Chorsu Bazaar

Chorsu Bazaar is the largest and most atmospheric market in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, set in the Old City (Eski Shahar) at the junction of Navoi and Beruniy streets in the Shaykhontohur District. Its centrepiece is a huge blue-domed circular hall, a Soviet-era design that gathers meat, dairy and grain sellers under one roof, while open-air rows and surrounding lanes sell almost everything else. Visitors walk among pyramids of dried apricots, raisins, walnuts and halva, sacks of spices, jars of honey, and stacks of freshly baked non, the round Uzbek bread that is often still warm. Beyond food, stalls offer knives, copperware, skullcaps (do'ppi), textiles and household goods. The best way to see the market is to start under the dome, where the butchers' counters and dairy section are most photogenic, then move outward to the dried-fruit and spice aisles before finishing with tea and a plate of plov or samsa at one of the nearby food stalls. A full visit usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Mornings before 11:00 are the liveliest and freshest, with the best produce and the most bread; by mid-afternoon many stalls begin to wind down and the dome area empties. Weekends are the most crowded, with local families shopping in large numbers, and the narrow passages can become tight. Photographers favour the elevated walkways and the steps around the dome for overhead views of the stalls, though asking permission before photographing vendors is considered courteous. The Chorsu metro station on the Uzbekistan line is a few minutes' walk away, and Kukeldash Madrasa stands on the hill nearby, making the bazaar an easy anchor for a half-day exploring the old quarter. Prices are negotiable at non-food stalls, and small notes in Uzbek som are useful for snacks and samples.