Mysterious land on the Great Silk Road
Laying in the heart of Central Asia between two rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, and surrounded by mountains on the east, Uzbekistan has a history that goes back a thousand years.
Uzbekistan makes up a large part of the Great Silk Road, and it is home to more than six thousand unique architectural monuments.
Large numbers of great scientists and well-known religious people used to live and work on the territory of present-day Uzbekistan.
Here are some of their names: Timur, founder of Timurid’s Dynasty, a famous conqueror whose empire extended from India to Turkey; Ulugbek – Timur’s grandson, one of the most famous astronomers who ever lived, figured out the length of the year and assembled a star catalog giving the positions of 922 stars; Abu Ali Ibn Sino mostly known as Avicenna – one of the most famous healers, philosophers, and mathematicians. His two unique and most important scientific books are: Khitob al – Shifo (Book of Healing) and the philosophical encyclopedia al-Qanun al-Tibb (The Canon Of Medicine); Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khorezmi – founder of algebra; and Baghauddin Naqshbandi – Muslim religious scholar; and many, many others.
The Great Silk Road starts in China and goes all the way down to Western Europe through the territories of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan) over the mountains of Pamir and Tyan-Shan. It existed from the 2nd century B.C. until the 16th century A.D., with a total length of seven thousand kilometers. The first item transited via this road was Chinese silk; therefore, this road was named the Great Silk Road.
Uzbekistan is a landlocked country, whose geographical shape is upside-down Italian boot. It shares borders with Afghanistan and all Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan has cold winters and hot summers. The best time to visit Uzbekistan is from April to the beginning of June and then from the end of August till early November
As it was mentioned above, Uzbekistan lies in a large and important part of the Great Silk Road, where breathtaking architectural monuments will take you to the time of medieval history and culture. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva—who hasn’t heard about those legendary cities? This land is full of mystery, and those cities were the most important sights and trade centers on the Great Silk Road.
But first, you arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in the country with a population of 2,400,000 people. Tashkent is a major gateway to and hub for Uzbekistan Airways, the largest airline in Central Asia. Uzbekistan Airways has regular flights to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America, as well as to the major cities of the CIS. In 2001, Uzbekistan Airways was recognized as the safest air carrier in the CIS, and its services match international standards. Besides, Uzbekistan Airways’ fleet consists of new modern aircraft from companies such as “Boeing” and “Airbus.”. Those aircraft fly to many international destinations.
TASHKENT was destroyed in 1966 after an earthquake, and almost the whole of the new city was built after that. There are several significant architectural monuments in Tashkent, as well as a few important museums. During your tour in Tashkent, you will visit Kukeldash Medressa, a beautiful Medressa of the 16th century. In 1991 the Medressa became an Islamic school, and it is functioning now. Barak Khan Medressa was also built in the 16th century and there are also a few sights to see near the Medressa, such as the Tilla Sheikh Mosque (Hastimom), the Institute of Islam, and a mausoleum of an Islamic scholar of the Shaybanid epoch, Abu Bakr Kaffol Shoshiy.
Then, after a fabulous lunch in one of the best national restaurants, your sightseeing will continue in the new part of the city, where you can visit a few museums, such as the Amir Timur Museum, which is one of the newest museums in Tashkent. Wonderful architecture and beautiful interiors impress visitors and guests. Museum of Applied Arts – is the former residence of wealthy Russian diplomat Alexander Polovtsev, built in a traditional style in 1898. Additionally, the museum has interesting samples of embroidery, gold sewing, carpets, woodcarving, carpentry on a tree, ceramics, ornaments, and jewels.
You’ll spend in Tashkent one full day and then will be transferred to Samarkand – the land where the mystery starts.
The author Ata-Malik Juvaini said: “If it is said that a paradise is to be seen in this world, then the paradise of this world is Samarkand.”.
Samarkand is one of the largest and best-decorated sights along the Great Silk Road. It was the capital of Tamer lane’s Empire and it was called Traxiana. Located in the Zeravshan River Valley, Samarkand is a key place in the trade ways of Central Asia. In 329 B.C., it was called Maracanda during Alexander the Great’s administration and the city occupied 13 sq. km. It was damaged during an insurrection and then revived in the third and second centuries B.C. Very impressive buildings were built at this time.
You will start your visit at Reghistan Square, one of the most famous and amazing monuments in Uzbekistan and all over Central Asia. The word “Registan” comes from Persian and means “sandy place.”. It is a huge plaza that consists of three madrassahs. The most ancient one is Ulugbek Medressah which was built in 1420 by Ulugbek, the ruler of Samarkand at the time. the second is Sher Dor Medressah, built 200 years later. it has a picture of a cross between a tiger and a lion with a human face on its portal. The last one is Tilla Kari Medressah. Tilla means “gold,” and Kari means “work.” Medressah is “golden work,” which is how we translate it. The dome of this medressah is decorated with gold from the inside and this is the reason why this medressah is called Tilla Kari.
Ulugbek’s observatory – next important sight in Samarkand. Ulugbek built this observatory between 1428 and 1429 on one of the hills of Samarkand. It was a round; three-storied building, forty-six meters in diameter and thirty meters in height. He placed the large instrument in the main hall to observe the moon, sun, and other stars. In 1449, when his son Abd-al-Latif beheaded Ulughbek, the religious extremists destroyed his observatory. After many years, in 1908, Soviet archaeologist Vyatkin found the document in which the location of the observatory was mentioned. He came to Samarkand and started his excavation. Only the underground part of the sextant and the basis of the building were saved. By finding documents scientists made the model of the observatory.
The other important and fabulous places to see are Shakhi Zinda Ensemble, a place of pilgrimage; Bibi Khanim Mosque, built by Tamerlane in honor of his Chinese wife Bibi Khanum in 1398-1399., Guli Emir mausoleum Timurids Dynasty burial place. Tamerlane himself and his two sons and two grandsons, including Ulugbek, are buried in Guri Emir. The ruins of ancient “Afrasiab”. We suggest you spend 2-3 days in Samarkand.
Then we moved to Bukhara, which, in my personal opinion, is the best city in Uzbekistan. Bukhara was known in history as a place of prayer and doctrine. It is called Bukhoroi Sharif (Sacred Bukhara). After Samarkand, Bukhara may appear a little bit in a grey tone, but pretty soon after spending more time and feeling the atmosphere of Bukhara, you will start questioning yourself: Which one is better, Samarkand or Bukhara?
And I don’t think you can find an answer because they are so different. In Bukhara, you will visit Ark Fortress, the royal city and the most ancient construction in Bukhara, built in the 16th century.
Chor – which means “four minarets,” was constructed in 1807 together with the madrassa of Caliph Niyazkul. Lyabi–Hauz is a wonderful quiet place with restaurants and “Chayhanas” (teahouses) surrounding it. Within 50 meters from Labi – House there is a Medressah of Nodir Devanbeghi, which was built in 1620. Some other important places include Bolo-Hauz ensemble (the beginning of the 18th-20th cc.) Chashma-i-Ayub Mazar (1380 or 1384/85) and Bukhara Emir Palace Sitoraiy-Mokhiy-Hosa (the end of the 19th century–the beginning of the 20th c.). It will be wonderful to have 3-4 days in Bukhara.
Then you go through the desert to the west of Uzbekistan, to the city called Urgench. It is 25 km from the extraordinarily important city of Khiva – it is an open-air museum
There is a legend that it was founded when Shem, son of Noah, discovered wealth at this place. His people called it Heivak, from which the name Khiva came. Khiva, one of the cradles of the world civilization, is also enlisted as a heritage of human value. It is one of the important centers on the Great Silk Road; this city celebrated its 2500th anniversary in 1997.
You enter through the gates of Ichon Kala (the inner town protected by brick walls some 10 m high), and you are in the ancient world. Its walls, minarets, mosques, and madrassahs preserve the enigma. Here are the names of the sights that you will visit: Islam: Huja Medressa & Minaret, Gates and Ichon Kala walls. Mohammed Amin Khan Medressa and Kalta MinorKuhna Ark Mohammed Rakhim Khan Medressa, Juma Mosque, and Minaret, Tosh-Hovli Palace, Pakhlavon Makhmud Mausoleum. One full day is enough to spend in Khiva.
We have much more to say, but it is impossible to put everything in this short article… But as it is said – “Seeing is believing!”
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