Uzbekistan is a bright, inspired country of the East. It is simply impossible to count all the mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums and minarets of the country. It is also impossible to convey their beauty. This is a must see.
Many roads of the Great Silk Road passed through Uzbekistan. On this road of wealth and contact of cultures, Uzbek cities grew. Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva are dotted with magical architecture, they captivate everyone who sees them at least once in their life.
You can endlessly describe the shrines and citadels of Uzbekistan, but besides this, it is rich in nature. Many tourists pass through the hot Kyzyl Kum desert and then travel to the picturesque Fergana Valley or Chimgan Mountains. There are all conditions for rest there.
Uzbekistan is an ideal country for a budget tourist who does not skimp on sights at all and will give an indescribable experience to everyone who wants to see its beauty or try the original Uzbek cuisine.
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What to see in Uzbekistan?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Tashkent city
This is the capital of Uzbekistan, it is one of the five largest cities in terms of population among the CIS countries. Ancient buildings, mosques, museums and madrasahs hide between modern buildings and skyscrapers. And colorful bazaars and markets where you can buy everything are surrounded by modern shopping centers. Tashkent is a very civilized and modern city, ideal to start exploring the East.
Samarkand city
Samarkand was founded in the 8th century BC. This is one of the oldest cities on the planet. Samarkand has been a key point on the Great Silk Road for over two thousand years. It is a precious pearl of Asia, a combination of two worlds - West and East. It was an important political, scientific and cultural center, preserved a huge number of historical and cultural monuments. The entire city is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Registan Square in Samarkand
This is the heart of Samarkand. Once it was the center of city life, and after the construction of a beautiful architectural ensemble of the 15th-17th centuries, it became its pearl. Three madrasahs: Ulugbek, Shedror, Tillya-Kari surrounded the square. Their décor is varied, but they look great together. Today, various cultural events are held on the Registan, and tourists here begin their acquaintance with the city.
Bukhara city
This is another city that grew up on the Great Silk Road, which has become a real treasure of the East. It was founded 2500 years ago and has developed rapidly since then. Bukhara is called a city-museum. The main exhibits here are citadels, mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums. Some are over 1000 years old, and the Kalon minaret is about 2300 years old. The historical center of Bukhara is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Khiva city
A small town, the capital of the Khorezm region, which, according to legend, grew up around a well that was dug by one of Noah's sons. Khiva has a huge number of amazing shrines and buildings. The old city - Ichan Kala - was the first object in Central Asia, taken under the protection of UNESCO. For its thousand-year history, fortresses, palaces and mosques were built, which are now admired by tourists.
Ichan-Kala fortress in Khiva
This is the old city of Khiva, surrounded by a 2.5 km wall. Its height reaches 10 m, and its thickness is up to 6 m. Round defense towers are erected in the wall every 30 m. The city of less than 1 km² has an incredible number of attractions. Ichan-Kala is a typical oriental ancient city. It is dotted with lace, narrow, small streets leading to grandiose structures.
Aral Sea
It is a dying sea on the border between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Once it had huge natural resources and was a very attractive place to live. Due to the withdrawal of water from the rivers, which were the main source of food for the lake, it began to dry up. Today it is divided into two parts: South (Big) and North (Small). Once the Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world.
Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara
One of the squares of Bukhara, which was the center of trade, and now has become an object of admiration for tourists and local residents. The first building on the square, which has survived to this day, was built in 1569. It was the Kukeldash Madrasah - the largest madrasah in Central Asia. Then the Divan-Beri Madrasah and the Divan-Begi khanaka appeared on Lyabi-Hauz.
Ulugbek Observatory
Ulugbek made a huge contribution to world astronomy, explaining the basics of this science and indicating the coordinates of more than 1000 stars. His observatory began to be built in 1424 on the Kuhak hill, and after 5 years it was equipped with a goniometer with a radius of 40.21 m. The building itself was three-storey and had a height of 30.4 m. After the murder of Ulugbek, the observatory was abandoned. They found her only in 1908.
Bibi-Khanum Mosque in Samarkand
According to legend, Tamerlane, returning from the campaign with a victory, ordered to build a mosque in honor of his beloved wife. Construction began in 1399, after 5 years most of the work was completed. The best masters from Khorezm, India, Iran, the Golden Horde worked on the creation of the mosque. The building, grandiose in beauty and size, could accommodate 10 thousand people at the same time. The Bibi-Khanum Mosque is the largest in Central Asia.
Architectural monument Shahi Zinda
This is a complex of 14 mausoleums in which the Samarkand elite are buried. It was created over 9 centuries, constantly being completed. The ensemble is also called the cemetery street. The blue domes of mosques and mausoleums, which stretch one after another, resemble expensive necklaces from above. The last building of the complex is the entrance to the crypt. To see the mausoleums, you need to climb 36 steps.
Ark Citadel
This is the oldest building in Bukhara, rising on a hill, which was manually built by slaves. One and a half thousand years ago, a ruler lived in it, and the foundation of the fortress was laid in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. The citadel was the residence of not only the ruler, but also poets, scientists and philosophers. She survived many wars and absorbed the entire history of the east.
Gur-Emir (Tamerlane's Mausoleum)
Gur-Emir was built by order of Muhammad Sultan at the beginning of the 15th century. At first, the complex consisted of a madrasah, in which children of the Samarkand nobility and khanaka were taught. But after the sudden death of his grandson, the terribly grieving Amir Timur ordered to build a mausoleum, which was supposed to complement the Gur-Emir ensemble. Its interior decoration is rich and luxurious, with a blue mosaic domed dome at the top of the building.
Rukhabad mausoleum in Samarkand
The mausoleum was built in 1380 by the order of Amir Timur right above the grave of Burhannedin Sagaraja. He became famous for his enormous contribution to the spread of Islam among the nomads. To show respect, the ruler erected the Rukhabad mausoleum. He is not splendid or wealthy. Everything is very strict and simple, without excessive gloss. Amir Timur himself, passing by the mausoleum, always dismounted from his horse and walked on foot.
Mausoleum of the Samanids (Bukhara)
This is a striking representative of early medieval architecture. There are three burials in the mausoleum, one of them belongs to the son of Ismail Samani. The mausoleum was built in the 9th century. It has the symbolic shape of a cube with a dome, and its walls resemble an openwork ornament. All elements of the decoration merge together and represent a unique example of Central Asian architecture.
Minaret and mosque Kalyan in Bukhara
The Kalyan minaret and mosque are among the most beautiful architectural ensemble in the center of Bukhara. They are located in Registan Square. The Kalyan Minaret is the oldest building on the square, it was built in 1127. During its existence, it was almost never repaired.The Kalyan Mosque is the second largest in Central Asia, its construction was completed in 1514. It is beautifully decorated with mosaics.
Charvak reservoir
After the earthquake in 1966, there was an urgent need for cheap energy. It was decided to build the Charvak State District Power Plant. The dam, 168 meters high, formed a blue, picturesque mountain lake. But its beautiful waters have hidden important archaeological sites. Once upon a time there were ancient settlements at the bottom of the lake. Scientists have done research and photographed them, and now they have completely disappeared.
Amir Temur Square
Originally, Amir Temur Square, called Konstantinovsky Square, was laid by order of General Chernyaev in 1882. It was passable and was located at the intersection of two main streets of the city, which repeated the ancient trade routes. Subsequently, the square was modified many times. Only in 1994 it was renamed and a monument to Amir Temur was erected in it.
Tashkent TV tower
It is the second tallest structure and the tallest TV tower in Central Asia. Its height is 375 meters, it is visible from anywhere in the city. It was put into operation after 6 years of construction in 1985. There is an observation deck inside the TV tower, it is located at a height of 100 meters. A little higher, on two floors, there are restaurants. Their platform revolves around the tower. While eating, you can admire the views once again.
Kyzylkum Desert
This is one of the greatest deserts in Eurasia. Its area is 300 thousand km². Even in the shade, temperatures in it rise to 50 degrees, and the sand heats up to 70-80 degrees. The longest tourist route between Bukhara and Khiva runs through the Kyzyl Kum desert. Its length is 450 km. Some types of tulips and herbs grow in the desert, jackals, snakes and birds live.
Fergana Valley
Among the mountains, almost completely surrounded by green peaks, lies the Fergana Valley. Its territory is 22 thousand km ², and together with the area of the Tan-Shan mountains, it is almost 80 thousand. The valley is fed by the waters of the Syr Darya and Naryn, this is an ideal place for animal husbandry and earth science. There are several interesting cities on the territory of the valley, which tourists periodically visit.
Chimgan mountains
The mountains are located 80 km from Tashkent. The mountain range is relatively low, the average height of the mountains is 1500 meters, but it is considered one of the best places for winter holidays in Asia. The mountains are full of trails for skiers and hikers. There are also conditions for mountaineering. In summer, the meadows with flowers are amazingly beautiful. The mountain villages receive tourists and provide them with accommodation.
Chorsu Oriental Bazaar
Chorsu is located on Eski-Juva, the main square of Tashkent. This is an old colorful bazaar, which for centuries has been visited by traders of oriental sweets and spices. The bazaar is covered with an ornamented dome, which is designed to save you from the heat. It is customary to bargain at this bazaar. A friendly attitude will help you get the price down and make excellent purchases.
Ship graveyard in Muynak
Muynak was once one of the two main cargo and fishing ports of the Aral Sea. After the sea began to dry up, the fishery fell into disrepair. The city froze in decades past, clutching at the remnants of once profitable water. The main attraction is the cemetery of ships that are no longer needed. Rusted, abandoned ships can be touched or even climbed.
