Alay bazaar

Alaysky Bazaar (Oloy Bozori). 72 Amir Temur St., Yunus Abad district. Tashkent Uzbekistan Open: every day.

History of "Alay bazaar" dates back to the times of the Great Silk Road. The name "Alay" is derived from the name of the mountain, "Ola".

In XII-XIX centuries Ola mountains were famous as a convenient trade place. Locals such as Kazakhs, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz who were settled around, traded here. They traded spices, pottery, silk products, vegetables, fruits and etc... At that time, they begun to form settlements around the market as Alai bazaar was considered the most prestigious bazaar.

In the 50s of the last century for the further trade development in the bazaars, government began to allocate lands for the convenience of traders. It has been built from a white brick.

This is the most famous and biggest one for vegetables and fruit; meat and fish. Meat might not be cut the way you are used to. The quality of the products is good... There is a covered area for chickens, smoked fish, cheese and dairy products. There is a new covered part were you can find clothes, shoes, dishes, electrical and plumbing supplies, bathroom fixtures etc. These shops are like little "boutiques." There are a lot of kiosks and street sellers around the market selling all kind of goods.

It is the most up-to-date, equipped and advanced bazaar in the city. Standing under the huge shelter, the bazaar's rows of stalls stretch as far as the eye can see. At this bazaar only first-class produce is on offer. Alayskiy Bazaar deals almost exclusively in choice fruit and vegetables. As you walk along the rows, you most likely will find no bruised tomatoes or wilted cucumbers.

The types of products on sale at Alayskiy Bazaar are practically the same as those you will see at other bazaars, however Alayskiy Bazaar is still unique. Only here can you can buy all varieties of meat and poultry, including turkey, goose and duck; button and oyster mushrooms grown in greenhouses; Caspian sturgeon and Far Eastern salmon. Moreover, this bazaar is the only place where it is possible to buy bundles of leafy birch twigs (called "venniki" in Russian) for stimulating massages in the Russian sauna ("banya")

Alayskiy Bazaar is certainly the least noisy and crowded bazaar in the city: it maintains its VIP status. The shoppers here are certainly friendly, but not meddlesome, without much pushing and shoving during shopping. Generally, vendors don't loudly hawk their produce and pressure you into buying after showing any interest. You might find it a bit disappointing, taking into consideration the traditions of an oriental bazaar, but there are many other bazaars full of this "exotic atmosphere"! Alayskiy Bazaar, first of all, boasts cleanliness, order, a convenient location and an effecient layout.

Please keep in mind that Alay bazaar is the best place to buy flowers in Tashkent.