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Uzbekistan is an ancient country of Central Asia, inspiring travelers from all over the world to visit the main attractions. The country has an amazing historical heritage, a lot of ancient monuments, the most beautiful mosques and minarets have been preserved for hundreds of years, and who has not heard about the colorful oriental bazaars, smelling of spices and sweets? Generous and diverse nature, deserts and oases, protected national parks – all this can be found in the vastness of this beautiful eastern country.
One of the advantages of visiting Uzbekistan is its financial accessibility: even if you do not have much money, any traveler will feel comfortable there, and friendly Uzbeks will make your stay in the country kind and memorable!
Today we will present 10 Uzbek cities, where everyone who has visited this wonderful land should definitely visit. And these cities are truly beautiful and colorful, they were built many centuries ago, references to them can be found in ancient legends and national tales.
10 Termez
Termez – the southernmost city of Uzbekistan, thoroughly permeated with the magic of ancient times, and as it is written in the annals, the settlement was founded so long ago that already in the XNUMXth century BC, it was considered “ancient”. Travelers here are greeted by monumental monuments of oriental architecture that have come down to us almost in their original form, and most of all, the creations of Buddhist masters with their Airatam temple complex are surprising.
During excavations in the vicinity of Termez, evidence relating to ancient times was discovered. All of them are widely represented in the local museum of archeology. Most tourists are delighted with another temple complex – Sultan Saodat, as well as other attractions. The country is rather big, from the capital of the country Tashkent to fly to Termez by plane for about an hour and a half.
9. Muynak
On the shores of the infamous Aral Sea, almost completely dried up due to the unreasonable actions of man, there is an ancient city Muynakwhere, for some reason, the spirit of adventurism and romance hovers. This is probably due to dozens of rusting ships, previously engaged in fishing, and now standing helplessly on the sand – the former bottom of this eastern sea …
If it hurts you to look at human deeds, then the area abounds with bright locations: the Arakum desert, you can visit the Ustyurt plateau, and for connoisseurs of local color, in a desert oasis, there is a real camp of Muynak yurts.
It is not for nothing that scientists called Muynak an open-air museum. To date, more than 300 ancient locations have been discovered here, dating back to the Khorezm civilization. The area is famous for its unique leather products, the entire production process of which has been done by hand since ancient times. In addition, tourists are happy to buy souvenirs made of carved wood and products embroidered with local ornaments.
8. Khiva
For those tourists who dream of getting into the real eastern Middle Ages, the ancient city affably opened its gates Khiva, where the even more ancient city of Ichan-Kala is located. Enthusiastic travelers called this area a “portal to the Middle Ages”, and UNESCO included the location in the World Heritage List. The narrow winding streets of the ancient city can surprise even the most experienced traveler, because everything here is just a masterpiece of oriental architecture! Mosques, madrasahs, hundreds of minarets and ancient mausoleums.
The Islam-Khoja minaret is the highest in Khiva, and those who want to see the fabulous beauty of the ancient eastern city from a bird’s eye view should definitely climb to the top of the minaret. The stunning, albeit hot, climate of Uzbekistan perfectly preserves buildings for many centuries. A confirmation of this will be a visit to the Juma mosque, the vaults of which are supported by 212 wooden columns, and the mosque itself was built in the XNUMXth century. Royal palaces and residences, ancient ruins, and other sights are found here literally at every step.
7. Kokand
Kokand – one of the most beautiful cities of Uzbekistan, known since the XNUMXth century (at that time it had different names), but gained popularity and mass fame in the XNUMXth century, when its majestic heyday took place. The settlement was built on the Great Silk Road for the shelter and rest of countless caravans.
The city is located in the Ferghana Valley, it is surrounded by numerous fields of cotton – a real world brand of Uzbekistan. Vineyards, orchards and groves, vegetable plantations stretching to the horizon – all this is the current Kokand, but there is nothing modern here, and there is no need, people come here for medieval antiquities, and not for skyscrapers. At one time, Kokand was a scientific and literary center, a well of education.
There are many buildings in the city dating back to the beginning of the last century, there is even a unique style of architecture. In the palace of Khudayar Khan, you can admire the skill of oriental architects, and in the Norbut-biy madrasah you can try to imbue the wise oriental teachings. The ancient mausoleum of local rulers is very popular.
6. Namangan
Uzbeks call Namangan “the city of flowers” – hundreds of their varieties and varieties are planted here everywhere, the sight is simply amazing! The city is famous for its ancient and unhurried oriental flavor, narrow streets and old buildings. For the most part, these are one-story buildings, which previously housed numerous craft workshops. Namangan attracts tourists with its pottery, skillful weavers, blacksmiths.
It is this city that is considered to be the “capital of the weapons industry”; unique knives and other edged weapons have been produced here since ancient times. Uzbeks have preserved their traditions, and today they are ready to offer products made using centuries-old technologies. The city is known for its mausoleums and tombs of great kings, parks, madrasahs. You should definitely visit the Mavlon-Buva complex, and many tourists will like the local cuisine.
5. Zaamin
For incredible natural beauty, unique landscapes and the purest mountain air Zaamin rightly called “Uzbek Switzerland”. An amazing variety of flora and fauna opens before tourists, ancient sacred places for pilgrimage. Uzbeks themselves visit the area with pleasure to improve their health – the place is considered the main health resort of the country.
Coniferous and juniper forests grow in the Zaaminsky Reserve – the only location with such vegetation in all of Central Asia. Numerous mountain caves, gorges, lakes and rare animals are also located here. The unique Kyzyl-Atakse glade attracts tourists with its heaps of unusual red stones, resembling ancient animals or sphinxes from afar.
The reserve is also known for its rarity – a 20-meter walnut, affectionately named “Boboengok”. The tree is no less than seven hundred years old. And in the vicinity of the stunning Chortanga canyon, you can find traces of the Chinese civilization.
4. Samarkand
A separate diamond of Uzbekistan is an ancient Samarkand – the city is more than 2 years old, it is a unique museum where the most famous sights of the country have been preserved. Samarkand throughout its history has inspired and continues to inspire famous artists, poets, writers, musicians and architects.
The city remembers the troops of Alexander the Great, the conquerors of Genghis Khan. By the way, Genghis Khan almost completely destroyed the city, but Tamerlane restored it anew and was so imbued with the beauty of Samarkand that he made it the capital of his empire. Almost all architectural monuments from the time of Tamerlane have come down to us unchanged. For example, the grandson of Tamerlane Ulugbek built a unique and majestic observatory here, which gave us many discoveries.
Numerous madrasahs are located in Samarkand, which at one time made the city the scientific capital of the region. In the vicinity of the city there is something to see and you can touch the antiquity of the East: the tombs of the rulers, mosques, the Bibi-Khanym mausoleum, the necropolis of the Timur dynasty. And the Siab market amazes tourists with its oriental atmosphere.
3. Shaxrisabz
Ancient city Shaxrisabz – the birthplace of the great Tamerlane (Timur). The ruins of his palace are still available for viewing, and by the standards of those years, it was a real 5-star hotel. Judge for yourself: the height of the palace was 73 meters, there was a huge swimming pool on its roof, and several hundred “guests” could be simultaneously inside the entire complex.
The palace is also known for its wise saying of Tamerlane: “To all those who doubt my greatness, look at the palaces and castles I have built” – well, just like Donald Trump and his New York Tower, great people have never been averse to showing some “boastfulness “. In the vicinity of the city, we will also be met by mausoleums, memorial complexes, and the city itself is rich in buildings built many centuries ago.
2. Tashkent
The capital of ancient Uzbekistan is the city Tashkent is a multifaceted and mysterious, unhurried and sleepy oriental city, where you can meet a modern skyscraper and ancient buildings in the neighborhood. The city center is a treasure trove of oriental architecture, there are numerous museums, the architectural ensemble of Khazrati Imam, and madrassas. Ancient mosques quietly coexist with Orthodox churches, and eastern palaces with the palace of the Romanov dynasty.
A real oriental city where different religions peacefully coexist. The Chorsu market is worthy of a separate visit, because its “glutton rows” are able to satisfy any gastronomic taste and show the versatility of Uzbek cuisine. By the way, this market has been known since the times when caravans passed along the Great Silk Road in these places, and old Tashkent was just on its route. If you turn on your imagination, then in the center of the old city you can “see” numerous caravans resting peacefully after a long journey through the desert…
1. Bukhara
Bukhara known in the world almost more than the capital Tashkent. Oriental tales “1000 and one night” – this is exactly about Bukhara, about its fantastic beauty, grandeur and sleepy bliss! When you get to Bukhara, you find yourself in a kaleidoscope of narrow streets, centuries-old buildings and the stunning beauty of mosques. More than four hundred monuments of world architectural architecture, UNESCO included this ancient city in the World Heritage List.
The city has cool parks and alleys, madrasas, mosques and minarets. Bukhara is known for the mausoleums of the great eastern kings, the most beautiful architectural complex Poi-Kolon, the Ark fortress. Everywhere tourists are met by ancient turquoise – the most common color for finishing buildings and places of worship. The city is annually visited by millions of tourists from all over the world – this is a real center of pilgrimage for connoisseurs of the ancient East!