Qashqadaryo

Qarshi is the capital of Qashqadaryo Region in southern Uzbekistan and lies roughly 520 kilometres south-southwest of Tashkent, near the Turkmen border. It is the administrative and commercial centre of one of the country's most important agricultural and energy-producing areas.

Qarshi is among the oldest settlements in the region. Known in antiquity as Nakhshab and later as Nasaf, it received its present name in the 14th century when the Chagatai khans built palaces here; 'qarshi' means 'palace' in Mongolian. The city later became the second city of the Emirate of Bukhara.

Historic landmarks include the Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, the Odina Madrasah and Mosque, and the 16th-century Karshi Bridge, one of the oldest surviving bridges in Central Asia. Other notable sites include the Abu Ubayd ibn al-Jarroh Memorial Complex, the Kurgancha Mosque and the Sardoba water reservoir.

Qashqadaryo Region leads Uzbekistan in oil, gas and condensate production, and Qarshi also serves a farming economy built on cotton, wheat, fruit and livestock. The city has a central bazaar, parks, universities and a growing choice of hotels and restaurants.

For travellers, Qarshi offers a quieter introduction to southern Uzbekistan and works well as a gateway to nearby Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Timur. Business visitors come for energy, agriculture and logistics, while leisure visitors explore Silk Road heritage, local bazaars and regional history.