PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE TASHKENT METRO OR OF STATIONS

*** ALL IMAGES ARE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND ARE NOT MY ORIGINALS ***

My last Friday morning in Tashkent I had freetime until I checked out at noon when my guide would be arriving. I wanted to use this time to ride the metro and visit the Russian Orthodox Church back by Tashkent Station.

First I needed to exchange another $10 so went to the hotels bank counter. After that I went outdoors to find the subway. There are several underground walkways criss crossing interesections.

While they are quite clean with some nice architectural patterns they do not seem well lit after hours so I wouldnt risk going down at certain places.

The above four are the only photographs I dared take and the rest are taken from google images. All stations are swarming with police officers at entrance stairs, down by ticket turnstiles, and on the platform. It was not worth taking any photographs of my own since I'd seen many pictures on google images that I can use.

The reason for the heavy police presence was during Soviet times these were considered bomb shelters and thus military installations. I dont see the threat now but just another one of the bizarre rules for public places is they still do not allow any photographs even though the stations are so beautiful.

I first walked a few blocks over to Kosmonavtlar as I'd heard that station was interesting with floating cosmonauts and it was on the same line heading to Tashkent Station.

Intimidated by the police officer outside the first time I tried to see a station on my first day, I just went down this time acting like I belonged there rather than like a tourist.

First there is a small window with a blue curtain where you pay your fare which was 700 Som (.35 cents). I gave a 1000 Som note and got 300 Som back in coin change. I'd never seen coins before

I was given a plastic token which you put in the turnstile where there was a police officer standing. Here was the only picture of the route map so you have to remember it or check it at your next station.

The station level was rather interesting. They had different blue stripes across the walls with giant floating discs and navy blue pillars. Each one had a different encraving of a scene of different cosmonauts.

When the train left the other platform the centre of both platforms had wind chimes that began blowing.

As my train arrived I went along for my two stops. The train was an older Soviet style carriage, was rather bland and grey with no advertising.

The next station MingOrik which is also a transfer station had interesting traditional style pillars throughout the platform. The next stop which was mine was back at Tashkent Train Station.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE TASHKENT METRO OR OF STATIONS

*** ALL IMAGES ARE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND ARE NOT MY ORIGINALS ***

First of all as we pulled into the platform half the platform was made of army soldiers waiting for the train. There were dressed in army uniforms along with Russian style fur hats.

Tashkent station had a rather interesting design with large arched pillars throughout. It was quite a beautiful design.

I then walked to the Russian Orthodox Church (see next entry) before returning to the subway in about an hour.

When I came back to the station and bought my ticket a police officer asked to see my passport. He checked my visa and hotel registration slips then said ok and let me go. I was worried because my guide book says some police officers are "on the take" but nothing happened.

Each platform has a clock and what appears to be a countdown though its not to the next train and i'm not sure what the timer is for.

I then went one stop back to MingOrik which is the transfer station. To transfer lines I had to go thru a long ceramic arched corridor. It had wall lanterns and had a very Victorian feel to it.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE TASHKENT METRO OR OF STATIONS

*** ALL IMAGES ARE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND ARE NOT MY ORIGINALS ***

The walkway opens over the waiting train below and you walk down a staircase over the train to the middle of the waiting train platform. In my case it left so I had to wait for the next train along with the police officer on guard for the platform.

When the train did arrive it had a very noisy rattling sound and lots of diesel fumes. The carriages are nostalgic but not exactly good for your health.

This station is the start of this line so the train was empty. It waited for more passengers to come before leaving. I was only going one stop to the next transfer station.

Fortunately the downtown map consists of three lines intersecting creating a triangle. I was going to ride almost the complete loop ending back at my hotel. I was hoping to visit another museum at the next interchange before heading back to my hotel. Unfortunately the trains were slow and I wasnt going to have enough time.

At the next transfer station Yunus Rajabiy I switched lines again. Transfer stations actually have two names depending on which platform for which line you are on. So I was switching from Yunus Rajibiy to Amir Timur.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE TASHKENT METRO OR OF STATIONS

*** ALL IMAGES ARE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND ARE NOT MY ORIGINALS ***

This time the transfer corridor was a long hexagonal modern looking marble pathway. Some of the stations had very long escacalors back up with bronze and gold paint, looking very art deco.

The platform this time had a white islamic designed ceiling. I didnt know which direction train to take so had to ask the police officer.

When we arrived one more stop back at my station Mustikalliq Maidoni (Independence Square) the station was very impressive. This is the one seen in many photographs.

The whole station had a bronzed look but giant glass crystal chandaliers above. The light from all the chandaliers gave a very bright white look. Unfortunately it was almost noon and I needed to be back in the hotel to check out.

It was really an impressive subway network. Most Communist city subway networks were major building projects with some very impressive architecture and design. This was my first time in the Soviet Union.

Here is another site with some more photographs
http://www.harleytourism.com/uzbekistan /tashkent/tashkent-metro.html

It's just a shame they are so strict on photography as this is somewhere they should be very proud of. If I had more time I would have liked to have seen more stations.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE TASHKENT METRO OR OF STATIONS

*** ALL IMAGES ARE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND ARE NOT MY ORIGINALS ***