CITIES
CITY TOURS IN UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan is an ancient cradle of Eastern civilizations. Here, some of the world's oldest shopping centers of the Great Silk Road and the luxurious capitals of the grandiose empires of Central Asia are preserved intact. Our sightseeing tours to Uzbekistan include visiting the most beautiful creations of man in Samarkand, Bukhara, and amazing Khiva. Colorful towns of the Ferghana Valley and discover the diversity of nature: from deserts to the majestic Tien Shan Mountains. It was the birthplace of the great general Tamerlane, under whom Samarkand became the capital of a gigantic kingdom stretching from the Indus to the Bosphorus. Khiva and Bukhara khanates-heirs of Tamerlane's glory-kept the relics of his victories and the remains of the warrior ruler themselves until the beginning of the XX century.
Samarkand
Samarkand is the second largest city in the country. It is interesting to see not only the world-famous monuments of the Tamerlane era, but also the city ensemble of the XIX—XX centuries, which is practically unknown to the general public. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, more than 2,750 years old. For more than two thousand years, the city was a key point on the Great Silk Road between China and Europe, as well as one of the main centers of science and architecture in the medieval East. Amir Timur (Tamerlane) made Samarkand the capital of his state. The main attractions belong to the Timurid era (1370-1499): the Ulugbek madrasah, a number of mausoleums and the grandiose Bibi-Khanim Mosque.
Since the XVI century, the city was subordinated to the Bukhara emirs. Although several significant structures were built in the middle of the 17th century, including the Sher-Dor madrasah, by the beginning of the 19th century, as a result of feudal strife, life in the city gradually declined. Samarkand received a new life after the annexation of Turkestan to the Russian Empire, when the city became the capital of the Samarkand province. Russian settlers actually built a new Russian quarter on the outskirts of the native city, which is still well preserved.
Samarkand is famous for its many historical and cultural monuments. With its blue-domed madrasahs, caravanserais decorated with facing tiles, magnificent mosques and complexes, Samarkand resembles an open-air museum. The city is referred to in ancient literature as Marakanda. There are many versions about the origin of the city's name. So, one of the legends connects this name with the name of a certain Samara, and the prefix "kand" can come from "kent", which means"city" in translation. Samarkand has been under the control of Persians, Greeks, Chinese, Arabs, Mongols, and Eastern Turks at various times in its history. During the reign of Emir Timur (Tamerlane), the city was the capital of his empire. Timur invited the best scientists, craftsmen, artisans and architects from all over the world to build the city. During the reign of Mirza Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson, Samarkand became a major cultural and scientific center.
Samarkand is famous for its many historical and cultural monuments. With its blue-domed madrasahs, caravanserais decorated with facing tiles, magnificent mosques and complexes, Samarkand resembles an open-air museum. The city is referred to in ancient literature as Marakanda. There are many versions about the origin of the city's name. So, one of the legends connects this name with the name of a certain Samara, and the prefix "kand" can come from "kent", which means"city" in translation. Samarkand has been under the control of Persians, Greeks, Chinese, Arabs, Mongols, and Eastern Turks at various times in its history. During the reign of Emir Timur (Tamerlane), the city was the capital of his empire. Timur invited the best scientists, craftsmen, artisans and architects from all over the world to build the city. During the reign of Mirza Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson, Samarkand became a major cultural and scientific center.
Top attractions
The cultural heritage of Samarkand is quite large, for many centuries the city was a key center of the Great Silk Road. At the beginning of the XXI century, the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name "Samarkand-Crossroads of Cultures"! When you visit the city, you will be surprised by the number of historical monuments located here, but we will try to show you the most popular attractions that are definitely worth seeing!
Bibi Khanim Mosque and Mausoleum
Shahi Zinda Necropolis
Gur Emir Mausoleum
Registan Square
Ancient settlement of Afrosiab
Ruhabad Mausoleum
Imam Al-Bukhari Memorial Complex
Samarkand continues to delight everyone who visits it.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan, which is famous for its numerous museums and a combination of modern and Soviet architecture. The Timurid History Museum houses manuscripts, weapons and other relics of the famous dynasty. Nearby is a huge Museum of the History of Uzbekistan, where ancient Buddhist artifacts are presented. The city is dominated by the Tashkent TV Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the city from its observation deck. The history of Tashkent dates back more than 2 thousand years. Some of the first references to the city were found in chronicles written in the II century BC. In ancient Chinese sources Tashkent was called Shi, which means stone, and in the early Middle Ages Shash or Chach.
Scientists came to the conclusion that the Turkic tribes that settled in this territory later borrowed the name, since "tash" in the Turkic languages also translates as stone. Due to its favorable location, the city was considered one of the main points on the Silk Road. Nowadays, Tashkent is a modern metropolis and perfectly combines both medieval buildings and modern business centers in its architecture. The city has all the conditions for a great time. It combines a long history and a modern lifestyle.
Tashkent has two international airports and 2 railway stations. One of the main modern attractions of the city is the metro. It was opened in 1977 and is the first in Central Asia. Each station has its own unique design and unique architecture. Restaurants in Tashkent can please any gourmet with their variety and level of service. In the city you can find not only national cuisine, which in Tashkent tastes different from identical dishes in other parts of the country, but also the best representatives of the foreign gastronomic industry. In Tashkent, you can try Uyghur, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, European and even molecular cuisine. But the most delicious cuisine, of course, is Uzbek! Did you know that pilaf was added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List in December 2016? Now you know! Come soon to see firsthand and taste the most delicious food in the world!
Tashkent has two international airports and 2 railway stations. One of the main modern attractions of the city is the metro. It was opened in 1977 and is the first in Central Asia. Each station has its own unique design and unique architecture. Restaurants in Tashkent can please any gourmet with their variety and level of service. In the city you can find not only national cuisine, which in Tashkent tastes different from identical dishes in other parts of the country, but also the best representatives of the foreign gastronomic industry. In Tashkent, you can try Uyghur, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, European and even molecular cuisine. But the most delicious cuisine, of course, is Uzbek! Did you know that pilaf was added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List in December 2016? Now you know! Come soon to see firsthand and taste the most delicious food in the world!
Top attractions
Wide avenues, green alleys, fountains and eco-parks for leisurely walks
Unique artifacts about the history and culture of the peoples of Central Asia in numerous museums of the city
Hazrati Imam Ensemble
Theaters and galleries for every taste
Chorsu Market
Khuzha Ahror Wali Mosque
Barak Khan Madrasah
Tashkent has existed for more than 2000 years. During this time, the Arabs and Mongols managed to manage here, until the XIX century the city was part of different khanates, until it was conquered by the troops of the Russian Empire. After 1991, it became the capital of independent Uzbekistan, which gave a new powerful impetus to cultural and industrial development. In Tashkent, tourists can see valuable monuments of the Middle Ages: Hazret Imam, Sheikhantaur, Kukeldash madrasah complexes, as well as new mosques that are not inferior in beauty to ancient structures – Minor and Khoja Ahrar Vali. In numerous museums, guests of the city will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the rich Uzbek culture and appreciate the contribution that local masters have made to the treasury of world art.
Here everyone can create their own route to the top attractions of the city
Bukhara
Bukhara is one of the pearls of the Great Silk Road. There were more than 60 caravanserais where merchants from India, China, Iran and other countries stayed. Bukhara remained a fertile oasis, a major scientific and cultural center on the Great Silk Road. The fact that the city was located at the crossroads of caravan roads is evidenced by the trade domes of the XV-XVI centuries. Toki Sarrafon (the dome of money changers), Toki Telpak Furushon (the dome of headdress sellers), Toki Zargaron (the dome of jewelers), preserved to this day. According to V. M. Masson, already in the Bronze Age, remote trade relations began to be established on the territory of the Bukhara oasis as a prehistory of the Great Silk Road.
For centuries, camel caravans from China and Europe have carried goods along the Silk Road, and most importantly, they have carried news of other cultures and civilizations. This news is at the crossroads of ancient routes and was reflected in the architectural monuments of Bukhara and the cultural uniqueness of its people. It is safe to say that Bukhara is a city as ancient as Samarkand, although its exact age is not known to anyone. However, written historical sources claim that the first settlements on the territory of Bukhara appeared 2500 years ago. The same result was obtained from studies of cultural layers, which in some places reach up to 20 meters in depth. In this place, archaeologists have discovered the remains of household items, coins, jewelry dating back to the 4th century BC.
Now on the territory of Bukhara there are more than 140 monuments belonging to different eras, quarters and even entire districts built more than one century ago. Bukhara is also called the city of poetry and fairy tales, as the whole old city is shrouded in legends and stories! By the way, the historical part of the city was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Cities in 1993. The origin of Bukhara is connected with numerous legends and legends, which the Eastern people are so fond of inventing.
So, one of the legends tells how the son of the Iranian king Siyavush arrived in Bukhara, married the daughter of King Afrasiab and built the Ark fortress there
Now on the territory of Bukhara there are more than 140 monuments belonging to different eras, quarters and even entire districts built more than one century ago. Bukhara is also called the city of poetry and fairy tales, as the whole old city is shrouded in legends and stories! By the way, the historical part of the city was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Cities in 1993. The origin of Bukhara is connected with numerous legends and legends, which the Eastern people are so fond of inventing.
So, one of the legends tells how the son of the Iranian king Siyavush arrived in Bukhara, married the daughter of King Afrasiab and built the Ark fortress there
Top attractions
Bukhara is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Its history is connected with the Arabs and Mongols, who at different times owned this territory. The location of the city can be called strategic, so it was often invaded. The Silk Trade Route passed through the city, which helped in the development and expansion of ties. There was little crime in Bukhara in the past, so almost no prisons were built. Only one zindan – a real fortress-has survived to this day. Architectural ensembles have sometimes been formed over centuries, but they look like a single whole. Each ruler wanted to leave a legacy, so new mosques, madrasas, minarets and tombs appeared regularly. Some of them have retained their functions, while others have become museums.
Poi Kalon Architectural Complex
Ark Fortress
Samanid Mausoleum
Chashma Ayub Mausoleum
Magaki-Attari Mosque
Ulugbek Madrasah
Miri-Arab Madrasah
Lyabi House Ensemble and much more
Those who have not been to Bukhara have lost a lot.
Khiva
The city of Khiva, one of the few cities that managed to preserve its identity, as it was originally conceived by the architects. Khiva is a "living" monument, a city-museum.According to one of the legends, the oldest city was founded by the son of the biblical Noah Shem. He began by digging a well in the middle of the desert. Caravans and merchants passed by, tasting the deliciously delicious water and saying "heivak", that is, "how good". So this incredible city was born.Majestic structures, carved doors and columns, buildings of incredible beauty - these are books with encrypted messages from the depths of time. Khiva has experienced ups and downs in its history.
The city was conquered by the Achaemenid state. From 305 to 995, Khiva was part of the Khorezm state.During the IX-XI centuries, Khiva was ruled by several powerful dynasties. The city was a center of culture and enlightenment. There were many educational institutions and large scientific centers in astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, etc. In 1220, the city was destroyed by Genghis Khan and could not recover from the devastating consequences for a long time. In 1511, Khiva became part of the Sheibanid state, and in 1598 the city became the capital of the Khiva Khanate. The construction of the most luxurious monumental buildings took place in the XVIII-early XX centuries. Then Khiva was under the rule of the Kungrat dynasty.
In 1763, Muhammad Amin, a prominent representative of the Uzbek Kungrat family, came to power in Khorezm. Under his rule, Khiva quickly became the spiritual center of Central Asia. Thanks to him, the world saw many restored buildings, including the walls and towers of Ichan-Kala and the famous Friday Juma Mosque.In the middle of the 19th century, the Dishan-Kala defensive circle was built on the initiative of Allakuli Khan. Thus, Khiva combines two cities in one: outer Dishan-Kala and inner Ichan-Kala.In 1873, Khiva was captured by Russian troops. All architectural monuments of Khiva were preserved. Now this fantastic city is under the auspices of UNESCO.
In 1763, Muhammad Amin, a prominent representative of the Uzbek Kungrat family, came to power in Khorezm. Under his rule, Khiva quickly became the spiritual center of Central Asia. Thanks to him, the world saw many restored buildings, including the walls and towers of Ichan-Kala and the famous Friday Juma Mosque.In the middle of the 19th century, the Dishan-Kala defensive circle was built on the initiative of Allakuli Khan. Thus, Khiva combines two cities in one: outer Dishan-Kala and inner Ichan-Kala.In 1873, Khiva was captured by Russian troops. All architectural monuments of Khiva were preserved. Now this fantastic city is under the auspices of UNESCO.
Top attractions
Main fortress-Ichan-kala, Kunya - Ark Fortress, Dishan-kala fortress
Ancient mosques and madrasas, minarets, mausoleums – there are more than 100 of them in Khiva
Palaces and residences of Khiva rulers
Ancient caravanserais and baths
State Puppet Theater and Avesta Museum
Khiva is a real gem in the desert part of Uzbekistan. Fans of fabulous adventures will be able to immerse themselves in the world of oriental architecture, because the historical part of the city is located inside the Ichan-Kala fortress, where a lot of visual elements from the XIX century have been preserved. Remove the electrical wires from Khiva, hide phones and other electronics, and you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of past centuries. But even surrounded by modern technology, the sights of Khiva excite the imagination and images of people who lived here hundreds of years ago appear before your eyes.
On this page you will see a list of the best sights of Khiva that you should definitely visit after making such a long journey through the deserts of Uzbekistan.
On this page you will see a list of the best sights of Khiva that you should definitely visit after making such a long journey through the deserts of Uzbekistan.
Khiva is a beautiful oasis city with ancient walls, minarets and unique clay buildings.
Navoi
Navoi is a real oasis in the steppe. This is the youngest city in the country, the construction of which began by decision of the Government of the republic in 1958. The city got its name in honor of the great Uzbek poet, scientist and statesman Alisher Navoi. The city is of great economic importance, and is a major industrial center in the western part of Uzbekistan. It can be said that the city has become a kind of outpost for the development of the desert. Although the city is young, this area and the surrounding area of the current city of Navoi has a rich history, in ancient times the Great Silk Road passed here. Also, as a result of archaeological excavations in these places, numerous proofs of the existence of centers of culture of the ancient Saks, Khorezmians, and Bactrians were found here.
And 45 kilometers from Navoi is the Sarmysh Gorge – "the largest stone art gallery on Earth", where about 4 thousand petroglyphs are located on a two-kilometer-long territory. Strange drawings depicting "ancient astronauts" were also found here, in addition, anomalous phenomena periodically occur in the mysterious gorge, and this territory is of great interest to researchers of the ufocenter.
Top attractions
Today Navoi is one of the leading industrial centers of Uzbekistan. Here is the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine, which produces gold, the Navoiazot association, which specializes in the production of mineral fertilizers, ammonia and artificial nitron fiber, and an electrochemical plant. Among other things, Navoinskaya GRES, the largest in Uzbekistan JSC "Kyzyl Kumcement" and many other industrial facilities of national significance are located here. The city has a very convenient geographical location: it is located at an altitude of 347 meters above sea level, on the left bank of the Zaravshan River, and 100 kilometers northeast of Bukhara.
Halklar Dustligi (Peoples ' Friendship)Avenue
Alisher Navoi National Park
Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh
Hazrat Alisher Navoi Mosque
Navoi is the youngest city in the Republic.
Shakhrisabz
Shakhrisabz means "Green City" and is one of the most ancient cities in Uzbekistan. Shakhrisabz is known all over the world as the birthplace of the great commander Amir Temur (Tamerlane), which became a real center of science and art under his leadership. You can find many architectural attractions in the city, and the historical center of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List" Shakhrisabz – City of Festivals", which reveals the huge potential of the city as a center of culture and tourism. So, at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in September 2018, the International Festival of Art "Makom" was held in Shakhrisabz for the first time, which will be held in the city every 2 years.
Top attractions
Ruins of the ancient Aksaray Palace
Kok Gumbaz Mosque
Dor-ut Tilowat Memorial Complex
Mausoleums of Dorus-Saodat, Shamsad-Din Kulala, Gumbazi-Seyidan
Shakhrisabz is one of the oldest and most colorful cities in Uzbekistan with a historical center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The great commander Amir Temur was born in this city.
The main highway passes through Shakhrisabz-the great Uzbek highway, which follows the route of the great Italian traveler Marco Polo.