Unique Uzbekistan!
Twenty-four Rotary Club of Bombay members and their spouses made a lifetime of memories during the outstation fellowship to unique Uzbekistan! Over four action-packed days, Rotarians marvelled at the country’s spellbinding architecture and the rich cultural heritage of its ancient cities. Intricate Arabic carvings, immaculate layout of shimmering turquoise tiles, larger-thanlife Madrasahs (Islamic schools), minarets, and mosques dot the country.
DAY 1:
The trip started in snowy Tashkent – the first snow of the season and rather unexpected this early – where the group was welcomed by their local guide Jamshyd. A young economics student, Jamshyd accompanied the group through the course of the trip giving local insights into the fascinating history and culture of the Silk Road and Uzbekistan’s evolving status as one of the richest countries in the 13th and 14th centuries to becoming a Soviet Union country in the early 20th century to its independence in 1991. After checking into the luxurious Hyatt Regency, centrally located within walking distance of all major Tashkent attractions, and enjoying a delicious lunch at the hotel, the trip started with a visit to the famous Chorsu Bazaar, popular for its spices and dry fruits. Speaking of delicious food, all meals were enjoyable affairs with plenty of vegetarian and meat options. Each restaurant visited through the course of the trip had its own charm including local dance performances, live music with songs from the Raj Kapoor era, and some performances from our very own talented Rotarians!
DAY 2:
The Tashkent city tour on this day was full of history and interesting facts and included visits to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, a memorial to the Victims of Repression, and Independence Square. The day ended with a glimpse of the beautifully designed Metro stations from the Soviet era and a stroll through the buzzing Broadway street with its many small cafés and street vendors including puppet makers, wood carvers, and tile painters.
DAY 3:
A day trip to Samarkand followed, a two-hour express train ride away. One of oldest, continuously-inhabited cities in Central Asia, Samarkand was filled with exquisite, blue-tiled mosques, and dreamy, teal-coloured domes – a sight to behold! Registan Square (among the world’s oldest, preserved madrasahs) was awe-inspiring for its sheer scale and Gur-e-Amir, a mausoleum for Amir Timur (Timurlame) reminded one of the Taj Mahal in its design. Some brave Rotarians also climbed up to admire the Ulugh Beg Observatory despite the heavy snowfall.
DAY 4:
The trip ended with a drive to the snow-capped Chimgan Mountains where Rotarians enjoyed a ride up the ski lifts for some breathtaking views on a perfect, clear day. This was followed by a visit to the mesmerising Charvak Lake with clouds magically appearing to rise from the water.
The Uzbekis love Indians and are crazy about Bollywood. Group members were greeted with ‘namastes’ everywhere and, often, a polite request for a photo, making one and all feel like celebrities!
All in all, this was one of the most memorable outstation Rotary fellowships and a special thank you to Rtn. Kanan Fotedar and Rtn. Ashok Jatia for their immaculate planning and arrangements to make this trip such a success.
