India, Aug. 31 -- Googling the "nearest metro station" after booking my Tashkent accommodation led me down an unexpected rabbit hole. The images that appeared alongside the map were so striking that I couldn't stop gazing at them. I knew immediately I had to set aside a few hours just to explore the city's public transport system. It turns out, far below the bustling streets of Tashkent lies a hidden museum - a Soviet-built metro system that doubles as both a nuclear shelter and a subterranean gallery of Uzbekistan's storied past. Designed during the Cold War, the Tashkent Metro is a treasure trove of palatial architecture, chandelier-lit halls, and stunning murals that echo centuries of history.

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