the Travel Enthusiast
- 19 Dec
lizzy_a in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTSTourist attractions in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is not a name that you often hear associated with traveling, or with anything at all actually. Like its fellow Central Asian countries Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan seems to quietly mind its own business without bothering anyone.
But those who dabble in ancient and medieval history, or even the tales of the Arabian nights have surely bumped into mentions of Samarkand, Khiva or Bukhara which have reigned supreme in Asia in the times of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan present treasures are the legacy of an exciting past.
That is not to say tht the country’s recent history has been devoid of interesting happenings – a string of authoritarian rulers and civil unrest. But for the curious traveler, Uzbekistan is a treasure trove and here’s a taste of some of the most interesting tourist attractions in Uzbekistan.
Registan Ensemble, Samarkand
Itchan Kala, photo by Gusjer on Flickr
Unlike other Silk Road cities in Asia which faded into nothing, Samarkand hasn’t lost all of the beauty that made it a famous caravan stop in thr past. One of the best examples of surviving architecture is the Registan Ensemble, a square formed by three stunningly beautiful madrasahs.
The square might not always have been a pleasant place to hang around (for a long time it has been the site of countless public executions), but it is certainly a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
Itchan Kala, Khiva
Khiva was a flourishing Silk Road city, as well as a slave trading outpost with a rather brutal history. Although today it is a quiet oasis town, it is easy to imagine what the old walls, minarets and mosques looked like in livelier times. The old quarter of the city, the Itchan Kala, was the place where the khan, the wealthy merchants and the cities notables lived. There are several museums in the old city, as well as the impressive walls surrounding the quarter, and many other buildings worth visiting.
Shakhrizabz
Chorsu Bazaar, photo by Arian Zwegers
The small town of Shakhrizabz was the birthplace of one of the greatest and most dangerous people of the Middle ages, Timur or Tamerlane. The feared leader who sought to restore the Mongol Empire was already the city’s leader by the time he was 25, and it is no surprise that Shakhrizabz has one of the finest old centers in Asia.
The old quarter is a Unesco World Heritage Site, but there are many more sights in the city:: crypts, palaces, mausoleums and mosques.
Aral Sea
The former seabed of the Aral Sea is one of the most devastating and at the same time beautiful sights on Earth, and a painful reminder of human irresponsibility. Because of heavy irrigation in the 60’s, the sea has shrunk to a fragment of its original size, and now it is possible to walk on land that was under water not long ago. The seabed is littered with abandoned ships, shells and dead sea plants.
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travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Old Town, Tashkent
The Uzbek capital has grown into a modern city, but the old town retains much of its historical charm. Narrow, winding streets are lined with mosques, madrasahs and abode houses. The Chorsu Bazaar is the beating heart of the old town, where you can buy exotic spices, fabrics and fruit.
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