukhamadjon R. and A. Kayumov. and is highly decorated with stained glass walls, marble columns with illuminating lamps and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. 

While the ceiling is showing some cracks and leaks and could use some reconstruction, this is a very beautiful station. I especially liked colorfully decorated walls.

3. GAFUR GULOM

 The Gafur Gulom metro station was opened on the 6th of November 1989. It is named after G’afur G’ulom, a famous Uzbek poet, writer and translator. He is considered one of the most influential Uzbek writers of the 20th century.

During the Soviet-German war against Nazi Germany, Gʻafur Gʻulom devoted his time and efforts to write about the war and his poems became very popular among the Uzbek people.

The turquoise granite columns really stand out in this station, as well as artistic colorful ceramics on the walls.

The Gafur Gulom metro station was decorated by artist S. Sultonmuradov.

4. ALISHER NAVOI 

The Alisher Navoi metro station was opened on December 8th, 1994,  but  completed in 1997 and is one of the most beautiful metro stations of Tashkent!

Alisher Navoi is the interchange station between the Ozbekiston (Blue) Line and Chilonzor (Red) Line and is named after a 15th-century Uzbek poet and important writer during the Silk Road. 

The beautiful blue domes with their intricate golden patterns resemble the mosques and madrassas of Uzbekistan built during the Silk Road period. 

The turquoise ceramic murals in the halls portray scenes from Alisher Navoi’s poem collections. 

5. KOSMONAVTLAR

The Kosmonavtlar metro station is one of my favorite stations in Tashkent! Walking through this peculiar station is like walking through some space shuttle. 

Kosmonavtlar was opened on the 31st of December 1984 in honor of the cosmonauts of the Soviet Union.

The blue ceramic medallions on the walls feature some of the greatest pioneers of the Soviet space program, including Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and the world’s first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

The ceramic bright-colored walls fade from blue to black to imitate the Earth’s atmosphere, the ceiling represents the Milky Way and the shiny green columns give this whole space metro station a funky atmosphere. 

6. TOSHKENT

While Toshkent station isn’t particularly beautiful, it’s dedicated to the founding of the city over 2200 years ago so it reflects the most important part of the city’s history. 

The station was opened on December 8th, 1984, and is filled with ceramic blue and white murals showing scenes of daily life to celebrate Uzbekistan’s heritage. 

Each entrance to the platform hall has an emblem. One is dedicated to the 2200th anniversary of the city, and the other one (see photo below) represents Tashkent’s symbol for being ” a city of peace and friendship”.

7. CHILONZOR

The Chilonzor Line was Tashkent’s first metro line that opened in 1977. Here are the 4 most interesting metro stations worth visiting on this line.

Chilonzor metro station was opened on the 6th of November 1977 and is named after the first district in Tashkent that was connected to the city center by underground transport.  

Brightly colored ceramic murals decorate the walls and big golden chandeliers illuminate this metro station. 

I’ve tried to find information about what this station represents, except for being one of the first metro stations in Tashkent, but I couldn’t find anything.

Still, while it’s not the most beautiful station in the Tashkent metro, it’s very photogenic and worth paying a visit. 

8. Bunyodkor

Bunyodkor metro station was opened on the 6th of November 1977.

Up until 2008, it was called Khalklar Dostligi station, which translates to “Friendship of People” in Uzbek. Now it is named after FC Bunyodkor, a famous football club based in Tashkent, but some maps still mention its old name.

The stoical design of the station is beautiful yet it feels impersonal and cold to me. It’s a representation of strength and power, two qualities that seemed to be reflected in most of the Soviet-era architecture.

9. PAXTAKOR

The busy Paxtakor metro station was opened on November 6, 1977. It was part of the first section on the Chilonzor line and it connects the Uzbekiston line with Alisher Navoi.

Paxtakor translates as ‘cotton picker’ and the walls of this station are covered in traditional-looking green and blue mosaics of flowering cotton plants.

Uzbekistan is one of the world’s leading producers in cotton and the industry plays an important role in the history of the Uzbek economy. 

The cotton industry has long been decried as a source of human rights violations as it uses forced labor and it’s also part of the reason why the Aral Sea disappeared.

In 2018 a decree was ordered to end the practice of forced labor and now Uzbekistan wants to focus on the tourism industry. They aim for tourism is become the biggest source of income and economic growth. 

 10. MUSTAQILLIK MAYDONI

Mustaqillik Maydoni was one of Tashkent’s first metro stations and opened on the 6th of November 1977.  It is named after the central square of Tashkent just above the metro station. 

Both the station and the square used to carry the name of Lenin but after the fall of the USSR and the proclamation of Uzbekistan’s independence in September 1991, both were renamed Mustaqillik Maydoni, which translates as “Independence Square”  to English. 

Mustaqillik Maydoni is one of the most lavish-looking stations of Tashkent’s metro. It is built almost entirely with marble coming from the Kizil Kum desert in Western Uzbekistan.

The star patterns on the floor symbolize the success of Soviet cosmonauts. 

11. YUNUS RAJABIY

Yunus Rajabiy station was opened on October 26, 2001, and is another grand platform hall in Tashkent’s subway system. 

The station is named after Yunus Rajabiy, a famous Uzbek musician. It’s also the interchange station between the Chilonzor (red) and Yunusobod (green) lines and is connected to the Amir Temur station. 

Large marble pillars support the hall and a magnificent staircase dominates the center of the platform. It’s the type of stairs that would be ideal for a wedding shoot.

12. ABDULLA QODIRI

The Abdulla Qodiri station opened on the 6th of October 2001, is named after an Uzbek and Soviet poet. He was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

While this station isn’t particularly beautiful or special in comparison with the other metro stations, I liked the perfect symmetric design of the hall and the blue-and-red-colored glass patterns in the marble columns.

13. BODOMZOR

The Bodomzor metro was opened on the 26th of October 2001. It’s the newest station in Tashkent’s underground system. 

Small waiting stools that make me think of dice are circled around futuristic-looking lamps.  

The white ceiling is adorned by bright-blue geometric patterns and small ceramic ornaments. An interesting combination that somehow works, especially with the light cast from the orange lamps.

This colorful station makes me think of a science fiction movie set.

Article written by: CYNTHIA