In Tashkent, there is a monument to Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in the world to fly into space. The monument has changed its location (it is now in Chilanzar) and has also been altered beyond recognition at least once.
Contents
- Where the monument to Yuri Gagarin used to be. Two monuments
- Gagarin visited Uzbekistan
- The Gagarin monument at its new location (in Chilanzar)
- How to get to the Gagarin monument in Tashkent
- Tips for tourists visiting the Gagarin monument in Tashkent
Where the monument to Yuri Gagarin used to be. Two monuments
A park named after Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was established on the left bank of the Ankhor Canal, on the territory of the first botanical garden in Tashkent, in the early 1960s, shortly after Gagarin’s spaceflight (which took place on April 12, 1961). In 1969, an obelisk was installed in the park in the form of a stele topped with a concrete cube, one side of which featured a bas-relief portrait of the cosmonaut.
The sculptural composition “Cosmos” on a natural hill in the park was unveiled on April 30, 1969, approximately a year after the cosmonaut’s death (Gagarin died in an aviation accident on March 27, 1968). The authors of the project were S. R. Adylov and E. M. Barklay.
A fifteen-meter staircase led to an elliptical platform symbolically representing the Baikonur Cosmodrome, from which Yuri Gagarin launched in 1961. The “cosmodrome” was paved with metal plates. At its center stood two 28-meter pylons clad in aluminum sheets. At night, the pylons were illuminated by floodlights, creating the effect of a spacecraft launch.
A bas-relief portrait of the first cosmonaut was mounted on the twin pylons. On their sides were metal-cast copies of the USSR coat-of-arms pennants delivered to the Moon.
The design of this monument was shown in Star City and approved by cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev.
In 1979, the obelisk was replaced with a monument by sculptor Grigory Postnikov (who died a year before the monument was installed in Tashkent), known for his works on space themes, and architect Sabir Adylov. Cosmonauts Georgy Beregovoy and Vladimir Dzhanibekov attended the opening of the monument.
The full-length bronze sculpture depicts Yuri Gagarin in a space suit without a helmet, standing on top of a globe against the background of a 28-meter stele shaped like a stylized rocket contrail. In his raised right hand, he holds a model of the first artificial Earth satellite. On the pedestal, clad in pink granite, the name “YURI GAGARIN” is spelled out in metal letters.
In composition and style, the monument is similar to the “First Satellite” monument by sculptor S. Kovner, installed in 1958 near the vestibule of the Rizhskaya metro station in Moscow.
Gagarin visited Uzbekistan
It is known that Yuri Gagarin frequently visited Uzbekistan. From 1961 to 1968 alone, he visited the republic, then part of the USSR, six times. He took part in events, visited landmarks, and relaxed in nature.
The Gagarin monument at its new location (in Chilanzar)
In 1995, the Gagarin monument was moved to the Chilanzar district of the city, to a street named after Yuri Gagarin, opposite the Chaika cinema, later also renamed in honor of the first cosmonaut.
If at its original location in Gagarin Park the monument stood on a high hill with a wide granite staircase leading up to it, at the new location it is placed on a flat concrete platform. Unfortunately, the monument no longer creates the same impression today.
However, the monument and the adjacent square still serve as a venue for ceremonial events dedicated to the International Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics, with the participation of government representatives and diplomats from Russia.
How to get to the Gagarin monument in Tashkent
The monument is located in the Chilanzar district of Tashkent. You can get there in several ways:
- By metro — the nearest stations are Novza or Mirzo Ulugbek, from where you can walk.
- By bus — routes passing through Chilanzar with nearby stops (at the time of publication: 2, 80, 84, 94, 98, 103, 135).
- By taxi — a convenient option for tourists, especially if you plan to visit several places in one day.
- By car — be prepared to spend time looking for parking.
Tips for tourists visiting the Gagarin monument in Tashkent
- Best time to visit — morning or evening, when the lighting makes the monument especially photogenic, although it can be visited at any time.
- What to bring — comfortable walking shoes, a camera or smartphone for photos.
- Nearby attractions — you can combine the visit with a walk around the square where it is located, as well as along Gagarin Street, Gafur Gulyam Park, and a visit to the Chilanzar shopping center, built in the 1960s.
The Gagarin monument is not just a tribute to the first cosmonaut, but also a symbol of scientific progress. Over the years, events dedicated to Cosmonautics Day have been held here, and the monument itself has become a popular place for meetings and walks.
When did you first see the monument to Yuri Gagarin in Tashkent? Or did you or your relatives perhaps meet Yuri Gagarin himself?