Uzbekistan Travel Guide
A Travel Guide to Uzbekistan
If Kyrgyzstan is renowned for its natural beauty, so neighbouring Uzbekistan is famous for its spectacular Silk Road architecture. From Samarkand to Khiva the legacy of the Silk Road and the rule of Emperor Timur is evident in the magnificent mosques, madrassas and caravanserais. My names is Jonny Bealby, I run Wild Frontiers, and in this short film I am going to explain about tourism in Uzbekistan.
As the world’s only landlocked country, surrounded by landlocked countries, Uzbekistan needs things other than traditional beaches to attract the visitor; and it does, in abundance. From Iran to India Islam has given the world some of the most spectacular architecture there is, and nowhere is this more evident than here in Uzbekistan.
The mosques and madrassas of Samarkand are as exquisite as any buildings anywhere on earth. The old walled town of Khiva, a veritable living museum, is an entire town of imposing buildings echoing history, and in Bukhara – probably the most important of all Silk Road towns – the soft, earth-coloured forts, squares, domes and towers are all guaranteed to carry the visitor back to a very different time.
The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent. Formerly the Soviet Union’s fifth largest city, Tashkent is a surprisingly quiet place, with large leafy parks, cafes and some excellent hotel options. But Tashkent is usually only a start or end point on a journey through Uzbekistan. And if you’re travelling overland from Kyrgyzstan and the Ferghana Valley you’ll likely as not first visit Kokand, a former royal khanate, or kingdom, and home to an impressive palace.
But according to Robert Byron, author of The Road to Oxiana, all travellers that venture through Central Asia have one goal in mind, to see the splendours of Samarkand.
Centre of the Universe, Mirror of the world, Garden of the soul, Jewel of the east, Pearl of Islam, Samarkand has had writers and poets waxing lyrical for over two millennia. And for god reason. The Registan, a public square used to hear royal proclamations, is surrounded on three sides by magnificent mosques and madrassas. The huge Bibi Khanym mosques was the largest in the world when built at the end of the 14th century. Emperor Timor’s tomb has exquisite carvings and delicate gold inlay. Ulam Beg’s observatory is fascinating and impressive. And the shar-i-zindar, also known as the street of the dead, is another atmospheric site.
Moving along the Royal Road, perhaps travelling through Shakrizabs and the birth place of Timur, you’ll come to Bukhara. Personally my favourite town in the country, if not the whole region, Bukhara is a sleepy place, easy to walk around and just brimming over with magnificent sites. Probably the most famous is the 150-foot high Kolan minaret, allegedly used in the 19th century by the then ruler, Nazarullah Khan, as a means of execution, and the adjacent mosques and madrassas. Other sites include the Arc, or impregnable citadel, the char minar mosque and the mosque of 40 pillars. Here in Bukhara there is also great shopping, often in the old caravanserais, where carpets, shawls, spice and trinkets of all types can be found.
And finally after another 7 hour drive across the Kyzyl Kum Desert lies Khiva. As one of the most powerful khanates in the 19th century, Khiva grew into a sumptuous walled city much of which has been lovingly restored for the benefit of today’s modern visitor. To watch sunrise over the old town is one of travel’s great experiences.
But it’s not all about ancient monuments. Uzbekistan has some beautiful hills and mountains, the quite extraordinary and fascinating Aral Sea and the famous modern art collection at Nukus. The ancient towns through which you’ll pass also have bustling markets, some great open air restaurants, and some of the best boutique hotels anyway in the region.
Although you might find more tourists here than you will in some of the neighbouring countries, for anyone interested in culture and history Uzbekistan is simply a must.
Uzbekistan/Khiva Old City Part 3
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Khiva-Uzbekistan
Though Khiva is about 2500 years old, it acquired its present appearance in the 18th – early 20th centuries. Khiva consists of two urban parts: the inner town Ichan-Kala and the outer town Dishan-Kala. From the very beginning the core of the city –Ichan-Kala, rectangular in plan, was enclosed in fortification walls.
For centuries these walls served ideally the purpose of the town’s defense. But in 1220 they were destroyed by Mongol invaders and in later period gentle slopes of the collapsed walls were used for burying the dead. In 1790 the wall was rebuilt by order of Khiva’s khan Muhammad-Amin-Inak. It was 1200 meters long, 7-8 meters high and about 6 meters thick at the base. Since Khiva stood at an important intersection of the Great Silk Road, there were built four monumental gates directing north, south, east and west. Ark-Darvoza gate located next to Kunya-Ark Citadel let in the caravans from the west. Kosh-Darvoza (‘Double Gate’) with two entrance arches faced south. Tash-Darvoza (‘Stone Gate) was built in the northern part of the city.
The most remarkable is the eastern gate Palvan-Darvoza (‘Hero Warrior’s Gate’), through which ran the road to the Amu Darya River and to the ancient trade town Khazarasp. The survived marble slab above the arch of the gate shows the date the construction was completed: 1221 anno hegirae (1806). Adjoining the gate is the gallery with six domes – a shopping arcade. Soon after the gate had been built, near it there appeared Allakuli-Khan Madrassah, caravanserai and a tim domed trading center. This was also the place where executions used to be carried out. Next to the gate, behind the Ichan-Kala walls, there was the Asian largest slave market. In 1842 a new fortification wall around larger area was built. Supervised by Mahammad Yakub Mekhtar, the construction was completed within 30 days. The wall was 6 kilometers long; it had 10 gates and a lot of turrets. Three out-of-town gardens – Rafanik, Nurullabay and Nurullabek – became part of the town. The larger ring of the town was then called Dishan-Kala (‘Outer Fortress’). Today only separate parts of this unique fortification structure remain. Yet these strong pahsa adobe walls narrowing to the top, are rather impressive. Every 30-50 meters along the length of the wall there are semicircular watching turrets; they seem to support the wall with their abutments. Looking at Khiva’s walls it is hard to believe that outside this well-preserved medieval town is the 21st century.
MIR's Silk Road Tour: Journey Through Central Asia
Central Asia is home to the old Silk Road, with its great trade routes linking Europe and China for more than 2,000 years. Join one of MIR's most popular tours, Journey Through Central Asia: The Five 'Stans ( a modern-day caravan on an epic journey to five of Central Asia's exotic countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
These five 'Stans are laced together with traces of the old Silk Road, conduits for the silks and spices that gave the world much of its brilliance and flavor, as well as ideas, art, architecture and spiritual beliefs.
• Note: Click on CC icon (lower-third right side in video) for handcrafted closed captions.
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KEY SECTIONS:
1:44 Skip to: Kazakhstan
2:38 Skip to: Kyrgyzstan
3:53 Skip to: Uzbekistan
4:42 Skip to: Tajikistan
5:06 Skip to: Uzbekistan
7:56 Skip to: Turkmenistan
• Explore Central Asia in MIR's in-depth story filled with exotic, colorful photos: Silk Road Tour Spotlight: Journey Through Central Asia –
• Learn more about MIR's small group tours and handcrafted, private journeys to Central Asia – (
• For detailed information on each of these Central Asian countries:
Kazakhstan – (
Kyrgyzstan – (
Tajikistan – (
Uzbekistan – (
Turkmenistan – (
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MIR's YouTube channel, MIRCorpTravel:
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CONTACT:
MIR Corporation –
Destination Specialists since 1986
Small Group Tours • Rail Journeys by Private Train • Custom, Private Trips • Siberia & Western Russia • Silk Road and Iran • South Caucasus
1-800-424-7289
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PHOTO AND VIDEO CREDITS
Video script, creation and voiceover: Helen Holter
Photos: Christina Z. Anderson, Michel Behar, James Carnehan, Russ & Ellen Cmolik, Donna Collins, Jamshid Fayzullaev; Richard Fejfar, Ana Filonov, Lindsay Fincher, Jered Gorman, Douglas Grimes, Peter Guttman, Helen Holter, Dilshod Karimov, Martin Klimenta, Charles Lawrence, Andrew Mills, David Parker, Abdu Samadov, Ann Schneider, Kevin Testa, Bill Thornton, Vladimir Ushakov, Ji Wensheng
Video narrator and creator: Helen Holter
Video: Marina Karptsova, Jamshid Fayzullaev, David Parker, Abdu Samadov, Kevin Testa
Video thumbnail: Lindsay Fincher
Music: Karakalpak Musicians of Nukus; Khalfi Family of Khiva; Urda Bass Troupe of Almaty
VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION (HIGHLIGHTS)
00:00 – INTRO
More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes that linked Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs and religions. MIR's iconic tour, Journey Through Central Asia: The Five 'Stans, is a modern-day caravan on an epic Silk Road journey to five of these exotic countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
01:44 – KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan is the largest and richest of the five 'Stans. We visit the country's former capital, Almaty, known as the Capital of Apples; Zenkov Cathedral; as well as a falcon farm for an up-close look at these beautiful birds used in hunting.
02:38 – KYRGYZSTAN
Mountainous, unspoiled Kyrgyzstan is Central Asia's best-kept secret. We visit Lake Issyk-kul; learn about horses and traditional horse games; visit Burana Tower; and in the country's capital, Bishkek, we listen to a portion of the famous poem, Epic of Manus – with nearly half-a-million verses.
04:42 – TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan is a country infused with the influence of Persia, Islam, and Russia. We visit the 2,000-year-old city of Khujand; in this old Silk Road town we explore the colorful covered Panjshanbe Bazaar.
05:06 – UZBEKISTAN
Some of the most famous UNESCO-listed Silk Road sights are in Uzbekistan. We visit Osh and Rishtan in Fergana Valley; explore the country's capital, Tashkent; wander through Samarkand, known as the Crossroad of Cultures with Registan Square's blue-tiled mosaics, mosques, and madrassahs; and see Shakhrisabze, birthplace of Tamerlane the Conqueror. Bukhara was an oasis in the desert for Silk Road camel caravans long ago, and still is for modern travelers today. In Khiva, the Old Town called Ichon Qala looks much as it did centuries ago, while Nukus is known for its once-banned avant-garde Soviet art at the Savitsky Museum.
07:56 – TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan is a country of tribal culture and camels as well as modern cities and transportation. We visit three UNESCO-listed sites: Khorezm's Kunya Urgench and Kutlug-Timur Minaret, Merv, and the 2,000-year-old city of Nisa. The tour ends in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat, filled with white marble buildings, as well as a nearby visit to an Akhal-Teke horse-breeding farm.
Uzbekistan
Some photos taken during a trip around Central Asia in 2013.
Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand
Uzbekistan, 1993
During my Jan-term at Samford University, my Senior year, Uncle Jim (Dr. James W. Vann of Headland, AL) and I traveled to Central Asia - specifically Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In fact, this was right after the breakup of the USSR. We had a brief layover in Moscow en route, and then a few there on the return back through. Quite Fascinating!
Before reaching our destination, we encountered a glitch or two. The biggest one is that we simply didn't have the proper paperwork to pass through Russia! To rectify this matter, we had to stay in Germany for at least a week to process a visa at the Russian Embassy. We made the best of it! We actually went inside the home where Beethoven was born! Once our visa got settled, and after we had quality time in Central Asia, on our return through Moscow, we walked out onto Red Square and got to see the Changing of the Guard! Pretty big for a small town boy from Alabama!
In time, to make this video easier to view, I will provide info and times that will cue you to specific aspects of the video.
Discover the beauty of Uzbekistan - diariesof
What a fantastic journey one can have in Uzbekistan! Watch our 3-minute video to find out about the exciting feeling that you can still experience in the heart of the Silk Road, in the absolutely amazing cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, whose awe-inspiring madrasas and mosques raise out of the desert. Camels, bazaars, old caravanserais, ashkanas and chaikhanas, where you can sit for a tea or enjoy the most delicious Central Asian dishes, the world known plov, better appreciated in Uzbekistan.
You've got to love Uzbekistan. :)
Find out more about Uzbekistan and Central Asian on ➜
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Video ➜ Jorge Valente
Music ➜ NCM Free Music
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About diariesof
After an epic journey through South America with their motorbike Anabela and Jorge Valente decided to launch diariesof. diariesof is not just another travel magazine. diariesof is a bi-annual coffee table magazine on experiential travelling. The editorial content is prepared by an international team of contributors, photographers, bloggers and independent travellers. Each issue covers one country exclusively. The different sections of the magazine offer personal experiences on adventurous accounts, genuine and independent testimonials, exclusive interviews and reliable evidence on social and humanitarian projects.
More than making the readers travel around the world whilst reading it, diariesof intends to inspire the readers to see the world for themselves. diariesof was born after a crowdfunding campaign launched in 2014.
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Nukus and the Aral Sea
Nukus is mainly interesting for the Savitsky museum. A gallery that preserved modern art saved from the Soviet Union censorship.
Also it's a good place to stop by when visiting the Aral Sea, or what remains from the ecologic catastrophe. Few remains of the see dried because of the cotton plantation.
Video Blog of a wanderer around the world.
More stories at:
#Nukus #Uzbekistan #AralSea #Museum #backpack #travelwithrod #theRodTrip #RoadTrip #wanderer #AroundtheWorld #travelblog #videoblog #blog #vlog
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Ships Graveyard in the Desert of Moynaq, Uzbekistan
Ships Graveyard in the Desert of Moynaq, Uzbekistan
Moynaq ship Graveyard — Mo‘ynoq also spelled as Muynak and Moynaq, is a city in northern Karakalpakstan in western Uzbekistan. Formerly a sea port, now home to only a few thousand residents at most, Mo‘ynoq's population has been declining precipitously since the 1980s due to the recession of the Aral Sea. 30 years ago Moynaq was one of two biggest Soviet fishing harbours at the Aral Sea. The Aral Sea has been steadily decreasing since the 1960s, as the waters of the two rivers feeding it, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, were aimed at irrigating agricultural areas. Formerly one of the four largest lakes in the world with an area of 68,000 km2 or 26,300 sq mi, the Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since in 1960s after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet irrigation projects. In 2007, it had declined to 10% of its original size, splitting into four lakes – the North Aral Sea, the eastern and western basins of the once far larger South Aral Sea, and one smaller lake between the North and South Aral Seas.However, in 2009, the southeastern lake had disappeared and the southwestern lake had retreated to a thin strip at the extreme west of the former southern sea. The maximum depth of the North Aral Sea is 42 meter or 138 ft in 2008.
The shrinking of the Aral Sea has been called one of the planet's worst environmental disasters. The region's once-prosperous fishing industry has been essentially destroyed, bringing unemployment and economic hardship. The Aral Sea region is also heavily polluted, with consequent serious public health problems. The retreat of the sea has reportedly also caused local climate change, with summers becoming hotter and drier, and winters colder and longer.
In an ongoing effort in Kazakhstan to save and replenish the North Aral Sea, a dam project was completed in 2005; in 2008, the water level in this lake had risen by 12 m or 39 ft compared to 2003. Salinity has dropped, and fish are again found in sufficient numbers for some fishing to be viable. The Aral Sea watershed encompasses Uzbekistan and parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Today Mo‘ynoq's major tourist attractions are the armada of rusting hulks that once made up the proud fishing fleet during the Soviet era, and a one-room museum devoted to Mo‘ynoq's heritage as a center of the fishing industry. Poisonous dust storms kicked up by strong winds across the dried and polluted seabed give rise to a multitude of chronic and acute illnesses among the few residents who have chosen to remain, most of them ethnic Karakalpaks, and weather unmoderated by the sea now buffets the town with hotter-than-normal summers and colder-than-normal winters.
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Rzut okiem: Pociągiem do Uzbekistanu
Krótka video-relacja z przejazdu pociągiem do Uzbekistanu, na trasie Aktau (KAZ) - Nukus (UZB), wraz z lokalnymi atrakcjami.
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