A significant part of Uzbekistan is occupied by almost lifeless mountains, deserts and steppes. However, this Central Asian country has a rich history and is a treasury, which has preserved many monuments of world significance that have survived millennia and centuries. The ancient cities of Uzbekistan have a special attraction for tourists, where you can experience cultural delight, visiting the authentic oriental market and haggling with friendly sellers, tasting real Uzbek pilaf or shurpa, plunging into the atmosphere of the Islamic Middle Ages.
Tashkent
The capital of Uzbekistan is the largest city in Central Asia, it is home to almost two and a half million people. Tashkent is a fusion of times and traditions. After all, it is not only a modern metropolis, but also one of the oldest cities in Uzbekistan. In 2019, they will celebrate its 2210th anniversary. It will take several days to see Tashkent in detail. Although this may not be enough to fully experience the charmcapital of Uzbekistan. The Old City of Tashkent is a historical area, which, as a rule, arouses the greatest interest of travelers.
The main sights of Tashkent include: the architectural ensemble of Khazreti-Imam; modern mosque Minor; Sheikhantaur complex; the central square of the capital - Independence Square, decorated with fountains, grandiose buildings and monuments; the ancient Namazgoh mosque and the brand new but very beautiful Jami mosque; two medieval madrasahs Kukeldash and Barakkhan; exotic for Central Asia Catholic Cathedral of the Heart of Jesus and the Orthodox Church of Nevsky. You should definitely visit the famous Chorsu domed bazaar and its unforgettable shopping malls.
Samarkand
Perhaps the most famous ancient city of Uzbekistan. Samarkand is more than 27 centuries old, it is the same age as ancient Rome and brilliant ancient Athens. This city was the capital of Ancient Sogda and was located in the middle of the Silk Road. Samarkand was the center of the vast empire of Tamerlane. The Great Khromets wanted to make his capital the most beautiful city in the world and brought here the best architects and scientists from all the lands he conquered.
Main city sights: the magnificent Regostan Square, where several famous madrasahs are located; the largest Central Asian mosque Bibi-Khanum; grandiose mausoleum of Amir Temur; Shahi Zenda - an ensemble of tombs of noble citizens; Siab Bazaar; Observatory of Mirzo Ulugbek; Ensemble Hodja-Ahrar.
Bukhara
The history of Bukhara is about 2500 years old, which makes it one of the most ancient cities in Uzbekistan. Bukhara owes much to its development and abundance of cultural monuments to its location. She, like Samarkand, was an important trade center on the Silk Road, through which hundreds of caravans passed. The heart of the city and its main attraction is the Ark fortress, surrounded by massive walls. This ancient citadel was built at the end of the 10th century and is a safe home for emirs, their retinue, troops and artisans.
Besides, tourists come to Bukhara to see the ancient city walls; Sitorai Mokhi-hosa Palace; mausoleum of Samanids and mausoleum of Nakshband; necropolis Chor-Bakr; Bukhara trading domes; zindan of Bukhara; Lyabi-khauz square; Ensemble Bolo-Khauz; architectural complex Poi-Kalyan, which includes several mosques, madrasahs and the central city square - Registan.
Khiva
Delightful Khiva - the center and capital of the mighty Khorezm, and later the Khiva kingdom, is another ancient city of Uzbekistan, its age exceeds 25 centuries. Khiva is very convenient for tourists to visit, because its main attractions are compactly located in Ichan-Kala, which is translated from Uzbek as the Inner City, which belongs to the world cultural heritage and is included in the UNESCO list.
This historic district surrounded by mighty walls houses the palaces of emirs and nobles,their mausoleums, graceful mosques, madrasas, baths, caravanserais. The K alta-Minar (short minaret) is considered the symbol of Khiva - it is a minaret that strikes the imagination with the beauty of patterns and the play of colors of an unusual shape. It resembles a truncated cone with a height of 29 meters and a base diameter of almost 15 meters. By order of the ruling khan, the 70-meter minaret began to be built in the middle of the 19th century, but the khan died, and the construction stopped. Now almost every traveler considers it his duty to take a picture against the backdrop of the intricate K alta Minar.
Shakhrisabz
Shakhrisabz is an ancient city of Uzbekistan, the name of which is not well-known and practically unfamiliar to tourists. The age of this small town is approximately 2700 years old, but the fact that the Great Tamerlane was born here gives it great historical significance. In Shakhrisabz, he took the first steps towards unlimited power over a colossal empire. The city is located 80 kilometers south of Samarkand and can be quickly reached by bus or taxi and explored in one day.
Most of the attractions are located in the historic center, along a rather long street. The most interesting tourist sites of Shakhrisabz include: a monument to Amir Timur; Mosque Kok-Gumbaz; tomb of the father and sons of Tamerlane; the ruins of Tamerlane's country palace - Aksaray, which impressed the subjects of the emperor with its enormous size, colored tiles of the facades, luxurious interior and an amazing pool for those times, located on the roof of the residence.
Kokand
Located in the east of Uzbekistan, the ancient city of Kokand experienced its golden age in the 18th century, when it became the religious center and capital of the Kokand kingdom: at dawn there were up to three hundred mosques. However, people lived in this place for a very long time. Archaeologists have found the remains of a fortress wall dated to the first century AD, and in the deeper layers of the earth a whole collection of pottery made in the first or second centuries BC was discovered.
Kokand is divided by the river Sai into two districts: the New City and the Old City. In the New City, tourists can see architectural monuments of the 19th century: the task of the East Asian Bank and the house of the local governor Vadyaev. In the Old City there are sights that have become the heritage of the Kokand kingdom. These are Khudoyarkhan's palace, Jami mosque, Norbutabi and Kamol Kazy madrasahs, Modari Khan's mausoleum.
