Day trips around Tashkent?

So it looks I am going to be in Tashkent much longer than planned as I wait to get my Kazakhstan visa. I am already planning to head to Chimgan one day to hike but I am wondering if anyone has any other ideas for day trips I could do from Tashkent?

Since my passport is at the embassy, I am assuming I can't really go and stay overnight anywhere else as places will want to see my passport to register me.

It's should not be a problem, you have to take your passport copy! and ask the embassy to put there stamp! on it! and you can travel to Chimgan with hat copy and original slip of registatione from the hotel!!

I've already been to the embassy and all they gave me was a receipt - they didn't stamp anything. Do I need to show my passport or a copy somewhere just going to Chimgan for the day?

noo! you dont have to!!! just make a copy of your passport face and visa! and receipt and registration slip fromm the hotel!! thats should be good!!!
if they will ask you will tell them it's at the embassy!

there is a holy sufi shrine some 30 km south of Toshkent which has some classic central Asian architecture( not more !!;-P)

Hi,

This site has a list of day trips in Tashkent:
http://www.steppejourneys.com/p/special-interest-tours.html

I did Steppe Journeys Soviet Architecture day and it was great. I booked through Odil Akhmedov there.

Me again.

I forgot to mention that this article 48 Hours in Tashkent is helpful on spending a weekend there.

From the Sabir Rakhimov station, it's a short taxi ride to Zangi-ota Shrine on the old road to Samarkand. There are stuctures dating from the 14th to 20th centuries (lots of Uzbek 'soft restoration' spicing up the colors of mosaic tile). On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, many rural Muslim supplicants visit to pray. Worth the trip.

@minniegirl: Hope you're on your way by now!

ZENGI-ATA

XIV-XX centuries. Cult memorial ensemble, formed at the burial of Sheikh Zenghi-Ata (d. 1258) and his wife Ambar Bibi. Above them, at the end of XIV - XV in the first half. been erected two mausoleums covered with double domes, of which the outer raised on high faceted drums. MAUSOLEUM Zeng-ATA included several rooms; now preserved portal Ziarat Khan and gurkhan. In the decoration of them - sets of glazed bricks and Kashino carved mosaics. In gurkhan is a magnificent carved marble tomb of Sheikh (XV century).. MAUSOLEUM BARN-BIBI-chamber, portal-dome. This architectural complex complements the buildings around the courtyard, which faces portal of the mausoleum Zenghi-ata: Mosque (XIX century). From murals in the value-Van, executed in 1870/71, the master Kosh Mohammad Kokand; madrassas (XVII cent.) Reconstructed at the beginning of XX century.; minaret and gates (Darwaza, 1914/15 was) the works of masters and Kulbeka Nazarkhan.