Ak
Just north of the centre, Timur’s summer palace has as much grandeur per square centimetre as anything in Samarkand. There’s actually nothing left of it except bits of the gigantic, 38m-high pishtak, covered with gorgeous, unrestored filigree-like mosaics. This crumbling relic, ble
Allakuli Khan Medressa
Just east of the Juma Mosque, a lane leading north from Pahlavon Mahmud kochasi contains some of Khiva’s most interesting buildings, most of them created by Allakuli Khan – known as the ‘builder khan’ – in the 1830s and ‘40s. First theres the tall Allakuli Khan Medressa and the ear
Khan’s Palace
The Khan’s Palace, with seven courtyards and 114 rooms, was built in 1873, though its dazzling tiled exterior makes it look so perfect that youd be forgiven for thinking it was as new as the modern park that surrounds it. Just three years after its completion, the tsar’s troops arr
Bibi
The enormous congregational Bibi-Khanym Mosque, northeast of the Registan, was finished shortly before Timur’s death and must have been the jewel of his empire. Once one of the Islamic world’s biggest mosques (the cupola of the main mosque is 41m high and the pishtak 38m), it pushe
Kuhna Ark
To your left after you enter the West Gate stands the Kuhna Ark – the Khiva rulers’ own fortress and residence, first built in the 12th century by one Ok Shihbobo, then expanded by the khans in the 17th century. The khans’ harem, mint, stables, arsenal, barracks, mosque and jail we
Shah
Samarkand’s most moving and beloved site is this stunning avenue of mausoleums, which contains some of the richest tilework in the Muslim world. The name, which means ‘Tomb of the Living King’, refers to its original, innermost and holiest shrine – a complex of cool, quiet rooms ar
The Ark
The Ark, a royal town-within-a-town, is Bukharas oldest structure, occupied from the 5th century right up until 1920, when it was bombed by the Red army. Its about 80% ruins inside now, except for some remaining royal quarters, now housing several museums. At the top of the entranc
Gur
Timur, along with two sons and two grandsons (including Ulugbek), lies beneath the surprisingly modest Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum and its trademark fluted azure dome.Timur had built a simple crypt for himself at Shakhrisabz, and had this one built in 1404 for his grandson and proposed he
The Registan
This ensemble of majestic, tilting medressas – a near-overload of majolica, azure mosaics and vast, well-proportioned spaces – is the centrepiece of the city, and arguably the most awesome single sight in Central Asia. The Registan, which translates to ‘Sandy Place’ in Tajik, was m
Kalon Mosque
At the foot of the minaret, on the site of an earlier mosque destroyed by Chinggis Khan, is the 16th-century congregational Kalon Mosque, big enough for 10,000 people. Its courtyard has some spectacular tile work. Used in Soviet times as a warehouse, it was reopened as a place of w
Char Minar
Photogenic little Char Minar, in a maze of alleys between Pushkin and Hoja Nurabad, bears more relation to Indian styles than to anything Bukharan. This was the gatehouse of a long-gone medressa built in 1807. The name means ‘Four Minarets’ in Tajik, although they aren’t strictly s
Chorsu Bazaar
Tashkent’s most famous farmers market, topped by a giant green dome, is a delightful slice of city life spilling into the streets off Old Town’s southern edge. If it grows and it’s edible, it’s here. There are acres of spices arranged in brightly coloured mountains; Volkswagen-size
Kalta Minor Minaret
Just south of the Kuhna Ark stands the fat, turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor Minaret. This unfinished minaret was begun in 1851 by Mohammed Amin Khan, who according to legend wanted to build a minaret so high he could see all the way to Bukhara. Unfortunately, the khan dropped dead in 1
Maghoki
Between the two covered bazaars, in what was the old herb-and-spice bazaar, is Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque, the Maghoki-Attar, a lovely mishmash of 9th-century facade and 16th-century reconstruction.This is probably also the town’s holiest spot: under it in the 1930s arc
Savitsky Museum
The Savitsky Museum houses one of the most remarkable art collections in the former Soviet Union. The museum owns some 90,000 artefacts and pieces of art – including more than 15,000 paintings – only a fraction of which are actually on display. About half of the paintings were brou
Ark
The spectacular-looking Ark, a royal town-within-a-town, is Bukhara’s oldest structure, occupied from the 5th century right up until 1920, when it was bombed by the Red Army. It’s about 80% ruins inside now, except for some remaining royal quarters, now housing several museums .At
Doing business & staying in touch while in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan: Doing business & staying in touch
Uzbekistan Weather, Climate and Geography
Uzbekistan Weather, climate and geography
Uzbekistan History, Language and Culture
Uzbekistan History, Language and Culture
Uzbekistan Travel Guide and Travel Information
Uzbekistan Travel Guide
