Tashkent Chiming Clocks
"I'll meet you at the chiming clocks." It is said that every resident or guest of Tashkent has at least once in their life arranged a meeting at the city's chiming clock towers. These romantic towers in the very centre of the capital not only invite to rendezvous — they hold within themselves remarkable stories.
It might seem that the towers have stood beside the square for an eternity. But in reality the second building was erected quite recently — in 2009, to mark the 2,200th anniversary of Tashkent. It looks like an absolute mirror image of the first tower, only in reverse reflection. If you are a perfectionist and love symmetry, this beautiful urban ensemble will be very much to your taste.
The first clocks of the ensemble were erected on the anniversary of the Second World War and chimed for the first time on 9 May 1947 in memory of the heroes of Uzbekistan who did not return from the front. To this day every 15 minutes the chimes play, reminding of the courage of half a million Uzbek soldiers and counting down the start of each new peaceful day.
The antique clock mechanism has kept precise time for many decades and stopped only once — after the most powerful earthquake in 1966. The disaster damaged the clock mechanism and destroyed one of the tower's bells. The clock was repaired, but the bell could not be restored — so skilled craftsmen created an exact copy.
A Story of One Clockmaker and One Act of Courage
The mechanism of the Tashkent chiming clocks is considerably older than the tower itself. It was removed from the town hall building in the town of Eastern Prussia. During the advance of Soviet troops, the town hall building was severely damaged, and the decision was made to blow it up so that no one would be harmed by a sudden collapse. However, a native of Tashkent and hereditary clockmaker, Sergeant Alexander Eizenstein, stopped the sappers who were already laying the explosives. Alexander Eizenstein persuaded the command to transfer the mechanism as a gift to Tashkent and conceived the idea of building a beautiful clock tower at home.
Upon returning from the front the clockmaker brought his idea to life. In the centre of the capital of Uzbekistan a 30-metre tower was built. For a long time it remained the tallest building in the city. Eizenstein himself was appointed custodian of the chiming clocks and Honorary Citizen of Tashkent. A plaque dedicated to Alexander still hangs on the building.
In both clock tower buildings museum expositions were formerly located, and now a beloved Tashkent café operates there — named simply "Kuranty" — The Chimes.
How to Get There
Address: Amir Timur Avenue, 35
The Tashkent chiming clocks are located opposite the entrance to Amir Timur Square, next to Amir Timur Khiyoboni metro station.