I don’t think I would have taken much notice of the Tashkent metro stations if it wasn’t for Lonely Planet (the smartest thing I did was buy this guide). Although hard not to be caught by its beauty, it definitely helps to know the ones you can’t miss, which is, all of them! But checking off all 48 of them in two days seemed quite a stretch, so I made do with whichever I could get to. I wish I had booked an exclusive tour of Tashkent Metro that would have allowed me a visit to all the exquisite stations, but what I achieved was no mean feat (at least in my head!).

Two days in Tashkent were spent speeding through the Soviet tunnels on rails that were opened to the public in 1977. Every time I stepped into this elaborate maze, it reminded me of the Calcutta Metro (being from the City of Joy), which I later came to understand was heavily inspired by Soviet station architecture. I was drawn to the intricate details of the murals on the walls and to the grandeur that the stations pride themselves on.

On my way to Chorsu, Mustaqillik Maydoni on the Chilonzor Line was the first station I stepped into. It was nothing if not enchanting. Once called the Lenin Station, it was a vision in the palette of white and gold with a row of dazzling chandeliers hanging over the immaculate platform. One of the grandest metro halls, I wondered what the stars embedded on the floor denoted. Later I read that it was a tribute to the astronomical legacy of Ulugh Beg, a 15^th-century scholar and Timur’s grandson.

From Mustaqillik Maydoni, we headed to one of the most artistic stations, which remains Pakhtakor (Paxtakor) and lies on the Chilonzor Line. Pakhtakor that literally translates to “cotton grower”, is the interchange station for the Dark Blue or the Uzbekistan Line where you descend to Alisher Navoi. Pakhtakor is a thematic tribute to the cotton industry of Uzbekistan; the design includes all the tiniest of details. Right from the descending escalator that offers the large athletic mural overhead, followed by the large hall decorated with sleek white marble columns topped with classic geometric plasterwork and elegant lighting, vibrant blue, green, and gold flower mosaics, this is by far the most elaborately designed metro station in Tashkent!

The escalator descended, displaying the overhead intricate tilework of Alisher Navoi. With carved arches and ceramic panels in cobalt and emerald that displays the grandeur of Timurid architecture, this station is named after the 15th-century poet and statesman.

We got off at Chorsu Metro Station.

The next day, my first stop was the Centre of Islamic Civilization before taking a leisurely stroll through the Soviet-influenced lanes to the National Bank of Uzbekistan at Sebzer Street. From there, the closest subway stop was G’afar G’ulom, the name that I would eventually come to obsess over for a long time. With its distinct turquoise-blue granite columns, it appears as an aquatic illusion. On the Oʻzbekiston Line, a stop before Chorsu Bazaar.

But my destination was Yunus Rajabiy. I would have given the depth a miss had I not looked into it. The deepest station in Tashkent, it sits 24 meters below ground level! An internal underground pedestrian passageway connects Yunus Rajabiy to Amir Temur Xiyoboni, which is on the Red Line, with a 3-minute walk. The symmetrical architecture with marble pillars and striking metal chandeliers surely appealed to my art-hungry senses.

I was headed to Minor Mosque, which meant switching trains at Alisher Navoi and then at Yunus Rajabiy. The end station was Bodomzor Metro, which, after careful consideration, I chose to alight at instead of Minor because of the distance. Between Ming O‘rik and Habib Abdullayev on the green Yunusobod Line, this station has a rather modern, futuristic take, with the ceiling covered in geometric patterns accentuated with unique contemporary lighting, featuring ceramic art that celebrates Uzbek culture, including motifs of traditional bread and chillies.

The last day in Tashkent for the station that caught my eye in the Central Asia Lonely Planet Guide. Featuring blue ceramic walls transitioning from dark to light, representing the layers of Earth’s atmosphere and the depths of space, Kosmonavtlar Station on the Oʻzbekiston Line once served as a nuclear bomb shelter. There was a time when this cosmic-themed station

Again on the Oʻzbekiston Line, Beruniy stands grand with its marble-covered dome walls that look embossed from the bright yellow light of the dazzling crystal chandeliers lining along the centre of the dome.  

There are five main transfer hubs

Alisher Navoiy / Pakhtakor (Paxtakor) – Connects the Chilonzor Line (Red) with the Oʻzbekiston Line (Blue).

Amir Temur Xiyoboni / Yunus Rajabiy – Connects the Chilonzor Line (Red) with the Yunusobod Line (Green).

Oybek / Ming Oʻrik – Connects the Oʻzbekiston Line (Blue) with the Yunusobod Line (Green).

Doʻstlik / Doʻstlik-2 – Connects the Oʻzbekiston Line (Blue) with the Circle Line (Orange/Yellow)

The Tashkent Metro generally operates daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight).

Trains arrive every 3 to 5 minutes during peak daytime hours, and every 8 to 10 minutes during off-peak times.

The Tashkent metro network operates on a flat fare (that you can check here)! Even if you take the longest route, you will be charged the same 1,700 UZS (approximately INR 14), which is the same for the shortest distance travelled by the Tashkent subway.

There are two main railway stations in Tashkent: North Railway Station (Tashkent Pass) and South Railway Station (Tashkent Yuzhniy)

The best way to go from Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport to the city center is by rideshare apps like Yandex instead of public buses and taxis. Beware of the scammers outside the airport who will accost you until you give in and charge a bomb to travel a mere five kilometers!

Tashkent caters to all. Whether you are budget travellers or want to indulge in a few luxuries. It’s all about what kind of travel you prefer.

You can navigate the Tashkent Metro easily by paying with a contactless bank card at the turnstile and following the color-coded map through 4 main lines.

Tashkent was historically known as Chach or Shash in ancient and medieval times, and later as Binkent during the early Middle Ages before the modern name appeared in the 11th century. 

Afrosiyob, which is the bullet train of Uzbekistan, takes around two and a half hours from Tashkent to Samarkand.

[Also read: How to book Afrosiyob train tickets?]

While I am being honest, I must confess my misgivings about the glorious reviews on Tashkent metro in the Lonely Planet guide. Afterall, how artsy can subways in Uzbekistan be. Rest assured, the brilliant geometric precision undertaken in every major Tashkent subway, coupled with designs depicting themes accentuated with the vibrant splash of colours will surely blow your mind!