Attractions of Uzbekistan

Abdulazizkhan Madrassah City: BukharaIn 1652, opposite Ulugbek Madrassah, Bukhara’s ruler Abdulazizkhan ordered to build in so called “kosh” technique a new madrassah, whose grandeur and luxury of decoration had to surpass all other madrassahs built before. And indeed, though the general design of the madrassah followed the 15th century architectural canons, the great dimensions and rich decoration allowed this structure to be ranked with t… Abdulkasim Madrassah City: TashkentIn Tashkent`s public green space situated between two busy wide roads lined with high blocks of flats, just behind "Istiqlol" Palace, there is a remarkable old building. This is Abdulkasim Madrassah, whose carved doors are always open for visitors interested in antiques and Uzbek traditional arts and crafts. Here are the workshops of the craftsmen working under the aegis of The International Fund Oltin … Abdullakhan Madrassah City: BukharaThe Kosh-Madrassah complex consists of two madrassahs. Twenty-three years after the completion of Modari-Khan Madrassah in 1590 there was built Abdullakhan Madrassah. Its facade virtually resembles facade of Modari-Khan Madrassah standing across the street; only its huge peshtak portal towers over the surrounding structures. The portal and the corner guldasta towers are richly decorated with intricate ge… Abdullakhan Tim City: BukharaIn Asia trade has always been considered a respectable occupation. In Noble Bukhara there were always busy bazaars and the doors of the shops lining the streets stood invitingly open. Yet in the 16th century they also started to build in the town huge roofed shopping passages. Such a passage was called tim. One of them still exists. It is Abdullakhan Tim, named after its constructor, a ruler from the She… Abu Ali Ibn Sino Memorial Museum City: BukharaIn the environs of Bukhara, there are many towns and villages whose age exceeds a thousand years. The village of Afshonalocated at a distance of a few kilometers from Bukhara is no exception. It is known that in 980 in this village, in the family of a tax collector, there was born a boy named Abu Ali Ibn Sino. The boy soon became a great scholar famous in both Asia and Europe where he is most commonly kn… Ak-Saray Palace City: ShakhrisabzSeveral monumental buildings were built in Shakhrisabz in the time of the Temurids. The most magnificent of them is Ak-Saray Palace. Its fantastic ruins can be seen from afar and make a deep impression. Amir Temur meant to make Shakhrisabz the second capital of his empire, no less sumptuous than Samarkand. The construction of the palace was started in 1380 and lasted more than 25 years. It is known t… Akshi-Bobo Bastion and Kurnysh-Khan's Palace City: KhivaOver the ancient Khiva’s Kunya-Ark Citadel, on the fortification adobe wall with two semi-turrets, rises a two-tier ayvan- a pavilion-like structure. It is called Akshi-Bobo (‘An Old Man in Love’) or, sometimes, Akshih Bobo (‘White Sheikh’). Now it is hard to guess what gave rise to these names. Somehow or other, the names make one think that high behind the cogged walls a recluse was taking shelter. Howev… Amir Temur Monument and Square City: TashkentWelcome to Amir Temur Square and Monument in Tashkent. Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of Amir Temur Square and Monument in Tashkent. Amir Temur Square is the true center of the city, where stands a famous monument to Amir Temur. From here radiates main roads of the city to all corners of the country and neighboring states. Monument to Amir Temur in the square When y… Amir-Alim-Khan Madrassah City: BukharaEmir Seyyid Mir Mohammed Alim Khan was the last emir of the Emirate of Bukhara. He was also the last direct descendant of Genghis Khan to serve as a national ruler. He was overthrown in 1920 by the Red Army under the command of Bolshevik general Mikhail Frunze. This small medersa, now used as a children's library, was built under his reign right behind the Kalon Minaret. Despite being built in the 20th c… Ancient Settlement of Aksikent City: Ferghana Valley“In all Fergana no fort is as strong as Akhsi. Its suburbs extend some two miles further than the walled town”. This is how Zakhiriddin Babur, Temur’s descendant, conquerer of India and founder of the dynasty of Great Moghuls wrote about Aksikent in his book Baburnama. This ancient fortified residence of Ferghana rulers, known as Aksikent or Akhsi as it was called at that time, was built on the h… Ancient Settlement of Paykend City: BukharaIn Bukhara oasis today there are about 300 sites of ancient settlements and mounds, all covering up the remains of vanished towns and villages. Many of them are still waiting for their explorers, while some others, such as Varakhsha, Vardana and Paykend have been excavated and well studied, turning out to be real monuments to ancient civilizations. At a distance of 60 kilometers southwest of Bukhara lie … Ayaz-Kala Ancient Settlement City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)The ancient settlement Ayaz-Kala is situated at a distance of 20 kilometers to the northeast of Toprak-Kala, the capital of ancient Khorezm, between the drifting sands of the Kyzylkum Desert and the holy mountains Sultanuizdag. The choice of the site for this fortified settlement by its unknown builders deserves our admiration. Standing on a flat marbleized limestone hill, the fortress was… Bahouddin Naqshbandi Complex City: BukharaIn the suburbs of Bukhara there stands an architectural memorial to the great Sufi, hermit, and saint Sheikh Bahouddin Naqshbandi, who made an invaluable contribution to the formation and development of Central Asian progressive thought. Nakhsbandi was born to a family of a weaver in a small village near Bukhara in 1318. Early in life he excelled at weaving of patterned silk fabrics. So it was not withou… Barak-Khan Madrassah City: TashkentClose to Khazret Imam Square there stands Barak-Khan Madrassah – one of the most remarkable medieval architectural monuments. The height of its portal, decorated with majolica and glazed tile mosaic, is accentuated by a deep lancet niche with little decorative arches. At the corners of the façade is lined with guldasta towers with little domes. Behind the doors with intricate engravings is a small recta… Bibi-Khanum Mosque City: SamarkandThe grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times is the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum. Its construction started in 1339, after Temur’s victorious campaign to India, and lasted up to 1404: that is, for those times the work was completed within a rather short time. The best architects, craftsmen, stonemasons and artists from Samarkand as well as from the countries Temur had subdued, laboured at the … Bolo-Khauz Mosque City: BukharaTo the west of Ark Citadel, long before Bukhara was conquered by the Arabs, there had emerged a busy city center – Registan square. In the 17th century the area on the approaches to the square used to be occupied by rows of market shops. One of the caravan roads, connecting Bukhara and Khorezm, led to the square from Dashtak city gates. Thus here the merchants did a brisk trade in cereals, fabrics, weapo… Buddhist Cult Centers Koratepa and Fayaztepa City: TermezTo the northwest of Old Termez., on the left bank of the Amu Darya river, there is a three-head hill. The local people call it Koratepa, which means “Black Hill”. From its southern, the highest point one can clearly observe the citadel, surrounded by walls, and the ruins of the ancient town. The first archeological excavations took place at Koratepa in 1936. They proved thatcenturies-old loess cultural la… Buddhist Stupa Zurmala City: TermezTo the southeast of the ancient site of Old Termez, on the side of the road leading to the Surkhandarya Province central city, rise the remains of what is called Zurmala Tower. Archeologists took interest in the structure long ago. In as far back as 1926 they came out with the suggestion that it must have been a Buddhist stupa. A thorough exploration carried out 50 years later proved that it was a cult st… Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum City: BukharaChashma-Ayub Mausoleum is located near the Samanids Mausoleum, by the ruins of an ancient fort. The pointed silhouette of its hipped roof looks conspicuous among the domes of Bukhara mosques and madrassahs. This mazar – burial ground appeared in the 12th century beside the spring that is associated with the biblical prophet Job, called Ayub in Asia.According to the legend, in ancient times Saint Ayub cam… Chor-Bakr Necropolis City: BukharaAccording to one of Bukhara ancient popular beliefs, if within one day a person manages to make pilgrimages to fourmazars (graves) of the saints named Bakr, any wish of his will come true. That is why Chor-Bakr necropolis, which means ‘four Bakrs’, is so popular in the Islamic world. The necropolis grew around the much revered tomb of Abu Bakr Sayed in the village of Sumitan near Bukhara. The origin of t… Chor-Minor Madrassah City: BukharaAmong the large number of Bukhara’s monuments Chor-Minor Madrassah stands out for its extraordinary design. Its four minarets, standing very close to each other; look from afar like buds of mysterious azure flowers. At closer survey they appear to be tall and strong towers, illusively “pressing” a domed cubical building. The entrance to the madrassah has a tall portal. Similar portal once decorated the e… Chorsu Bazaar City: TashkentTashkent Chorsu Bazaar is one of the largest in Central Asia. Under seven huge domes covered with colored glazed tiles are the pavilions where farmers sell their produce. In the fruit and vegetable sections you are dazzled by the abundance and variety of the merchandise. On the stalls are piles of ruddy apples and honey-tasting pears, fuzzy peaches, prunes, large quinces, and bunches of black, pink and … Chorsu covered market City: ShakhrisabzShakhrisabz is one of the ancient cities on the Great Silk Road. It is located on the crossroad of brisk caravan routes leading to Samarkand, Tashkent and the Ferghana Valley, and via Termez to Iran and Asia Minor. However, Shakhrisabz was not only a staging post for the merchants bringing their goods. Since olden times it was renowned for its pottery made of local red clay; there were lots of weaver… Courage Memorial City: TashkentAmong the large number of Tashkent monuments Courage Memorial deserves special attention. It is dedicated to the events that took place almost 50 years ago and left a deep trace in Tashkent’s history. On the granite podium of the monuments stands a black labradorite cube. One of its sides contains the engraved inscription: April 26, 1966; on another side there is the engraved image of a clock-face whose… Dakhma-i-shakhan Royal Cemetery City: Ferghana ValleyAs is well known 29 khans reigned over Kokand khanate. But possibly only during the reign of Umarkhan there was peace and tranquility in the country. Though he ascended the throne in 1810 through a coup d’etat, his aspirations were directed toward enlightening of his people and development of his land. Many calligraphers, painters, and poets worked at the royal court. Umarkhan himself was a rathe… Dalverzintepa Site City: TermezDalverzintepa Site, located at a distance of 60 kilometers from Termez takes a special place among the many monuments of Kushan times in the south of Uzbekistan. Once a large Kushan town, the center of Saganian Province lying on one of the most important Great Silk Roads, it occupied the area of 36 hectares. The ruins of its surviving fortification walls stretch for about 2.5 kilometers in length and are … Dorus Saodat memorial complex. Jahangir’s mausoleum. City: ShakhrisabzAlongside with the construction of Ak-Saray palace, in 1380 they started building one more monumental construction – Dorus Saodat complex. Of this complex there survived to our days only two constructions: Jahangir’s mausoleum and crypt for Temur, where he was never buried. A dismal event motivated Temur to start building the memorial complex. In 1376 his eldest son Jahangir, whom the ruler loved dea… Dorut-Tillavat complex with Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum City: ShakhrisabzTo the south-west of Dorus-Saodat ensemble, upon elevated part of Shakhrisabz, which was the nucleus of urban area of ancient Kesh, there stands the architectural complex of Dorut-Tillavat. It started to develop beyond the ancient Barlas clan’s mazar, where Temur’s father – Emir Taraghay was buried after his death in 1361. The ensemble consists of Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum, Gumbazi-Seyeedon Mausoleu… Gumbazi-Seyeedon Mausoleum City: ShakhrisabzTwo years later after the construction of the Kok-Gumbaz Mosque had been accomplished, Ulugbek ordered to construct a burial-vault, subsequently known under the name of Gumbazi-Seyeedon Mausoleum – ‘Dome of the Seyeeds’, right against the southern wall of Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum. Thus the Dorut-Tillavat architectural ensemble was completed. A small, graceful, one-chamber mausoleum is crowned by a … Guri-Amir Mausoleum City: SamarkandGuri Amir Mausoleum – Amir Temur’s burial-vault is one of the best samples of the medieval Oriental architecture and one of the most significant monuments of Temurides’ times. Its construction was initiated by Amir Temur in the autumn of 1404. The mausoleum was originally intended for Muhammad Sultan, Temur’s beloved grandson and successor, who had died in Iran in 1403. The place for internment of the … Gyaur-Kala Ancient Settlement City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)The flat top of the west hill of Mizdakhan Complex, located near Hojeyli, Karakalpakstan, is crowned with the majestic ruins of ancient settlement Gyaur-Kala. Impressive even today, the 10-meter-high fortress walls run along the edges of the steep cliffs of the hill. Within the walls there are complex labyrinth-like remains of two citadels dating back to different epochs. The earliest of t… Hakim at-Termezi Architectural Complex City: TermezOn a high bank of the Amudarya river, next to the southwestern walls of the ancient citadel of Old Termez rise the blue domes of Hakim at-Termezi architectural complex. Medieval Uzbekistan gave the world many eminent people. Among them was Isa Mahammad ibn Savra ibn Musa ad-Dahhak as-Sulami, known in Islamic world as Imam at-Termezi. He was the founder of the Sufi order Hakimi – “the order of the wise men… Historical and Archeological Complex Mizdakhan City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)Mizdakhan is a complex of historical monuments located on three hills and a plane between them. The flat top of the west hill is crowned with the ruins of Gyaur-Kala Fortress, built in the 4th century BC. This fortress was used to defend a large town that occupied the eastern hill. Scholars identify Mizdakhan with the town Mazda built in honor of Akhura-Mazda - the main fire-worshippers’ d… Imam Al-Bukhari Complex City: SamarkandIn Hortang village, located in twelve kilometers from Samarkand, there is one of the relics of the Moslem world - Imam Al-Bukhari Memorial Complex. The outstanding Sunni theologian Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail Abu Abdallah Al-Bukhari is known as the author of the most authoritative book after the Koran - "Al-Jami-al-Sahih" whichj is a collection of the most authentic hadiths (Moslem traditions). Imam Al-Bu… Independence Square City: TashkentTashkent residents have all the reasons to be proud of their Mustakillik Maidoni (‘Independence Square’), which is another city’s attraction. Wide granite stairs coming up between the cascades of 7-meter-high squirts of the fountains lead to a huge colonnade that in an arc-form manner flanks the square in the east. The 16 white marble columns with capitals in the form of the traditional sharafa-stalacti… Islam-Hojja Minaret City: KhivaIslam Hojja Madrassah and Minaret is a peculiar architectural complex. The madrassah features a large domed hall and 42hujras (rooms for students). Next to the madrassah there stands Uzbekistan’s highest minaret. The history preserved the name of its architect – Usto Khudaibergen Hojji. Islam Hojja Minaret is a huge brick tower, circular in section. Being 56 metres in height, it surpasses the Kalyan minare… Jambas-Kala City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)One hundred and sixty kilometers northward from Urgench on the territory of Ellikala District of Karakalpakstan there lies one of the most remarkable Central Asian antique monuments – ancient fortified settlement Jambas-Kala, which dates back to the 4th century B.C. The fortress was built on a barren upland which closes a chain of hills stretching south-east from Sultanuizdag mountains. Co… Jami Madrassah City: Ferghana ValleyIn Andijan, one of the ancient cities in the Ferghana Valley, just few medieval monuments have survived to present day. After all, more than once during its 2000-year-old history the city was almost completely destroyed by earthquakes. However,among the buildings that managed to escape destruction caused by natural disasters, there should be mentioned Jami architectural complex which covers an ar… Jami Mosque in Andijan City: Ferghana ValleyAt the turn of the 19th-20th centuries in the western part of Jami complex there was constructed a Friday mosque. Contemporaries were impressed with its huge dimensions: the main façade alone had twenty-six arch openings. So far the Andijan Jami Mosque has been considered the largest mosque in the Fergana Valley. The layout of the mosque is typical for this region: a symmetrical composition consi… Jami Mosque in Kokand City: Ferghana ValleyIn the 18th-19th centuries, when Kokand became the metropolis of a strong and powerful state, many big, attractive mosques were constructed in the city. From written sources it is known that in the capital of the Kokand khanate there were 230 neighbourhood and 18 Friday mosques. The construction of Jami Mosque, the biggest in the city, was completed in 1818. But its erection was initiated long be… Juma Mosque and its Minaret City: KhivaThe main Friday-prayer Juma Mosque stands out among numerous Khiva’s mosques as having a design distinct from other Central Asian structures of its kind. Contrary to the tradition, it has no high portals, entrance arches and domes. It’s a one-story building surrounded by a solid blank wall with three doors. This design can be explained by the fact that during its construction in the early 18th century, the… Kalta-Minor Minaret City: KhivaIn Khiva there are up to 50 mosques and almost as many minarets. These towers, creating a fanciful and scenic townscape, seem to step to the modern life directly from the Middle Ages. The most extraordinary among them, at least in respect of its shape, is Kalta-Minor minaret, which means “short tower” In the middle of the 19th century ambitious ruler Mukhammad-Aminkhan conceived the idea of building the bi… Kalyan Minaret City: BukharaOn approaching Bukhara, travelers can see far in the distance Kalayn Minaret, towering over hardly noticeable buildings of Bukhara. In the Middle Ages the caravans that traveled hundreds of miles along the Great Silk Road used the minaret as a landmark, which is natural enough as the word ‘minaret’ is derived from Arabic minora, meaning ‘lighthouse’. In wartime, from the top of the minaret the guards wat… Kalyan Mosque City: BukharaFriday-prayer Kalyan Mosque is one of the ancient buildings of Poi-Kalyan Square. The chief mosque of any Muslim town is not just a temple but is also a public life center. But Bukhara’s chief Friday-prayer mosque, which was built after Islam had been established in the town, had really no luck. It was repeatedly relocated, a couple of times its roof collapsed, killing the praying people inside. Only whe… Khalchayan Site City: TermezTime and again the attention of archeologists has been attracted to a few mounds located north of Dalverzintepa site, at Khalchayan village, near the town of Denau in Surkhandarya Province of Uzbekistan. The archeologists surmised that under the mounds there were buried ancient settlements. The excavations on the largest mound, which were carried out in the 1960s, revealed the ruins of an antique palace b… Khazrat Imam Complex City: TashkentIn the old Tashkent residential neighborhood called Sibzar, lies Khazrat Imam Square with a complex of architectural monuments that sprang up here in the course of several centuries. Scientists believe that early in the Middle Ages this place was the town’s center, which was then called Shash. The ensemble of the monuments began to take its shape around the burial-place of Kaffal ash-Shashi, the first T… Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum City: ShakhrisabzNext to the memorial complex of Dorus-Saodat there stands one more monumental construction of the Temurids’ time – Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum. Imam Muhammad Ben Khusein Sheybani nicknamed Khazrat (Saint) Imam Baghdadi lived in Iraq in the 13th – beginning of the 14th century and after death he was buried in the city of Ray. In 1384 Amir Temur seized the city without meeting any resistance on the part of … Khudoyar-khan's Palace (Kokand Urda) City: Ferghana ValleyOne of the main attractions of Kokand is its citadel – Urda, more known as Khudoyar-khan’s palace. According to historical chronicles, 29 khans reigned in Kokand within 150 years, but the most famous among them was the last khan, Khudoyar-khan. He succeeded to the throne in 1845, when he was a 12-year-old boy, and became the brother-in-law of powerful military leader Mingboshi Musulmonkul. During… Kibla Tozabog – Khiva Khan's summer residence City: KhivaIn Khiva time has spared about 50 ancient madrassahs and just a few khans’ palaces. All of them are of certain interest to tourists since they vividly show the architectural tendencies characteristic of Khorezm over several centuries. It was Khan Muhammad Rakhim II, «a poet on the throne», known in Uzbek Literature as Firuz, who initiated the construction of Kibla Tozabog summer residence with its orchards… Kok-Gumbaz Mosque City: ShakhrisabzIn 1435 in Dorut-Tillavat that stands opposite Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum there was constructed Kok-Gumbaz Mosque – the biggest cathedral Friday mosque in Shakhrisabz. The inscription on the portal announces that themosque was constructed by Ulugbek on behalf of his father Shakhruh. Kok-Gumbaz Mosque was built on the foundation of pre-Mongol construction. It is interesting that while building the mos… Kukeldash Madrassah City: TashkentKukeldash Madrassah in Chorsu Square ranks as the largest madrassah in Tashkent and one of the leading Moslem theological education establishments in the whole Central Asia. In this very place in the ancient times there was crossroads of caravan roads – ‘chorsu’, and the main town’s trading square was formed, surrounded by the workshops of craftsmen. Here public criers announced Khan’s decrees and the t… Kukeldash Madrassah City: BukharaKukeldash Madrassah of XVI century is the earliest building of the Lyabi Khauz Ensemble. It was buiult during the reign of the Sheybanids dynasty in Bukhara. This madrassah is the largest madrassah of the city (80 x 60 meters). The madrassah has over 130 hujras, where lived and studied more than 320 students. It became the symbol of powerful state under leading of Abdulla-khan. It is a two-storied buildi… Kunya-Ark Citadel City: KhivaKunya-Ark Citadel (‘Old Citadel’) abuts on Khiva’s fortification wall next to Ata-Darvoza gate. The citadel is the oldest remaining khan’s residence in Khiva. It occupies a large area by the western wall of Ichan-Kala (‘Inner Town’). The citadel was built in 1686 by order of Arang-Khan. It accommodated various fortifications, a gunpowder factory, an arsenal, a khan’s palace, a court and some other structur… Kutlug Murad Inak Madrassah City: KhivaAmong 20 Khiva’s madrasah that have preserved to the present day, Kutlug Murad Inak Madrassah is the oldest. Every Khiva’s ruler tried to inscribe his name upon the pages of history by building not only palaces and caravanserais but also mosques and madrassahs - higher Muslim schools. Kutlug Murad Inak Madrassah was built in 1809, during the reign of Khan Muhammad Rakhim I. That was the time when extensive… Kyrk-Kyz Hanaka City: TermezA popular legend about beautiful and brave Queen Gulyaeem narrates that once foreign tribes attacked her lands and defeated her army. All the men of her kingdom were either killed or captured. Then the queen gathered another army, but it consisted only of forty girls, the friends of Gulyaeem’s, who were as beautiful and brave as she was. They put on hauberk, picked up damask steel swords and mounted fast … Lyabi-Hauz Architectural Complex City: BukharaLyabi-Hauz architectural complex is located in the centre of Bukhara and consists of three monumental edifices. The complex possesses a distinctive character: contrary to conventional traditions of making city square or street junction the centre of an architectural complex, it was constructed around a large hauz (pond). Initially, in 1568, there was constructed Kukeldash Madrassah, whose monumentality o… Magoki-Attori Mosque City: BukharaIn the very center of the historical part of Bukhara there stands Magoki-Attori Mosque. Since the 16th century this building with two domes on faceted drums and a tall peshtak portal of the eastern façade has been known as a neighborhood mosque. The archeological excavations in the 1930s proved that the structure dates back to pre-Islamic time. At the beginning of the Common Era there used to be a fire t… Miri-Arab Madrassah City: BukharaAmong the large number of the madrassahs built in Bukhara in the 16th century Miri-Arab Madrassah stands out as a real masterpiece. It was built on an elevated platform right across from the Kalyan Mosque. This architectural technique, called kosh (‘coupled’), was quite common in the Middle Ages. After Miri-Arab Madrassah had been constructed, Poi Kalyan Square (‘The Foot of Great’) reached its logical c… Modari-khan Madrassah City: BukharaTo the south-west from Ark, on the ancient Khiyobon street, which once ran to the city gate Shir-Garon, stands the architectural complex Kosh-madrassah, consisting of two madrassahs whose facades are located on the same line. Koshmeans ‘coupled’. This architectural design was frequently used in Asia in the Middle Ages. Kosh-madrassah was completed in the second half of the 16th century, during the rule o… Modari-khan Mausoleum City: Ferghana ValleyThe history of Modari-khan mausoleum is connected with the Nadira- the famous Uzbek poetess. The wife and the mother of Kokand khans, she continued to play a notable role in the life of the court even after the death of her husband. Her verses became the most valuable possession of the Uzbek poetry, whereas the buildings constructed by her orders have become the main attractions of Kokand. When s… Monumental Shopping Arcades City: BukharaOn the main streets of medieval Bukhara they used to build domed shopping arcades. Three of them, built in the 16th century, have survived to the present day. Toki Zargaron (‘Dome of Jewelers’) is located at the intersection of two arterial roads next to Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrassah. Tok means ‘an arch’ or ‘a vault’; this word was also used to call the street shopping arcades. The four vaulted p… Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah City: KhivaNear Ata-Darvoza Gate, at the entrance to Ichan-Kala (“Inner Town”) there is a small square that developed in front of the southern walls of Kunya-Ark Citadel. Here, the construction of Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah was completed in 1855. Its majestic portal, two-storey arched outhouses and corner guldasta towers are covered with decorative majolica. Adjoining the madrassah, stands the unfinished blue Kalta-… Muhammad Rakhimkhan Madrassah City: KhivaTo the east of the square that lies at the foot of Kunya-Ark Citadel there stands Muhammad Rakhimkhan Madrassah. Khan Muhammad Rakhim II was known as an enlightened monarch. He supported poets and scholars. He himself composed poetry under the pen-name Firuz. Under his patronage there was implemented a reform of traditional education, which resulted in opening of new type of schools where not only Arabic a… Museum of Applied Arts City: TashkentOn a quiet Tashkent street, hidden from the city’s noise in one of the neighborhoods, a passerby will notice a building with Uzbek traditional ayvan terrace decorated with beautifully carved columns. This is the Museum of Applied Arts. It occupies the building whose construction was commissioned by Alexander Polovtsev, a wealthy tsarist diplomat of Turkestan Governor-General’s Office. A connoisseur of O… Muynak: a graveyard of ships City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)They say that cosmonauts were the first of the humans to see the Aral Sea split into two basins. But it took years before the geographical maps began to picture this extraordinary event in the life of our planet. The Aral Sea is relatively young water body. According to one of the hypotheses it appeared about 10 thousand years ago. Twice during its lifetime it grew shallow, but each time i… Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah City: BukharaNadir Divan-begi Madrasah is a part of the architectural complex located round well-known Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara. The madrasah building, as well as khanaka nearby, were named after vizier Nadir by whose order they were constructed. Vizier Nadir served at a court yard of one the strongest and powerful representatives of Ashtarkhanid dynasty Imamkuli-khan, who ruled in Bukhara in 1611-1642. The board of Ima… Narbuta-bey Madrassah City: Ferghana ValleyIn Kokand in the 19th century, according to eyewitness accounts, there were 40 madrassahs – Islamic high schools. Unfortunately, just few of them survived to the present day. Among them is the city’s largest Narbuta-bey madrassah. Chorsu Square in mid-18th century and the construction was completed in 1799. By this time the Kokand khan defeated the ruler of Bukhara and took many captives, includi… Nurullabay's Palace City: KhivaDishan-Kala (Khiva’s ‘Outer Fortress’) has a number of remarkable monuments. One of them is Nurullabay’s Palace, whose foundations were laid by Muhammad Rakhimbay II in 1906. The construction of the palace was completed in 1912. The palace complex has a few courtyards and gardens, a special chamber arz-khona where the ruler rendered justice, ceremonial and living chambers, and a reception hall. By traditio… Pahlavan Mahmud Complex City: KhivaNear Juma Mosque, inside a labyrinth of narrow streets, there towers a large turquoise dome with a kuba golden ball. This is the dome of Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. The people have always honoured pahlavans - strong men. A genuine pahlavan deserved a legend of his own. Pahlavan Mahmud from Khorezm was the one who was given such an honour. He was furrier by trade, a hercules by build, a philosopher by spirit… Registan Square City: SamarkandIn the Middle Ages Samarkand was called ‘the Heart of the Great Silk Road’, and Registan Square was called ‘the Heart of Samarkand’. Registan Square is the main sight both of Uzbekistan and Central Asia as a whole. Situated in the elevated part of the city, this square with an ensemble of three madrassahs was built about 600 years ago. Very few cities in the world can boast of a square with the buildin… Rukhabad Shrine City: SamarkandThe Rukhabad shrine is one of the earliest constructions that remained intact in Samarkand from the epoch of Amir Temur. It was constructed in the 80-s of the 14th century, precisely on the same axis as Amir Temur's burial-vault. A magnificent shady avenue and a road paved with marble slabs used to connect these two constructions. The mausoleum was erected over the tomb of the well-known Samarkand myst… Savitsky Art Museum (The Karakalpak State Museum of Art named after Igor Savitsky) City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)Nukus – the capital of Karakalpakstan – is a young modern city founded in 1932. There are no historical or architectural monuments here, and its main attraction is the Karakalpak State Museum of Art named after Igor Savitskiy. Due to its unique collections of exhibits, this ‘museum in the desert’, as it is called by world well-known art experts, enjoys the public estimation far beyond the … Seyyid Allauddin's Mausoleum City: KhivaAround the hill with Kunya-Ark Citadel on top, there cluster many architectural monuments. The oldest of them is the sheikh Seyyid Allauddin’s Mausoleum. According to historical sources, the sheikh’s disciple Emir Kulyal built this modest mausoleum in the 15th century. The mausoleum only structure that survived is gurkhona cubical building of the burial vault, made of burnt bricks. The western entrance of … Shahi-Zinda Necropolis City: SamarkandShahi-Zinda Necropolis is one of the most visually stunning architectural monuments of Amir Temur’s times in Samarkand. Initially the necropolis started at the end of the 9th century in the outskirts of Afrosiab, near the shrine of holy Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Mohammed. Yet mausoleums continued to appear near the sacred site as far as the mid-15th century. Kusam ibn Abbas was killed in… Shash-Tepa Ancient Settlement City: TashkentThere are about 240 archeological monuments in Tashkent – Uzbekistan’s capitalt. The oldest of them is believed to be the ancient Shash-Tepa settlement, which is situated within the precincts of the city near Southern Railway Station. Apart from being the oldest monument in Tashkent Province, Shash-Tepa has the only fire-worshippers’ temple discovered by the archeologists on the territory of the provinc… Sheikhantahur Complex City: TashkentOne hundred years ago today’s Navoiy Street, one of the widest and most beautiful avenues of Uzbek capital, was called Sheikhantahur Street. It had been named after Sufi sheikh Khavendiy at-Takhur (Sheikhantahur), very much respected by Moslems. His mausoleum is located in this part of the city. The memorial of at-Takhur is believed to be the oldest structure in Tashkent. It was built over the grave of … Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace City: BukharaOf the numerous country palaces of Bukhara rulers there survived the best of them: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of the last Bukhara emirs. The palace is located at a distance of 4 kilometres north from Bukhara, by the road that runs to Gijduvan. The first structures in this picturesque area were built in the mid-19th century during the rule of Emir Nasrullakhan. In the 1880s, his successor … Sultan-Saodat Memorial City: TermezIn some Termez monuments rather apparent is the spirit of generations’ continuity, the memory of the bright history of Surkhandarya. One of them, honoring the memory of ancestors, is Sultan-Saodat Mamorial, which is located in three kilometers from Old Termez Site. Four hectares in area, the Sultan-Saodat complex consists of 143 structures. The earliest mausoleum, built in the northern part of the complex… Tash-Hauli Palace Complex City: KhivaTash-Khauli Palace Complex of Khiva’s khans is one of the best examples of Asian secular architecture of the 19th century. The building activities on the site started in 1831 and it took the architects Tajiddin and Kalandar 10 years to complete the construction. Tash-Hauli (‘Stone Yard’) is situated at Palvan-Darvoza Gate and is a huge complex incorporating splendid ceremonial and living structures enclose… Tashkent Street – the street of craftsmen City: SamarkandFrom Registan square there runs one of the most ancient Samarkand streets – Tashkent Street. In the old days it was one of the major caravan roads connecting Samarkand with Tashkent oasis, Fergana Valley and China. Trade has been carried on in this street since the times of Amir Temur. Thus it is not without reason that at the very beginning of this street, next to the walls of Sher-Dor Madrassah, ther… Tashkent TV Tower City: TashkentTashkent TV tower can be seen from almost everywhere in the city; it comes into view from behind every structure. The height of the tower is 375 meters, which is 75 meters higher than that of the famous Eiffel Tower. The weight of this “Tashkent Beauty” is 6,000 tons, which is 3,000 tons less than Eiffel’s structure. The lightness of local tower is especially noticeable if you compare the silhouettes of… The Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre City: TashkentTheater Square with its shady chestnut alleys, well-groomed flowerbeds and cooling fountains has been for a long time one of the favorite rest places of Tashkent’s residents. In the center of the square stands the building of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. Its appearance elegantly blends the design philosophy of a classical theater building and traditions of oriental architecture. Huge slig… The Ancient Settlement of Afrosiab City: SamarkandThe ancient settlement of Afrosiab is situated on the spurs of Chupan-Ata hills to the north-east of present-day Samarkand. According to the legend, it was here, on the banks of the river Siab, that Turanian king and hero Afrosiab, a character of the folk epic ‘Shahnama’, founded the town that became the capital of Sogdiana. The first excavations on Afrosiab site took place at the end of the 19th centu… The Ancient Settlement of Old Termez City: TermezAs the ancient Greek astronomer and geographer Claudius Ptolemy wrote in his treatise Geographia, Alexander the Great set out to conquer Bactria after having subjugated Sogdiana. On the right bank of the river Amu Darya, then known as the Oxus, at the river convenient crossing spot, he built a fortress town - Alexandria Oxiana. After Greeks left the region, nomads destroyed the fortress. One hundred years… The Ark Fortress City: BukharaIt is a common practice that where there’s a palace, there’s a jail. The Ark, a medieval citadel in Bukhara, is not an exception.Right behind its massive gates with a turret on either side is a gloomy roofed corridor, dalon, with 12 entrances to the cells prisoners used to languish in. At the end of the corridor there was Emir’s throne-room and a reception hall for ceremonies. Actually, they were parts o… The Hazrat-Hyzr Mosque City: SamarkandThe Hazrat-Hyzr mosque is located on a hill almost opposite the Kusam ibn Abbas mazar (graveyard) in Tashkent Street. The building was constructed in 1823 and according to one vakuf document (document of endowment) it was integrated withKusam ibn Abbas mazar into one complex. Both constructions were once connected by a lane. The building of the mosque was constructed in accordance with the so-called “a… The Maturidiy Shrin City: SamarkandIn the old part of Samarkand one can visit the Maturidy shrine. Abu Mansur Al-Maturidiy is one of the first theorists of the Islam religion. He immortalized his name as an originator of the Islam philosophical fundamentals doctrine. Subsequently this doctrine got the name «Maturidia» and gained wide popularity. Al-Maturidiy’s fundamental research in the field of theology and Sheriyat fundamentals, titl… The Relic of Three Religions City: SamarkandOn the steep bank of the Siab River in the northern suburb of ancient Afrosiab settlement there is a tomb of Hajji Daniyar. He is equally held sacred by the followers of Moslem religion, by the Jews and Christians (under the name of prophet Daniel). According to the Bible, Daniel was a descendant of King Solomon and was born in the 6th centuries B.C. inJerusalem. He served at court of King Nebuchadnezz… The Samanids Mausoleum City: BukharaThe Samanids Mausoleum is the oldest Bukhara’s structure, which remained intact to the present day. It was built in the late 9th – early 10th centuries for Ahmed ibn Asad by order of his son Amir Ismail Samani, the founder of the first centralized state in Central Asia. Later he himself was interred in the mausoleum. In 943 the body of Ismail’s grandson Nasr was also committed to the ground in this buria… The Siab Bazaar City: SamarkandFrom time immemorial on the extensive area in front of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, next to the main city gate, there has been a bazaar. And today the Siab bazaar - the city’s biggest and the most ancient market– is full of hustle and bustle. It welcomes the customers with abundance of fruit and vegetables growing in the fertile Zarafshan valley. Pyramids of water-melons and melons, bags with walnuts, seedless … The Tashkent Metro City: TashkentThe famous formula of architectural trinity – durability, usefulness, and beauty – is perfectly embodied in such a complex and monumental structure as the Tashkent Metro. Of course, Tashkent underground system cannot come up with New York Subway and Moscow Metro in terms of total length of lines and number of metro station. However, this transportation network is a peculiar attraction of Uzbekistan’s ca… The sixteenth century bathhouses. Hamom City: BukharaIn Bukhara there survived some rather interesting monuments of the medieval civil architecture. Among them are oriental bathhouses – hamom. Built in the 16th century, under Emir Abdullakhan, they have deep-rooted traditions. Next to trading center Toki Sarrafon there is Hammomi-Sarrafon bathhouse, and not far away from Toki Telpakfurushon trading centre stands Hammomi Bozori-Kord bathhouse. These semi-ba… Toprak-Kala Settlement City: Nukus (Karakalpakstan)In the old days, wherever a traveler directed his horse the first things that loomed up before him on his way were the cogged walls of cities-fortresses. Of these forts only sand-buried ruins or remains of mud walls have survived to our time. The most impressive among them are the majestic ruins of the ancient fortified capital of antique Khoresm, known as Toprak-Kala. The origination of t… Ulugbek Madrassah City: BukharaAmir Temur’s son Mirzo Ulugbek, who ruled Movarounnahr in the first half of the 15th century, built three madrassahs. The first one was constructed in Bukhara in 1417. By that time Bukhara had been long since known as the capital of Islam theology. In the Orient at all times madrassahs were centers of science and education. It was no wonder that on the instructions of Ulugbek, a well-educated monarch who… Ulugbek's Observatory and Museum City: SamarkandIn the outskirts of Samarkand, on Kukhak hill, stands Ulugbek’s Observatory – a unique historical and architectural monument. Having inherited the power over Movarounnahr from Amir Temur, his grandson Mirzo Ulugbek successfully combined royal duties with scientific activities. He is known worldwide as the founder of the famous Samarkand astronomic school. His crowning achievement, which brought him int… University Boulevard City: SamarkandIn the very heart of Samarkand, for almost a kilometer from the hotels Afrosiab and President there stretches University Boulevard. In the shadows of century-old trees one can often see coveys of boys and girls with text-books and notes in their hands. This is not surprising, as one of the old constructions built up just along the boulevard is Samarkand State University, founded 80 years ago. It is the… Walls and Gates of Khiva City: KhivaThough Khiva is about 2500 years old, it acquired its present appearance in the 18th – early 20th centuries. Khiva consists of two urban parts: the inner town Ichan-Kala and the outer town Dishan-Kala. From the very beginning the core of the city –Ichan-Kala, rectangular in plan, was enclosed in fortification walls. For centuries these walls served ideally the purpose of the town’s defense. But in 1220 the… Zakhiriddin Babur architectural Complex City: Ferghana ValleyZakhiriddin Mohammad Babur was an outstanding writer, poet, and scholar, a talented military leader and statesman. He was born in 1483 in Andijan. He was the son of Omar Sheikh, ruler of the Ferghana principality, and descendent of Amir Temur. His mother, Mikhr Nigar, was the princess from Mogolistan. Being involved in internecine strife of numerous rulers who aspired after the power in his ances… Zartepa Site City: TermezZartepa surviving strong fortification walls with semicircular turrets rise not far from Old Termez site. As far back as the 2nd century BCE this ancient settlement was a large trading town, occupying the area of 16 hectares. The walls that surrounded the town were nine meters thick, and inside the walls there was a three-meter-wide corridor. In the middle of the eastern and western walls there were gates…