Introducing Taraz
Ask any Kazakh what they know about Taraz and they’ll probably say ‘vodka’ as this is where the country’s favourite brand is produced. It’s a quiet, Soviet-style place with leafy boulevards and one excellent museum.
Advertisement
Medieval Taraz reached its peak in the 11th and 12th centuries as a wealthy Silk Road stop and capital of the Turkic Karakhanid state which also ruled Bukhara for a while. Levelled by Jenghiz Khan, it didn’t resurface until the 19th century when the Kokand khanate refounded it as a northern frontier town.
The Soviet regime settled many internal exiles here, renamed the town Dzhambul after the locally-born Kazakh bard Zhambyl Zhabaev and added phosphate factories to pump up the economy. Since independence, the name has changed again and the factories have closed, which has at least cleaned up the air.
Last updated: Jun 3, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
Updates/Corrections For Kazakhstan in the Central Asia LP
by crpettit 07 March 2012
Hello, I spent about 2 1/2 months traveling through Central Asia in the spring/summer of 2011. I had the Central Asia book with me and…
-
RE: Travel and Transport Recommendations: Bishkek to Khiva and back to Tashkent
by Dr_Zo 16 February 2012
1) It is possible to cross border in Osh. But check in Bishkek's police if the border is open, 'coz they frequently close it. Take shared…
-
Dushanbe to Bishkek
by bjebn 05 February 2012
Hi Everyone, I am new to the lonely planet forums here but I am welcomely surprised by the wealth of information this site has. I am travel…
Hotels & Hostels
Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.
Advertisement
