Tashkent to Bekabad: Train, Bus or Car

Bekabad stands on the Syr Darya, where the river leaves the Fergana Valley and flows out onto the plain. It is a town of steelworkers and power engineers: it is home to a metallurgical plant and one of the country's oldest hydroelectric stations, the Farkhad plant. People travel here from Tashkent for work, to see relatives and to go fishing. Let us look at which transport suits you best.

Distance and time

From Tashkent to Bekabad is about 140–150 km by road. By car on an ordinary day the trip takes 2–2.5 hours. The road is mostly flat and runs through the rural districts of southern Tashkent Region: cotton and wheat fields, orchards and villages where speed limits apply.

The train to Bekabad does not go directly but runs via Syrdarya Region, so it takes longer than a car. On the other hand it is cheaper and does not depend on weather or traffic.

Train services

There is a rail connection between Tashkent and Bekabad, but departures are few and the timetable changes with the seasons. Before you travel, check it on the railway website or app and at the station ticket office. The train is a good choice if you are not in a hurry, carry bags or want to save money. Allow time to get to the station in Tashkent and from Bekabad station to the part of town you need.

Tips:

• buy tickets early before weekends and holidays;
• bring water and a snack, as suburban trains usually have no buffet;
• carry your passport, which you need to buy a ticket.

Buses and minibuses

Intercity buses and marshrutka minibuses to Bekabad leave Tashkent from bus stations and ranks on the southern edge of the city. During the day departures are reasonably frequent, but choice shrinks towards evening. The bus passes through several district towns and villages, so it is slower than a car. In the opposite direction, early departures from Bekabad are especially popular, as many people head to the capital on business.

By car or shared ride

The drive is easy, but there are a few things to note:

1. Speed is limited in villages and cameras record violations, so do not rush.
2. In autumn the road carries a lot of farm machinery and cotton trucks, and overtaking them needs care.
3. Summers in the south of the region are very hot, so check your air conditioning and bring water.

If you do not have a car and the bus feels too slow, a shared ride is a good fit. On Yo'ldosh, drivers from Bekabad and Tashkent publish their trips and you book a seat in the app. Drivers are verified, the departure time and price are visible in advance, and the cost is typically much lower than a taxi for one.

Travelling in a border area

Bekabad is close to the state border. For an ordinary visit to the town this changes nothing, but keep a few simple rules in mind:

• always carry your passport, as checks on the roads are possible;
• do not approach or photograph border installations;
• do not plan riverside walks where there are no-entry signs;
• foreign visitors should make sure their registration is in order.

What to see in Bekabad

Bekabad is not really a tourist town, but it has a few points of interest:

• the Farkhad hydroelectric station and dam, one of the first large hydro plants in Central Asia, built in the 1940s; you cannot enter the site, but it is worth knowing about as you pass by;
• the banks of the Syr Darya, good for evening walks and fishing where it is permitted;
• the bazaar, with fresh fruit, especially in summer, and melons at the end of the season.

In the hot season daytime temperatures here can exceed 40 degrees, so plan walks for the morning and evening.

Travelling with children or luggage

Two and a half hours on the road with children means at least one stop. There are filling stations and roadside teahouses along the way where you can take a break, but in hot weather never leave children or pets in the car, even for a few minutes. If you are carrying large luggage, fishing gear or boxes of food, tell the driver in advance: on a shared ride boot space is shared among all passengers. It is best to bring your own child seat and mention it when booking.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons: the road is dry and the heat is bearable. In summer, leave early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat. In winter the road is usually passable, but fog on the plain reduces visibility, so it is better to drive in daylight.

On departure times:

• from Tashkent, leave before 8:00 a.m. to beat city traffic;
• from Bekabad, travel during the day or in the afternoon unless you need to reach the capital for the start of the working day;
• at holidays, book seats several days ahead.

The way back

Morning trips from Bekabad to Tashkent are booked first, so if you are returning on a Monday or after a holiday, reserve a seat in advance on the Bekabad to Tashkent page. Evening trips are less busy, but there are also fewer of them.

You can find a ride to Bekabad on the Tashkent to Bekabad route page. If you are new to shared rides, take a look at the for passengers section, which briefly explains how booking works.

Cover photo: Hamerican25, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.