Uzbekistan is in relative proximity with Russia, and more recently, we were parts of one country. But despite this, few people have been here as tourists. For some reason, it is customary for us to choose European countries or fly to warmer climes (Egypt, Thailand, etc.), ignoring this part of the world, and consider people traveling in Uzbekistan to be extremals. Of course, Uzbekistan cannot be considered a center of attraction for tourists. But in recent years, it has become one of the main attractions of Central Asia. Just guess why: Islamic architecture, with its characteristic cladding of green shades, rises above the historic areas of cities, shrouded in sand and millennia of history. These settlements were once one of the main decorations of the Silk Road, connecting China with the rest of the world. Today we will tell you about mosques, minarets, mausoleums and other sights of Uzbekistan and, perhaps, your next trip will be in this country.
1
Samarkand
CC0. In the photo: Samarkand
Samarkand is an unusually ancient city in which people have continuously lived for 2.5 millennia. It is so full of antiquities that the entire historical center of Samarkand can be called one big attraction. Previously, a path passed through the city to help connect China with the Mediterranean. Thanks to the passage of the Great Silk Road through Samarkand, it has become a real magnet for many traders from Europe and Asia.
CC0. Samarkand
The daily life of ancient Samarkand revolved around the Registan, an area that is still filled with people today. True, now here you can meet more tourists than merchants. Mosaic madrasahs (educational institutions for Muslims), built between the 15th and 17th centuries, surround the square on three sides, and are considered, like the whole city, a historical heritage site, which has been protected by UNESCO since 2001.
By the way, do not miss the interesting article on most-beauty.ru about 10 mysterious mosaics that amaze with their beauty and grandeur.
CC0. In the photo: the ensemble of the mausoleums of Shahi Zinda
To the north-east of Registan, you can find richly decorated tombs connected to an entire ensemble of mausoleums called Shahi Zinda. Also here is the Bibi-Khanym mosque with its blue and white facade, striking the geometric accuracy of the masters laying the tiles. Departing in the opposite direction from the main square, you will reach the Gur Emir mausoleum, which has a turquoise-colored dome. Here lies Amir Timur (Tamerlan), who founded the Timurid dynasty, as well as his descendants. If you want to comfortably explore all the sights of Samarkand, set aside at least two days for this. The ideal time to visit the city would be the end of September - the beginning of October. The weather here is great and there are not many tourists.
2
Bukhara
CC0. In the photo: ancient citadel Ark
Like Khiva and Samarkand, Bukhara was one of the settlements through which the Great Silk Road ran. In the historical part of the city there are more than 100 monuments of Islamic architecture, which are protected by UNESCO since 1993. You should start an independent tour by visiting the Ark in Bukhara. This is an ancient citadel, whose construction dates back to the V century, used to surround the residence of the rulers of the city, and now it is a repository of various museums. Then go to the mausoleum of the Samanids, the construction of which took place at the turn of the IX-X centuries. It is considered the oldest example of Islamic architecture that has survived in Central Asia.
Author: Ymblanter. In the photo: Lyabi House Square
Have a bite to eat at a traditional Uzbek samsa from a street tray before enjoying tea at Lyabi House. No, this is not another coffee house, that’s the name of the city square, surrounded by various religious buildings. You can also relax here near a picturesque pond (the Uzbek name sounds like "house") Nadir-Begi. Finish the day better near the religious complex Poi-Kalyan, which is a whole architectural ensemble. Of particular value is the facade of most buildings, decorated with blue tiles. We also recommend visiting the Chor-Minor Madrasah, which is capable of captivating with its turquoise shades.
CC0. In the photo: Chor-Minor Madrasah
3
Ichan Kala
Ichan-Kala is the fortified inner city of Khiva, which served as the last point of the Silk Road in the territory of modern Uzbekistan, if we move from China to the West. Entire caravans often drove their goods to the Mediterranean here.
In Ichan Kala you will find about 50 historical monuments, including the Juma Mosque, which means “Friday Mosque” (designed for prayer by the whole community at noon on Friday). Also inside the fortified city you can find about 250 former houses, most of which now work as museums. The earliest buildings of the inner city are dated to the X century, while the bulk of the structures were built between the XVIII and XIX centuries. In Ichan-Kala, even gates and battlements are striking, whose height reaches 9 meters. Of course, this city - one of the main attractions of Central Asia, is an amazing sight. It is a miracle that one of the oldest cities in this region was able to survive so well.
Pay attention to the most amazing sights of Asia on our site most-beauty.ru there is an exciting series of articles.
4
Ferghana Valley
To get from Western China to Samarkand, the Silk Road traders had to cross the Ferghana Valley, surrounded by the Tien Shan and Gissaro-Alai mountain ranges. The history of this valley is filled with various events, which is not surprising, given its position between the multiple borders of various Central Asian states and the ethnic diversity of the peoples living here. You can only appreciate the local landscapes once in the valley. Grassy hills and mountain passes replace each other, and artificial inclusions in the form of large cities do not look like foreign bodies at all, on the contrary, they attract to visit.
In the photo: Khudoyar Khan Palace
One of these cities is Kokand, the ancient capital of the Kokand Khanate. Here you can see the huge palace of Khudoyar Khan, erected on the ruins of the citadel. It is decorated with tiles inside and out, which shimmers with all shades of blue and green. Kokand will also be an excellent base for those planning a more detailed exploration of the Ferghana Valley. It offers travelers a variety of accommodation options.
5
State Museum of Timurid History
Once in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, first visit a museum dedicated to the period in history when Amir Timur ruled in Central Asia, which gave rise to the Timurid dynasty. Amir Timur or Tamerlan was a Turkic-Mongolian commander who captured almost the entire territory of Central Asia, and ruled it in the XIV century. On the one hand, he is known for his cruelty and desire for barbaric raids on neighboring lands, on the other, Tamerlan had a weakness for art and architecture, becoming the founder of many historical monuments that Uzbekistan is now proud of.
In the state museum of the capital of this state you will find many frescoes, portraits, military relics, astronomical accessories and other items belonging to the era of the reign of the Timurid dynasty. The interior of the museum is richly decorated, and the building itself is unlikely to be missed. To find it, you just need to get to Amir Timur Square and find a classic building of oriental architecture with a bright blue dome.
6
Ak-shed
The name Ak-saray is translated as “The White Creator”, and he (or rather its ruins) are the main witness to the vanity of Tamerlane. Having seized power in the region, Timur built himself two palaces in the capital city of Samarkand. However, he almost never stayed in them, bearing grandiose plans for the construction of the largest palace, which would be located in his homeland in Kesha. Now this city is called Shakhrisabz, and its residents are proud of the community with the great emir. Timur began the construction of the White Palace in the 80s of the XIV century. Work was carried out more than 20 years before the beginning of the XV century and ended just a year before the death of Tamerlane. Unfortunately, only the ruins of the majestic palace have survived to this day, but they also impress with their scale.
Visitors can admire the ruined entrance, which rises above the city at an altitude of more than 30 meters. And also here you can see the remains of mosaics and painted ceramics that adorned the facade of the palace. When you look for pictures of the palace, do not be surprised at the abundance of white tulle. The building is extremely popular among locals who come here to be photographed during wedding ceremonies. Like many attractions of Uzbekistan, Ak-Saray is under the protection of UNESCO.
7
Chorsu Bazaar
Today's Tashkent can be safely called the city of contrasts, because there are old buildings, gray Soviet box houses and modern skyscrapers. If you came here for the first time, most-beauty.ru recommends that you immediately go to the Old Town, where you can feel the real oriental flavor, seasoned with suitable architecture and, of course, the Asian bazaar. Chorsu, namely the so-called urban market is unlikely to go unnoticed.
Under its huge dome of green color you can find any products, spices and dried fruits, as well as purchase any Uzbek souvenir, for example, jewelry or ceramics. Chorsu also serves as the social center of the Old Town. Here you can find souvenirs for the whole family and friends, try tandoor cakes and join the local flavor, sitting in a teahouse.
In conclusion
In the photo: a monument of medieval architecture of Shahi Zinda in Samarkand. CC0
So our small overview of the sights of Uzbekistan has come to an end. And what places of this beautiful country would you recommend for tourists? Please write your answers in the comments.