Shopping Plans: Shops and Shopping Lokal bazaar Shopping in Andijan

Local bazaars

It is in the bazaars that you can completely immerse yourself in the flavor and culture of Uzbekistan. The noise, the bustle, the many tourists and locals who sell unusual handmade items – all this here, in local bazaars and markets. You can and even need to bargain with sellers (and why do you think it’s so noisy here?). Some tourists deliberately roam the markets and enjoy the bidding process.
In markets and bazaars, it smells of spices and oriental spices, and from a variety of products, one’s eyes widen. Encourage buying offers to try goodies, fruits and vegetables before buying. Local residents grow vegetables and fruits on their own, so they are interested in the buyer being satisfied and making a second purchase.
Bazaars and markets have not changed since the time of the Great Silk Road: people trade in the open air and use tables, benches and stalls as counters. You should definitely try the local vegetables and fruits that are brought to markets from all over Uzbekistan. On the market you can buy: peanuts, almonds, pistachios, dried fruits, spices, tomatoes, cucumbers, apricots, pears, apples and much more.

Shopping centers

Of course, you can get to large malls in Tashkent, but why? Shopping in shopping centers can be done in any country, but a walk through similar markets and bazaars will not work.
Here are a few shopping centers located in Tashkent:

• 
  Mega Planet (works: from 10:00 to 23:00);
  
• 
  Orzu City Center (works: from 10:00 to 22:00);
  
• 
  Toshkent (works: from 09:00 to 21:00);
  
• 
  Shopping center Farg’ona (works: from 08:00 to 00:00);
  
• 
  Shopping center Parus (open from 10:00 to 23:00).
  

What to bring home

Tourists usually buy glossy figurines as souvenirs. They are sold at the bazaars of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and other major cities of the country.
Tourists often buy art ceramics, carved caskets, woolen items, jewelry, carpets, and, of course, several bottles of strong Uzbek wine.
About the export of jewelry from the country
In Uzbekistan, there is a ban on the export of items older than 500 years, so if you do not want to be detained at the border, find out the real age of the item before buying from the seller.
It is also worth getting a certificate from the seller that the item is not antique, but is mass produced as a souvenir.
Shopping in Uzbekistan is an interesting activity that shows the real life of the people. Noisy markets and bazaars, unique handicrafts, interesting bargains with sellers – all this is here.
Such shopping is a great activity for any tourist: even if there is not much money, you can bargain for a good discount or go to a neighboring country to buy products even cheaper.

Andijon – the Fergana Valley’s largest city of over 350,000 people and its spiritual mecca. Both culturally and linguistically Andijon is probably the country’s purest Uzbek city, and the best place to observe Uzbeks in their element. Andijan has a rich past and vibrant Uzbek culture but a troubled recent history, and consequently few foreign tourists come hero unless they're passing quickly through en route to Kyrgyzstan.
Andijan was founded sometime in the 9th century and was known in the tenth century as the village of Andugan. Andijan's steady growth ensured it the full force of Mongol destruction. It was just getting onto its feet when Genghis Khan rode through and razed it back to the ground. Yet in the late 13th century Kaydu Khan, great-grandson of Genghis Khan, saw potential in the ashes and rebuilt the town into his capital. This was a shrewd move, as the city became the lucrative gateway between Samarkand and Bukhara in the west, and Kashgar and Chinese Turkestan in the east. It remained the capital for the next three centuries, giving its name in Chagatai Turkish to the whole valley.
In 1483 Andijan's foremost son was born, one Zahiriddin Mohammed Babur, great-great- great-grandson of Tamerlane. Having lost his homeland, and Samarkand three times, Babur fought his way to India to found the Mogul empire. He recalled in his memoirs, Andijan produces much grain, fruits in abundance, excellent grapes and melons. In the melon season, they are usually given away at the beds... After Samarkand and Shakhrisabz, the fort of Andijan is the largest in Mawarannahr. It has three gates. Its citadel is on its south side. Into it water goes by nine channels; out of it, it is strange that none comes out at even a single place. Andijan has good hunting and fowling. Its pheasants grow so surprisingly fat that rumour has it four people could not finish one they were eating with its stew.
The khanate of Kokand pushed Andijan out of the limelight. Yet the Russians met stiff resistance on their first advance against the town, losing at least 50 men, until General Skobelov secured victory in January 1876. The rebel spirit resurfaced in May 1898 when Nakshbandi ishan Madali led a three-day revolt, put down after much bloodshed. The Trans Caspian Railway, harbinger of Russification and modernization, arrived in 1899, three years before an earthquake took 4,500 lives and most of the old town. The Andijan you see today is mostly of 20th-century construction: an earthquake in 1902 more or less levelled the Old Town. In the Soviet period Andijan industrialised and grew wealthy on the profits of black and white gold: oil and cotton.