Qarshi
Uzbekistan · Asia
About Qarshi
Qarshi is a city in southern Uzbekistan. It is the capital of Qashqadaryo Region. Administratively, Qarshi is a district-level city, that includes the urban-type settlement Qashqadaryo. It has a population of 278,300 (2021 estimate). It is about 520 km south-southwest of Tashkent, and about 335 km north of Uzbekistan's border with Afghanistan. The city is important in natural gas production, but Qarshi is also famous for its production of woven flat carpets.
Originally the Sogdian city of Nakhshab (which could be possibly named Eucratideia during the rule of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom), and the Islamic Uzbek (Turkic) city of Nasaf, and the Chagatay city of Qarshi, Qarshi was the second city of the Emirate of Bukhara. It is in the center of a fertile oasis that produces wheat, cotton, and silk and was a stop on the 11-day caravan route between Balkh and Bukhara. The Mongol Chagataid khans Kebek and Qazan built palaces here on the site of Chinggis Khaan's summer pasture. In 1364, Timur also built a fortified palace with moats in what is now the southern part of the city. The modern name "Qarshi" means fort.
Qarshi travel guide
Understand
The city now known as Qarshi, was called Nakhshab by the Persians and Nasab by the Arabs. After the Mongol invasion, Kapak Khan built himself a couple of palaces (karshi in Mongolian) and the name was subsequently given to the new settlement.
Getting there
1 Karshi Airport (KSQ IATA). Flights from Moscow-Domodedovo, Navoi, Saint Petersburg, Tashkent by Uzbekistan Airways. 2 Railway Station.
See
1 Kok Gumbaz mosque, Nasaf St. The biggest and most beautiful mosque of the city. (updated Feb 2016) Khoja Adbul Aziz Madrassah, Nasaf St. largest in town, now housing the Regional Museum with few exhibits about the history of Buchara emirate and lots of old photographs (updated Feb 2016) 2 Odin Madrasah (Rabiya Madrassah), Bazaar Square. a late 19th-century female madrassah (updated Feb 2016) Kurgancha Mosque. (updated Feb 2016) World War II Memorial. dedicated to the Soviet casualties of WWII. The centerpiece is a bronze figure which stands closely behind the 'Eternal Flame of Remembrance'. (updated Feb 2016) 3 Kashkadarya Bridge. 16th century bridge (updated Feb 2016)
Further afield 4 Khasim Ata Ensemble (Pudina village, halfway between Karshi and Kasan). A complex built around the tomb of the 11th century Islamic teacher (updated Feb 2016) Er-kurgan Fortress. (updated Feb 2016) 5 Sultan Mir Haidor complex (About 30 km southeast of Qarshi). (updated Feb 2016)
Eat
Restaurant Hafizaxon, Uzbekistan St corner Yassaviy St. (updated Feb 2016) Cafe Gulinur, Uzbekistan St (Near National Bank or Milliy Bank). (updated Feb 2016)
Sleep
Afshona Hotel, 5, B. Sherqulov Ko'ch, ☏ +998 375 771 0091. Newly built two star hotel. 40 A/C rooms equipped with shower, telephone, cable TV. Continental breakfast is complimentary. Double : 50$ par night (2014 year). (updated Feb 2016) Nasaf Travel (Ex Hotel Tong), 245 Uzbekistan St & Bogzar Str., ☏ +998 375 225 0665. A two star hotel. 20 rooms equipped with A/C, hot shower and satellite TV. The restaurant serves Uzbek and European food. Standard Room Dbl. 65$ par night (2014 year). (updated Feb 2016) Nasaf Hotel, Navoi St (Opposite Children Hospital). A 3 star hotel. 9 guest rooms: (updated Feb 2016)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.