With its teeming cast of colourful thousands, this bazaar is Central Asia, Cecil B. De Mille-style. It sprawls across acres of desert on the outskirts of town, with corrals of camels and goats, avenues of red-clothed women squatting before silver jewellery, and countless trucks from which vendors hawk everything from pistachios to car parts. Expect to haggle.
Above all, Tolkuchka is the place for carpets. Predominantly deep red, hundreds are laid out in a large sandy compound or draped over racks and walls.
