Tashkent Speaks
Tashkent Speaks (Govorit Tashkent) is the first immersive audio promenade in Tashkent. Participants put on headphones and walk together through both iconic and less obvious streets, parks and squares, while the audio narrative and surround sound help them discover hidden treasures and see familiar sights in a new light. To get to know the project better, we spoke with the founder, Fatima Arifjanova.
Duration of the walk: 100 minutes
Length of the itinerary: 3.5 km (an average of 6000 steps)
Languages available: Russian, Uzbek, English
Age: 12+
Where did you get the idea for ‘Tashkent Speaks’?
I took an audio promenade in London about 10 years ago. I really enjoyed it because the interaction between the participant, the places she visits and the story behind them was completely different than anything I had experienced before, so I made a point of remembering its format. Years later, when I returned to my native Tashkent, the idea to create something similar here came to me.
I very often hear from guests who come to Uzbekistan that there is nothing interesting to see or do in Tashkent. But it’s not true! For me, there are so many things to see in our capital that even a week is not enough. And so the project ‘Tashkent Speaks’ was born – my declaration of love for this city. ‘Welcome home’ is the leitmotif of our offering.
Tell us about your team.
We have gathered a large and wonderful team of professionals. Many different people were involved in various stages of the project, all of them indispensable in creating a complex and interesting product. I am grateful to everyone for the work and love invested in Tashkent Speaks.
Please name some of the interesting locations in Tashkent that are featured in your programme, and tell us why they are unique.
The Anhor Embankment is the starting point of the tour. It’s a bewitching image of nature in the middle of a noisy city, with delightful colours and the sound of water – it won’t leave anyone indifferent.
Also, to understand any eastern city, it’s important to get to know the bazaars. There are many of them in Tashkent, and they are all quite different. The bazaars will always tell you about a city – what it’s like, what kind of inhabitants it has and how everyone gets along. In the bazaars, you will learn everything and hear all the news and advice, so they’re worth exploring when coming to Tashkent.
One of the must-visit bazaars is Chorsu, which is located in the old part of Tashkent. There, you’ll get a feel for real Uzbek culture. In addition to the grocery part, the bazaar sells beautiful ikat material and chapans. Moreover, locals like to come to Chorsu to eat an Uzbek speciality called khanum. Similar to manti, khanum features a savoury stuffing of either potato or minced meat wrapped in dough and steamed. At Chorsu, it is served covered in a delicious sauce made of tomato paste and butter.
Instagram: @govorit_tashkent
Web: govorit-tashkent.uz
