Asia is associated with hot sun, fruits and, of course, bazaars. Every tourist knows the famous Tashkent markets Chorsu and Oloy (Alai). Alai Bazaar is a market with a long history. It’s not for nothing that he most often appears on photo postcards of Tashkent. It was formed in the 19th century, in the 70s. It was during this period that the Russian Empire expanded its possessions to Uzbekistan. They began to rebuild houses for military families, plan streets, and a New City appeared.
The market was one of the first to be built, but had no name. However, soon they began to call him Alai, in the manner of the dialect of the local population. Alai translated from Turkic means “soldier”. This is understandable, since the first Russian settlements consisted of military men and their families, who visited the market. There is also a legend that on the site of the bazaar there was Mount Oloy, where merchants and caravaners gathered. There is no scientific evidence for this.
Alai market is one of the oldest in Tashkent. You can find a huge number of photographs from the early 19th century, where the streets along the bazaar and the market itself are clearly visible. The street layout has been preserved to this day, although all nearby buildings have long been updated.
The market closed and then resumed its work. Perhaps this is due to the fact that at that time it was not the main trading point, since there was a Resurrection Bazaar, which no longer exists. But time has determined its significance, and now it has been functioning without interruption for decades.
During the independence of Uzbekistan, the bazaar was reconstructed many times; a two-story pavilion with jewelry and workshops appeared. Today it is he who greets visitors at the entrance. After passing under the dark roof of the pavilion and enjoying the variety of decorations, visitors find themselves in the inner part of the market. Eyes accustomed to the twilight of the jewelry department cannot immediately discern the shining rows. At the Alai Bazaar you can find everything your heart desires. Long rows of dairy, meat products, fruits, sweets, a vegetable row, many small shops and workshops where you can stroll and enjoy the variety of choices and the hospitality of the sellers.
It is worth special mentioning the ability of local sellers to “present” their goods. Only at the Alai market they perfectly pack a fruit basket that can be presented at a major event, be it a wedding or a national holiday. Designer talents can also be seen in the sweet sellers, who can arrange different types of halva so elegantly that it would be a pity to eat this masterpiece of oriental ornament.
Previously, until 2011, the market had a department with clothes, bags and shoes. But after the reconstruction of the bazaar, it was dismantled. In its place there is now a spacious parking lot where you can leave your personal car. The bazaar is always very clean and calm; there are not as many people here now as before. Law enforcement officials monitor order and security. But Alaisky, as before, remains one of the city’s most visited attractions by tourists.
Relaxing under the vaults of plane trees becomes especially pleasant when you have sun-filled Uzbek fruits and aromatic oriental sweets at your fingertips. Canaan Travel recommends taking some time during your trip to Tashkent and visiting a real oriental bazaar.