Alai Bazaar

East… It's just one word, but there are so many associations associated with it, and the famous oriental bazaars come to mind first. Even in ancient times, oriental bazaars were a gathering place for the population, where they not only traded, but also exchanged news, shared joys, and met with friends in numerous teahouses scattered throughout the bazaars. Many bazaars in the East were centers not only of commercial life, but also of urban life. The firmans (decrees) of the rulers were announced here, criminals were executed and pardoned, and folk festivals were held. An example of such bazaars is Registan Square in Samarkand, where back in the 19th century there were shopping malls or Bukhara trade domes, which were not only a place of sale, but also a meeting place and an exchange of news.

The oriental bazaars were amazing in their variety. There were silk stalls where a variety of silks from India and China were sold, as well as handicraft stalls where ceramic, copper, iron, and precious metal products could be purchased, and this is only a small part of what the oriental bazaars were rich in. Most of the old bazaars of Uzbekistan are located on the branches of the Great Silk Road and have a very ancient history. Thus, many Khorezm bazaars have a history dating back to the 6th-10th centuries, and some Samarkand and Bukhara bazaars can be attributed to the same period.

Alai Bazaar is considered one of the oldest bazaars in Tashkent. Presumably, it originated in the XII-XIII centuries on Mount Oloy, but not as a bazaar, but just a place of trade on the trade route running from East Turkestan through the Fergana Valley. Cattle trade mainly took place here, various types of meat and livestock were sold. In the 19th century, this so-called "trading post" developed into a full-fledged bazaar, which became one of the most visited among local residents, as it was located on the border of the Old Town and areas built during the Russian colonial period.

Today, the Alai Bazaar can rightfully be considered one of the oldest in Tashkent. It has been recently upgraded. There are food aisles where you can buy oriental sweets, fruits and other food items, as well as a clothing market, which is also diverse. In addition, the modern Alai Bazaar is known for its two-story jewelry complex, where silver and gold products can be purchased. Bazaars in the East are not just markets, they are an integral part of Oriental culture.