Chorsu Bazaar: The Beating Heart Of Tashkent

From Siti Radziah Hamzah

TASHKENT, June 23 (Bernama) -- “Malaysia, Malaysia! Come here, I will give you a discount!” – such was the enthusiastic greeting echoing from nearly every tea, nuts and spice stall on the upper floor of Chorsu Bazaar, one of Tashkent’s most iconic and historic markets.

The unexpected familiarity left me amused as I turned to my photographer, Fathin Suhaira Abd Rahim, and remarked that Malaysians must have built quite the reputation for their spending habits not just at home, but abroad as well.

In Uzbekistan, it seems, that reputation has reached legendary status. Local traders recognise and welcome Malaysians at first glance, reflecting the growing presence and warm perception of Malaysian tourists in this Central Asian nation.

What began as a friendly sales pitch quickly revealed something more telling: in Uzbekistan, Malaysians aren’t just recognised, they’re genuinely welcomed.

Many stallholders could instantly identify us as Malaysians even before we spoke, often greeting us with warm smiles and enthusiastic offers of discounts.

This immediate recognition underscores how Malaysian tourists have become a visible and valued presence in countries far beyond Southeast Asia.

Whether driven by word-of-mouth among vendors or the steady stream of Malaysian tour groups, the perception of Malaysians as friendly, polite, and generous customers has clearly taken root.

It reflects the growing number of Malaysian travellers exploring new destinations like Uzbekistan, and the meaningful people-to-people connections forged through simple acts of trade and hospitality.

In 2023, 4,396 Malaysian tourists reportedly visited Uzbekistan, and in 2024, the number more than doubled to 9,464, indicating the growing interest in Uzbekistan as an attractive tourist destination for Malaysians.

At the launch of Bank Negara Malaysia’s Annual Report 2024, Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour noted that Malaysians continue to travel and spend abroad, registering a year-on-year growth of 15.1 per cent – more than double the pre-pandemic average of 7.7 per cent recorded between 2011 and 2019.

The surge in overseas spending also coincides with strong domestic consumption trends, including record-high car sales of around 815,000 units and an 11.8 per cent increase in spending on restaurants and hotels.

In summary, this trend reflects a growing appetite among Malaysians for travel, shopping, and cultural experiences – making them highly sought-after tourists in foreign markets.

 Spices, Smiles and Spending Power: A Meeting Point of Malaysian Warmth and Uzbek Tradition  

And there is perhaps no better example of this than beneath the turquoise dome of Chorsu Bazaar, where the vibrancy of Uzbek tradition meets the warmth of Malaysian curiosity.

Located in the heart of old Tashkent, Chorsu Bazaar is one of the oldest and most iconic markets in Central Asia, dating back to the 11th century.

Its name, meaning “four ways,” reflects its long-standing role as a central meeting point for traders and communities.

Over the centuries, it has functioned not only as a vital trading hub but also as a social and cultural landmark at the heart of Tashkent’s daily life.

Today, the bazaar is a sprawling complex of interconnected domed halls, offering a wide variety of goods including fresh produce, dried fruits, spices, meats, dairy products, and handicrafts.

Built on the foundations of earlier markets, the current structure features a three-storey domed pavilion adorned with oriental ornamentation and equipped with an elevator system linking storerooms in the basement to bustling retail stalls above.

From the upper level, visitors can appreciate the symmetry of the market’s layout, neatly organised rows of spice sellers, fruit vendors, and butchers forming a well-orchestrated maze of commerce.

The atmosphere is alive with colour and sound: vibrant mounds of saffron and chilli powder, non bread pulled fresh from clay ovens, and the melodic chorus of bargaining voices in Uzbek and Russian.

Despite the passage of time, Chorsu Bazaar has retained the architectural and cultural essence of traditional Central Asian markets.

Its vaulted ceilings and wide passageways offer shade from the intense sun and dust typical of the region’s dry climate, while its enduring function as a daily gathering point connects generations past and present.

For tourists, a visit to Chorsu Bazaar offers an immersive glimpse into the heartbeat of Tashkent. For locals, it remains a cherished fixture — a place where heritage, commerce and community converge in one of the most enduring public spaces of the Silk Road.

-- BERNAMA