Tashkent is the capital of independent Uzbekistan. It is a big modern city, one of the largest industrial, scientific and cultural centers of the entire Central Asia and CIS.
The city is located at the foothills of Tien Shan 480 m above sea level in Chirchik river valley. It occupies 25,000 hectares (about 250 sq. km).
Tashkent is the fourth highly populated city in CIS, after Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Kiev.
Tashkent is one of ancient cities of Uzbekistan. It witnessed the collapse of Kushan Empire, creation of Eftalits Empire, bloom of Turkic Khanate, Arab invasion, Chingiz Khan Hordes, and Timur's power.

Unfortunately, available information of archeological excavations and ancient books do not give an opportunity yet to restore the city history completely. Tashkent is more than 2,000 years. During its centuries old history the city was called: Binkent, Choch, Shosh, and Tashkent. At the crossroads of main caravan trade ways, it, quite often, was an arena of civil wars to take over it. City residents put up resistance to conquerors.
The city was engaged in brisk trade with nomadic tribes of Central Asia and neighboring countries, and also with India and the Eastern Europe.
During Timur's period Tashkent was a starting point for conquerors to the north in White and Golden Hordes. Tashkent memorials are not at the spotlight of tourists yet. Meanwhile, they make special sights of our capital, reflect development of Central Asian architecture and represent scientific and art interest, require in-depth study, restoration, and popularization.