Uzbekistan Travel

Uzbekistan is a land of historical cities were main points of trade on the Silk Road, linking Eastern and Western civilizations. Today the museums of Uzbekistan store over two million artefacts, evidence of the unique historical, cultural and spiritual life of the Central Asian peoples that have lived in the region. Uzbekistan is a treasure for tourists with its historical, archaeological, architectural and natural sites. And, it is brilliant opportunity to observe its culture, way of life and customs.

Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as rock-climbing, to exploration of its rich archaeological and religious history.

History

The history of Uzbekistan has witnessed important migrations that have changed the country's settlement due to the rise and fall of various dynasties and empires as well as powerful. It encompasses developments in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan from prehistory to the present. The territory of modern Uzbekistan was conquered by Alexander the Great, possessed by Early Turkic Khanates, converted by Arabs, ruled by Persians, raised by Turk Empires, destroyed by Mongols, restored by Timurids and finally became home of Uzbeks.

The territory of modern Uzbekistan was inhabited by Neanderthals back in the Palaeolithic. Uzbekistan is located in the interfluve, between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. These territory in medieval Arab and Central Asian sources was referred to as Maverannahr, in European sources - Transoxiana.

Uzbekistan is located in the centre of Central Asia, among the steppes, deserts and mountains, at the crossroads of major transport and trade routes. Uzbeks are the last link of this migration chain. Currently, Uzbekistan, the most densely populated independent country in the region, is trying to take its place in the ranks of the superpowers and to consolidate its self-identity. Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva were the main cities during the history and they are well-preserved to our days.

Samarkand

Samarkand is the city that is one of the administrative centre of the 12 provinces of Uzbekistan. It is located in the Zerefshan River valley, 275 km southwest of Tashkent. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan in terms of population, the most important city in terms of history and socio-cultural. Samarkand, which is among the oldest cities in the world with its history dating back 2500 years, has been an important settlement in terms of politics, economy and culture throughout history due to its location at an important junction of the Silk Road.

The city, which was founded by the Persians in the 6th century BC and became the centre of the Sogdiana region, was the centre of Sogdiana culture throughout the ancient period. Captured by Alexander the Great in 329 BC, the city continued to flourish during the Hellenistic period. After being conquered by Muslim Arabs in 711, it became one of the important cities of Islamic civilization. It was praised by eastern and western travellers as well as by Islamic geographers, and it was described in the sources as the dome of Islam and the foremost of the heavens on earth. The city was especially famous for its paper, and the best quality paper on Islamic lands was produced here. It was ruled by Iranian and Turkic dynasties until it was captured and destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1220. The period when Timur was the capital is considered the golden age of Samarkand. With the works commissioned by Timur and his sons and grandchildren in the 15th century, Samarkand became a city that hosts the best examples of Islamic architecture. Registan Square, where historical buildings that give Samarkand its magnificent appearance, took its present shape in the 17th century during the Bukhara Khanate.

Samarkand, which was occupied by the Russians in 1868 and became a part of the USSR, became the capital of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, which was established in 1924. It remained the capital of the Uzbek SSR until Tashkent became the capital in 1930.

Bibi Khanym mosque

Gur-Emir mausoleum

Registan

Ruins of Afrasiab

Shah-i-Zinda

Ulugh Beg

Bukhara

The city is located on one of the old Silk Roads, had around 235,500 inhabitants in 2008 and is now one of the most important trade and industrial centres in Central Asia. Most of the city's residents are Tajiks and speak Tajik, the Central Asian form of Persian, as their mother tongue.

Archaeological findings have shown that the history of the city is at least 2500 years. In the archaeological section studies carried out in the city, in the lower layer of about 20 m; various archaeological finds such as public buildings, military fortifications, pottery and coins were found. Bukhara, one of the oldest settlements in the region, has an ancient history mixed with legends, and its first inhabitants are Turks compared to en-Narshahi. The same author recorded that the legendary Turan sultan Afrasyab (Alper Tunga) lived in Bukhara from time to time, and even his tomb was found in this city, which is important in terms of indicating that the Turkish presence in the region dates back to ancient times.

It is seen that human settlements around Bukhara, which was a Turkmen city until the 16th century, date back at least 5000 years. The city itself has a history of 2500 years. In history, Central Asia has been an important centre for Turkish civilization. The first settlements in Bukhara, which was under the control of the ancient Persian Empire for a long time, coincide with the Aryan migrations.

The historical centre of Bukhara with its architectural works of art, including numerous mosques and madrasas, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

Not only with its ancient history, but also with its physical and geographical structure; its artistic and architectural texture; the wall and its castle; irrigation channels; its economic, agricultural and commercial potency; Bukhara, which made a name for itself in every period with its mansion, palace and markets, and the scholars and craftsmen it raised, remained under the rule of Turkish states for many years.

Although Transoxiana has many cities, towns, sub-districts and villages, the most popular and well-known of these is Bukhara. Muslims call it "Fahira" (precious) and accept it as the "Kubbetu'l-Islam" of the east.

Bahauddin complex

Char Minar

Lyab-i Hauz complex

Poi Kalan complex

The Ark Citadel

Bolo Haouz Mosque

Kalan Minaret

Khiva

Khiva is in the province of Khwarazm. It is an independent city and also the capital of a district of the same name. The city is located west of the Amu Darya on the old Silk Road.

Although the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in the travel books of two Arab travellers who lived in the 10th century, archaeological findings show that its history goes back to the 6th century. It became the capital of the Khiva Khanate in the early 17th century. Khiva, which came under the control of Russia in 1873, was made the centre of the Khwarazm Soviet Public Republic, which was established in place of the Khiva Khanate, which was overthrown by the Red Army during the October Revolution. In 1924, it lost its political importance when it was annexed to the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.

Historically, the city has always been of strategic importance due to its location on the route connecting India and Europe. Founded in the 6th century AD, Khiva 712 was conquered by Arab forces in the course of Islamic expansion, which led to the spread of Islam.

In the 10th century, Khiva was already an important trading town in Khwarazm. The Arab traveller and geographer al-Maqdisi, who toured the country in the same century, wrote: “Khiva is on the edge of the desert. It is a big city with an important Friday mosque”.

In 1220 the armies of Genghis Khan and in 1388 those of Timur conquered the city. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that the city of Khiva became the capital of the Khiva Khanate, founded in Khwarazm in 1511, the successor state of the old historical empire Khwarazm.

The city's fortifications were often destroyed during the frequent sieges. The last time this happened in 1740, when Khiva was conquered by the Persian Nadir Shah and the khanate was part of the Persian Empire for a short time.

Finally, in 1873, Khiva was captured by Russian troops. From 1920 to 1925 Khiva was the capital of the People's Republic of Khwarazm. Subsequently, the city was part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union, since 1991 it has belonged to the sovereign state of Uzbekistan. In 1997 Uzbekistan celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the city of Khiva.

There are palaces, mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums in the old city, which is surrounded by walls, known as the İchan (Inner) Fortress. It gained the appearance of a museum-city as a result of the conservation program implemented in the USSR period in the 1970s and 1980s, and was included in the World Heritage List in 1991.

Islam Khodja complex

Itchan Kala

Kalta Minaret

Kunya Ark

Kutlugmurat Anak

Alla Kuli Khan

Muhammad Rahim Khan

Muhammad Emin Khan

Pahlawan Mahmud

Tash Hauli

Juma Mosque

Territory & Nature

Nearly four-fifths of Uzbekistan’s territory, the sun-dried western area, has the appearance of a wasteland. In the northwest the Turan Plain rises 60 to 90 metres above sea level around the Aral Sea in Karakalpakstan. This terrain merges on the south with the Kyzyl-Kum Desert and farther west becomes the Ustyurt Plateau, a region of low ridges, salt marshes, sinkholes, and caverns.

Southeast of the Aral Sea, small hills break the flatness of the low-lying Kyzyl-Kum Desert, and, much farther east, a series of mountain ridges partition Uzbekistan’s territory. The western Tien Shan includes the Karzhantau, Ugam, and Pskem ranges, the latter featuring the 4,299-metre Beshtor Peak, the country’s highest point. Also part of the western Tien Shan are the Chatkal and Kurama ranges. The Gissar and Alai ranges stand across the Fergana Valley, which lies south of the western Tien Shan. The Mirzachol desert, southwest of Tashkent, lies between the Tien Shan spurs to the north and the Turkestan, Malguzar, and Nuratau ranges to the south. In south-central Uzbekistan the Zeravshan valley opens westward; the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara grace this ancient cultural centre.

The climate in Uzbekistan is continental, with little precipitation expected annually. Marked aridity and much sunshine characterize the region, with rainfall averaging only 8 inches (200 mm) annually. Most rain falls in winter and spring, with higher levels in the mountains and minimal amounts over deserts. The average summer high temperature tends to be 40 °C, while the average winter low temperature is around −23 °C.

It stretches 1,425 kilometres from west to east and 930 kilometres from north to south. Bordering Kazakhstan and the Aralkum Desert (former Aral Sea) to the north and northwest, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to the southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast, and Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Uzbekistan is one of the largest Central Asian states and the only Central Asian state to border all the other four. Uzbekistan also shares a short border (less than 150 km) with Afghanistan to the south.

It stretches 1,425 kilometres from west to east and 930 kilometres from north to south. Bordering Kazakhstan and the Aralkum Desert (former Aral Sea) to the north and northwest, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to the southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast, and Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Uzbekistan is one of the largest Central Asian states and the only Central Asian state to border all the other four. Uzbekistan also shares a short border (less than 150 km) with Afghanistan to the south.

Uzbekistan is home to six terrestrial ecoregions: Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe, Gissaro-Alai open woodlands, Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert, Central Asian northern desert, Central Asian riparian woodlands, and Central Asian southern desert.