Parkent: Orchards, the Solar Furnace and Mountain Villages
Parkent District, an hour from Tashkent: apricot orchards and a bazaar, the unique Solar Furnace among the mountains and quiet villages in the Chatkal foothills for a weekend trip.
Parkent is a small town in the foothills of the Chatkal Range, where the flat Tashkent oasis meets the mountains. Locals know it above all for its orchards: Parkent apricots, cherries and apples are prized throughout the country. Travelers also come for the Solar Furnace, a huge scientific complex that looks like a set from a science fiction film. Add mountain villages, cool streams and just an hour's drive from the capital, and you have an excellent weekend trip. Here is how to plan it.
Getting there
Parkent lies about 50 km east of Tashkent, roughly an hour's drive. The road passes through suburban villages and, closer to Parkent, runs between orchards and fields with mountain views.
The most convenient option is a shared ride on the Parkent — Tashkent route. Many residents of the district commute to the capital for work and study, so cars run often in both directions. You book a single seat and do not depend on bus timetables.
Orchards and the bazaar
Parkent District is one of the main fruit-growing areas of Tashkent Province. The mild foothill climate, plentiful water and sunshine make local fruit especially sweet.
What to try and when:
| Month | What is at the bazaar |
|---|---|
| May–June | cherries, strawberries, early apricots |
| June–July | apricots, sour cherries |
| August–September | apples, pears, grapes |
| Autumn–winter | dried fruit, nuts, honey |
Parkent's bazaar is noisy and generous. It sells fresh fruit, dried apricots, nuts, honey, dairy from mountain villages and flatbread. Come in the morning, bring cash and ask to taste before you buy.
The Solar Furnace
The district's most unusual sight is the Great Solar Furnace, built in the 1980s in the foothills near Parkent. It is a scientific complex and one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world.
How it works:
- A field of heliostats, movable mirrors that track the sun, is installed on the mountainside.
- They reflect sunlight onto a huge concave mirror concentrator assembled from thousands of mirror elements.
- The concentrator focuses the rays on a single point in a tower, where the temperature reaches several thousand degrees.
Materials are tested and research is carried out here. The complex itself, a gigantic mirrored "dish" against the mountains, is a striking sight.
Tips:
- Visits are possible as guided tours. Conditions, times and prices change, so check in advance.
- The best time is a sunny day, when you may see the installation at work.
- Do not take photos where it is forbidden, and follow staff instructions.
- The road to the complex climbs into the mountains, so bring water and a warm layer.
Mountain villages
Above Parkent, in the valleys of mountain streams, lie small villages. Life moves slowly here: terraced orchards, stone walls, pastures and springs. A walk through such a village is a way to see rural Uzbekistan.
What matters:
- Respect privacy. Do not enter courtyards uninvited, and ask before photographing people.
- Dress modestly. Villages are more conservative than cities.
- Hospitality. You may be invited for tea; this is normal and pleasant. Thank your hosts politely.
- Trails. If you head into the mountains, tell someone your route, carry water and be back before dark.
Where to eat
Parkent has teahouses and cafes serving plov, shashlik, lagman and samsa. In summer you can put together a great picnic from the bazaar with fruit, flatbread and cheese. On the way into the mountains there are roadside cafes by the streams. Prices are approximate, so check on the spot.
Weekend itinerary
Saturday
- 8:00 leave Tashkent.
- 9:00 breakfast and the bazaar in Parkent.
- 10:30 the Solar Furnace tour.
- 13:00 lunch.
- 14:30 a walk in a mountain village, a spring and the views.
- 18:00 return to Tashkent or stay at a guesthouse.
Sunday (if you stay)
- A morning walk along the stream, then buy fruit to take home.
Tips
- Season. Spring (orchards in bloom) and early summer (cherries and apricots) are the best times. Autumn is lovely too.
- Weather. The foothills are cooler than Tashkent, especially in the evening.
- Cash. Cards are not accepted everywhere at the bazaar or in villages.
- Signal. Coverage can drop in mountain valleys.
Why Parkent
Parkent offers a rare mix: village life, high technology and mountains an hour from the capital. You can buy apricots at the bazaar in the morning, see one of the world's largest solar installations in the afternoon and drink tea by a mountain stream in the evening.
Travel with Yo'ldosh
For an easy trip to Parkent, choose a ride on the Parkent — Tashkent route on Yo'ldosh: drivers are verified, seats are booked in the app and you choose your departure time. Other directions are on the routes page.
Cover photo: Shuhrataxmedov, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
