Yangiyul: a Tashkent satellite town with its own character

Yangiyul is one of those towns many Tashkent residents have known since childhood but rarely think of as a place to visit. People come here for the bazaar, to see relatives, to their dachas or on business. Yet Yangiyul has a character of its own: it is not a commuter suburb of the capital but an independent town with an industrial history, a big market, orchards all around and ancient mounds that preserve traces of the civilisations of the Tashkent oasis. Here is how to spend half a day here and why it is worth a look even for a tourist.

Where Yangiyul is

Yangiyul lies south-west of Tashkent, about 20–25 km from the city centre. The drive takes 30–50 minutes depending on traffic. The town is on the highway from Tashkent towards Chinaz and the Syr Darya, so there is a constant stream of cars passing through.

The name means "new road". The town is relatively young in terms of its status, but the land around it has been settled for a very long time: irrigated fields and orchards have existed here for centuries thanks to canals fed by the Chirchik river.

What Yangiyul is known for

Industry and food

Since Soviet times Yangiyul has developed as a centre of food processing. Factories here have long produced food for the capital and the whole country, which has given the town a reputation among Tashkent residents as a place where "everything is fresher and cheaper".

The bazaar

The Yangiyul bazaar is the main reason people come from the capital. What they buy:

• Meat and dairy. Lamb, beef and chicken, plus katyk yoghurt, suzma curd and kaymak cream from local farms.
• Fruit and vegetables. Much of it comes straight from nearby fields and orchards, so in season prices are lower than in the city.
• Rice and spices. Everything for plov in one place.
• Household goods. Crockery, cauldrons, textiles, and things for the home and dacha.

Come in the morning: the choice is best in the first half of the day, and some rows close by evening. At weekends the bazaar is especially crowded.

Dachas and orchards

There are many dacha settlements and private orchards around Yangiyul. In summer Tashkent families come out at weekends to pick fruit, cook plov in the yard and relax in the shade of the vines. If you know someone with a dacha near Yangiyul, accept the invitation; it is one of the warmest experiences of Uzbek hospitality.

Kaunchi-tepa: ancient history nearby

The Yangiyul district is home to the Kaunchi-tepa site, which gave its name to the Kaunchi culture, an archaeological culture of the Tashkent oasis in antiquity. Excavations here found distinctive pottery, including vessels with handles shaped like small animal figures.

To a non-specialist the site looks like a large mound among the fields. There is no tourist infrastructure, but for history lovers it is an interesting stop: you can see with your own eyes the place that gave its name to an entire culture. The usual rules apply: do not dig or take anything away, and do not enter private land without asking.

Where to eat

Yangiyul has many teahouses and cafes, especially along the highway and near the bazaar. Try:

1. Tashkent plov: at lunchtime teahouses serve plov with lamb, chickpeas and sometimes raisins.
2. Shashlik: fresh meat from the bazaar makes it especially good.
3. Tandoor samsa: handy to take on the way back.
4. Naryn: cold noodles with finely sliced horse meat, popular in the Tashkent oasis.

How to spend half a day

• 9:00: leave Tashkent.
• 9:45–11:30: the bazaar for groceries, spices and fresh bread.
• 11:30–12:30: a walk around the town centre and parks.
• 12:30–13:30: lunch in a teahouse.
• 14:00–15:00: a trip to Kaunchi-tepa if you like history, or a visit to a friend's dacha.
• 16:00: head back to Tashkent before the evening traffic.

When to go

• Spring: greenery, orchards in blossom and mild weather.
• Summer: fruit and dacha season, but hot in the afternoon.
• Autumn: harvest time, a full bazaar and comfortable weather.
• Winter: quiet; the bazaar is open all year round.

How to get there

Minibuses, buses and taxis run from Tashkent to Yangiyul, as well as suburban trains. A convenient option is a shared ride: on the Yangiyul – Tashkent route drivers post trips on Yo'ldosh. This is handy if you are coming back from the bazaar with bags: book a seat and the driver will take you back to the capital without changes.

Practical tips

• Come in the morning, when the bazaar has the best choice and traffic is lighter.
• Bring sturdy bags or a shopping trolley.
• Cash is useful, although card transfers are increasingly accepted at the bazaar.
• Avoid Friday and Sunday evenings, when the highway is busy with dacha traffic.

Yangiyul is a case where a nearby satellite town turns out to be more interesting than it seems. If you want to go to the bazaar or visit friends at their dacha, check rides on the Yangiyul – Tashkent route, and find other connections from the capital under all routes.

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