Tashkent
Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is the biggest city in Central Asia with population of 2,300.000 inhabitants. It is not only the administrative and political center of Uzbekistan but also a city of the most advanced scientific and educational establishments, modern enterprises and concert halls, international sport events, medieval architectural monuments and international class hotels. Tashkent is located in Chirchik valley by the foothills of the Western Tien Shan mountain range.
Tashkent ("a stone city') is known from the 2nd century B.C. as one of the settlements with well developed fortification system. It was an important starting point for trips to Fergana valley, Kashgar and China. It saw the conquerors from different parts of the world, experienced the periods of flourishing and declining, it has been a provincial town and a proud capital. At the end of the XIX century Tashkent became an administrative center of Turkestan general-governor of Russian Empire as a part of annexed territories. In 1930 Tashkent was proclaimed the capital of Uzbek Republic within the former USSR. Terrible earthquake in April 1966 changed the appearance of Tashkent completely. The city was rebuilt and nowadays it boasts the most original architectural complexes, beautiful green parks and majestic squares. |
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Samarkand
There are places in the world known to everybody for their unique location, or natural beauty, or rich history, or ancient architectural monuments, or distinguished persons born there. The places visited by people from all over the world, described by ancient historians and modern journalists so many times it makes it almost impossible to do it once again in one's own words. It seems that all the vivid descriptions and the precise words used by the others long ago.
Just try and hear the music in these comparisons - "The precious pearl of the East", "The focus point of the Universe", "The Rome of the East" and many others. One might say that court poets and historians knew their profession too well and could find proper words describing a new palace, or a favorite stallion, or a capital city to please a mighty ruler. Of course they could and did it! But no ruler could force people to include something into fairy-tales and legends against their will.
And God knows how many legends and fairy-tales describe this unique place! Fabulous stories told nightly by beautiful and smart Sheherazade to her husband are directly connected to the same place, and the name of the place is Samarkand. This ancient city saw enough to make a complete history of several countries. All major events that took place in the history of Sogdiana and Bactria, Persia and Arabia, China and India, Mongolia and Caucasus found its reflection in the fate of Samarkand. Alexander the Great and Scythians, Ghengis-Khan and Nadir Shah, Tamerlane the Great and Ulugbek, Zakhiriddin Babur and Sheibani Khan, Alisher Navoi and Omar Hayam - these are only few names associated with this place.
A lot remained of those glorious days to see - the majestic monuments, archeological artifacts, precious manuscripts and miniatures, crown jewelry and unique carpets. All this makes it worth coming to Samarkand at least once in lifetime. So add traditional hospitality of Uzbek people, blue sky, noisy and picturesque bazaars, forget about your hesitations and find yourself in Samarkand. |
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Bukhara
A city of numerous mosques and mausoleums, slender minarets and impressive medressahs, green parks and blue domes, bright sun and stocks' nests - Bukhara always attracted travelers like a lighthouse standing on the shore of the great sandy sea - the Kyzyl-Kum desert. For centuries Bukhara is a welcoming home for merchants and travelers, poets and philosophers, explorers and adventurers.
Stop to take a cup of refreshing green tea in a small teahouse next to Lyabi-Hauz (16th century), sit for a while in the shade of huge Poi-Kalon minaret (46 meters high), visit the Ark fortress (citadel of the last Emir) in the center of Bukhara, and take a ride to his elegant summer residence - Sittora-i-Mokhi-Khossa Palace (The Palace of the Moon and the Stars) at the suburbs of Bukhara, try to see the Samanids mausoleum at the sunset - intricate brickwork produces astonishing effect. These and dozens other unique places make Bukhara a real architectural gem.
Being in Bukhara do not miss a chance to see a traditional puppet show in the 17th century caravan-sarai, or to attend a folklore concert in Nadir-Divan-Beghi medrassah, have a dinner in local public bathhouse Hammom turned into a fashionable restaurant. One may stay in a small and cosy private hotel in the very center of old Bukhara, next door to Lyabi-Khauz, or in a modern 4-star Bukhara Palace hotel. |
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Khiva
The motherland of legendary Zaratushtra, a place where a book of Avesta was created 2700 years ago, a land of Scythian kings and queens who not once defeated mighty Persian rulers, a remote northern part on the Great Silk Route so rich with its distinguished sons, Al-Farabi and Al-Khorezmi among them, a city-museum in the open - ancient and eternally young Khiva - a wonder at the edge of the desert. Who might dare to miss it while travelling round Uzbekistan? Maybe those who did visit Khiva before?
Wrong assumption! Those who visited it once will come back again some day because the charms and attractive power of Khiva are irresistible. Doubt it? Then come and check it on yourself. A small town surrounded by huge walls erected of clay blocks with corner towers, massive entrance gates, and inside - another world: stone paved streets and squares, palaces and mosques, medrassahs and trading centers, mausoleums and minarets. All monuments in Khiva are carefully protected, beautifully restored and open to visitors. |
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Ferghana
The motherland of legendary Zaratushtra, a place where a book of Avesta was created 2700 years ago, a land of Scythian kings and queens who not once defeated mighty Persian rulers, a remote northern part on the Great Silk Route so rich with its distinguished sons, Al-Farabi and Al-Khorezmi among them, a city-museum in the open - ancient and eternally young Khiva - a wonder at the edge of the desert. Who might dare to miss it while travelling round Uzbekistan? Maybe those who did visit Khiva before?
Wrong assumption! Those who visited it once will come back again some day because the charms and attractive power of Khiva are irresistible. Doubt it? Then come and check it on yourself. A small town surrounded by huge walls erected of clay blocks with corner towers, massive entrance gates, and inside - another world: stone paved streets and squares, palaces and mosques, medrassahs and trading centers, mausoleums and minarets. All monuments in Khiva are carefully protected, beautifully restored and open to visitors. |
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