Parks hold a special place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but among the well-maintained green spaces, Babur Park, also known as the Park of Friendship, stands as a relic of the Soviet Union era.
Existing since the 1930s, these days the park now appears neglected. Is it still worth a visit? We visited to find out.
A Faded Beauty
With broken tiles, overgrown weeds, and abandoned structures, Babur Park’s current state contrasts sharply with its former allure.
As you enter through a grand Soviet-style arch adorned with the word ‘Do’stlik,’ meaning friendship in Uzbek, a sense of nostalgia sets in.
What may have once been a park of beauty, is these days unfortunately somewhat neglected, especially compared to some of the many pristine parks of Tashkent.
With weeds, broken tiles, and abandoned buildings this park stands in contrast to some of the exceptionally maintained parks such as the Alley of Writers and Tashkent City Park.
Named after Babur, a Mughal emperor and descendant of both Amir Timur and Ghengis Khan born in 1483. As well as being a military strategist, he was also known for his love of poetry and nature.
The Artificial Lake and Peace Bell
The park’s centerpiece, an artificial lake, is home to swans and ducks, which gather on its small shore.
The allure of the lake however is diminished by its surroundings including half-constructed bathroom buildings and lack of greenery.
Elsewhere in the park is the ‘Peace Bell‘, which is rung annually on the International Day of Peace. Surrounded by weakly powered fountains, this is perhaps the nicest part of the park.
A Mix of Neglect and Charm
The neglect is evident in many other parts of the park, with several areas left abandoned.
The victims of this dereliction include a basketball court with upturned basketball posts, a locked-up table tennis area, an empty restaurant building above a drained artificial lake, and an entire playground gated off.
While some parts of the park exude abandonment, there is a certain tranquility in its quietness. Unlike most parks, bicycles are allowed, and with fewer visitors, a soothing atmosphere prevails.
As for facilities there are small football pitches, a small children’s playground, a small number of amusement rides and a cafe.
Seoul National Park
Within the park, you’ll find Seoul National Park, a smaller walled-off section established in 2014 to foster Uzbekistan-South Korea relations.
The main feature of this mini-park is a small yet elegant Korean-style pavilion surrounded by a moat and home to a number of ducks.
Aside from this however, there is not much else to see. A puzzling collection of stuffed animals and statues lies in the corner of the park close to the entrance. Having lived in Korea for several years myself I can’t say I’ve ever seen such an odd collection.
It was announced in 2022 that the park will be reconstructed but this has yet to be seen.
Entry during the day time is 20,000 Som for adults, which in our opinion is really not worth it for most people.
One positive is that if you arrive at around 7.30pm the back of the park becomes an outdoor cinema and you can enter and see most of the park for free.
We couldn’t find much information on the cinema but it seems to operate daily during the summer, only showing movies in Russian.
Conclusion
Babur Park stands as a relic of the past, offering glimpses of history and moments of serenity. Seoul National Park is a bit of a disappointment and is really not worth paying to enter.
While the park’s neglected state may not appeal to all, the park holds potential for future restoration.
This one is probably a miss if you’re visiting Tashkent for a few days but longer stay visitors may find some appeal – maybe.
Traveling to Uzbekistan? Read our guide to travel in Uzbekistan in 2023.