With Tashkent becoming a bigger city by the year, there are fewer spots where it’s possible to escape from noise and cars and enjoy a little walk. One place that has always been popular among Tashkenters is the embankment of the Anhor canal. The canal runs through the city, but the walkable part is in the center. I like to start walking just off Navoi Avenue, wander down the row of Doma Specialistov, and into the park-like area behind the Pakhtakor stadium. You can start walking from a position higher north, though!

A note about the Doma Specialistov: these are Stalin-era residential buildings, with the title revealing their intended purpose – houses for specialists. Many of Tashkent’s old intelligentsia lived in these apartment blocks, and I find them quite lovely to look at.

As I stroll further down into the park, it gets quieter. This part is between Pakhtakor Stadium and the Senate of Uzbekistan. The park has some tree specimens that are no longer common in the capital, such as birches. In the springtime, the lawn blooms with thousands of violets, and the canal and park are shady enough to make it a pleasant jaunt during Tashkent’s blazing summers. I get a good 4000 steps of walking done here, but more importantly, my mind has a chance to slow down and let go of any stress.