Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia which was previously a part in Soviet Russia. Kazakhstan lies to its west, Kyrgyzstan to its north, Tajikistan to its east and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to its south. Uzbekistan is place where ancient history is found and there are natural scenes and sceneries. There is living history found in this city which is preserved not only in the museums but is also found in the temples, tombs and the sites of the ancient settlements.
Uzbekistan is still a religious pilgrimage. There are tall minarets, madrassahs, mosques and palaces and mausoleums which are decorated with jewels. There are oriental bazaars, ancient traditions and culture and warm hospitality by the people found here.
There are many architectural monuments found on the plains of Central Asia. Afrosiab hills, Bibi Khanum mosque, Gur Emir Mausoleum, Registan, Shahi zinda ensemble square are the greatest tourist attractions. The cities which are famous here for science and art are Samarkhand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez and Kokand. The palaces and monuments are created to give a tribute to Alexander the great and Genghis Khan. The natural beauty of this place is such that after seeing it you will be mesmerized by it. The white mountains under the blue sky start shining under the rays of the sun. The mountain passes, gorges, pastures and the rapidly flowing rivers attract tourists from all over the world.
There are special tours to the great silk route, the land of tamer lane and Babur, Al-bukhari which is a combination of ancient and modern cultures. The journey to Uzbekistan is very luxurious. A site of the historical and modern places, the various food found here, meeting the various people serves as a luxurious tour. Uzbekistan is no doubt a fantastic place to visit and people are often very much impressed after seeing it all. Uzbekistan has a continental climate with little precipitation. Uzbekistan is located between the Amu dyra and the Syr dyra rivers.
Samarkhand, Bukhara and Khiva are the places where architectural splendors are found and hence tourists come here from very far places. There are both individual and group tours provided to the tourists. There are also some conferences and seminars organized in Uzbekistan. Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan. Samarkhand is
considered to be the mirror of the world, garden of the soul, jewel of Islam and the centre of the universe. In Bukhara, its founder had built a Citadel but its growth depended entirely on its location. There are also a few other cities but Ferghana valley is considered to be the heart of Uzbekistan and majority of the people of Uzbekistan live here. The people here are very fond of music and dance. Handicraft is also a very important part of the culture here.
read more...
Uzbekistan lies at the heart of the Great Silk Road. For centuries, oases of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva brought respite to the caravans as they made their way across the desert. A tour through this country immerses you in the essence of the progress of civilization as it moved west.
Today, Uzbekistan preserves this heritage while striving to bring its largely rural, historically nomadic populations better lives in a post-Soviet world. Slightly larger in area than California and with a population of 26 million, Uzbekistan contains more than half of Central Asia's people.
Known as the 'sunny republic,' Uzbekistan is arid with annual rainfall between only 4 and 8 inches. But its heavily irrigated river valleys make it the second largest cotton exporter in the world. It also contains important mineral resources and is a world leader in gold production.
Historically, Uzbekistan is exceedingly rich, making it a truly great tourist destination. More than 4,000 historic sites dot the country, and thus its stature as the pearl of the ancient Silk Road. Civilization was already ancient here when Alexander the Great conquered the region in the 4th Century BC. Up until the discovery of ocean routes to India and China, Uzbekistan lay at the crossroads of communication between East and West and was the center of trade and exchange of ideas.
The conqueror Tamerlane (1336-1405) was born near present day Shahrisabz and created an empire that extended throughout Central Asia to Turkey and south to the Ganges. Tamerlane was also a patron of the arts and transformed Samarkand into a magnificent capital for his empire. Importing artisans from conquered territories, He and later rulers commissioned majestic buildings many of which still stand.
Central among them is the Registan, which was the heart of the city. Madrasahs or Muslim religious academies face three sides of the square, giving, one built by Tamerlane's grandson who also built an observatory which he used to advance the science of astronomy during his reign.
Another legendary city is Bukhara, lying to the west. Another oases for Silk Road caravans, Bukhara became one of the great learning centers in the Muslim world and spawned the mystical Sufi sect of Islam. The city today still contains 350 mosques and supports more than 100 religious academies. With narrow streets, many parks and gardens, numerous historical sites and lively bazaars, a visit to this ancient city will satisfy a diverse range of interests. Travel here and you are sure to find something that resonates with your spirit.
Further west still, you come to a museum under the blue sky, Khiva. A city reputed to have been founded by Shem, one of the Biblical Noah's sons, Khiva has preserved its ancient past and been turned into a living record of its days as a key center of trade along the Silk Road. The historic center of the city contains spectacular examples of Islamic architecture. Palaces, minarets and mausoleums from centuries ago have been preserved and refurbished making Khiva a lens through which you can gaze into history.
read more...
Uzbekistan is home to some of the oldest cities in the world. As it is situated between two rivers, the Amu-Darya and the Sir-Darya, it was considered as the crossroads of the famed Silk Road, a lucrative trading route that ran through the center of Uzbekistan. The area has always been a haven for culture and for religion. In fact, Zoroastrianism, which predates Christianity and Islam, began in what is now called Uzbekistan, and this religion is still practiced worldwide.
Quite a bit of technology existed early in civilization, and the people of Uzbekistan were involved in building and improving irrigation systems, weaving silk, maintaining an armory, growing and cultivation cotton and various types of grain, grapes, and other fruits. Those who had knowledge of these cultural achievements were held in high regard.
Uzbekistan is once again a popular destination for travelers to Central Asia. There are so many interesting places to go and things to see that you may have a difficult time choosing what attractions to visit. Uzbekistan travel is a lot like stepping into another world.
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, presents an awesome mix of ancient and modern architecture: from centuries old Zangiota mausoleum and Khast Imam ensemble to Tashkent metro, the magnificent underground artwork in itself, and the TV Tower, the tallest building in Central Asia.
Samarkand has the Afrasiab Museum, which is filled with archeological items that were found during the time between the 4th and the 13th centuries, A.C.
Bukhara has many mosques and mausoleums to check out, such as the Magoki-Attari, the Kalyan, and the Djami mosques and the Samanids, the Chashma-Ayub mausoleums.
Khiva is unique in that the entire town was declared as a "historical monument of world significance" by UNESCO. Every building and attraction in this town has been preserved in the style that was in use when the town was established 2500 years ago. Khiva can boast of having more minarets in all of Asia.
Shakhrisabz includes the historic Kok Gumbaz mosque, built in 1437, and the Gumbaz Seyidan mausoleum, built in 1438.
Termez, which is located on the left bank of the Amudarya River, has the Kokildor-Ota mausoleum, and the Karatepa, a Buddhist center which is constructed on three hills. There are temples and monasteries that were here during the 2nd century A.D.
The city of Nurata has the distinction of being founded by Alexander the Great in 327 B.C. He also installed a water supply system that is still used today. What is left of the fortress used by Alexander and his men remains here, as well as the Djuma mosque.
Baysun is a highly interesting place to visit. In this town, the customs and culture of the locals has not changed for many thousands of years. Cave Teshiktash, where the remains of Neanderthal people have been found, and rock paintings from the Mesolite era can be seen in the Kohitang Mountains.
Uzbekistan travel is an experience you won't soon forget!
read more...