Tashkent- The Stone Fortress

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Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital, shows its shimmering roots as a Silk Road city even today. The 2,000 year-old-city is a major exporter to Eastern Europe of silk, cotton and textiles, as well as oil, coal, copper, sulfur, rice and manufactured products such as television sets, automobiles and tractors.Yet, this city, whose name means “Stone Fortress” -- a title adopted in the 11th century, though Tashkent’s roots date back to the dawn of the first millennia A.D. -- has the look of a modern metropolis. Little remains of the old city, thanks to a leveling April, 1966, earthquake and the subsequent Soviet rebuilding.

Tashkent became a Muslim city in the 8th century AD, and was an important commercial center during the Middle Ages. Wars and natural calamities have swept most of the buildings dating back to the time of the ancient city. Among the survivors are: The Kukeldash Madrassah (XVII c.), the Sheikhantaur Ensamble (XV c.) and the Khazrati- Imam Complex (XVI c.). The city encountered many invadors: in 1220 the city became part ofthe empire of Genghis Khan and later in 1865 part of the Russian empire.

The Russian influence pre-dates this century; in 1865, the Tsar’s forces took the city, establishing Tashkent as the capital of Imperial Russia’s Turkistan “satrapy,” and, with the arrival of the Trans-Caspian Railway in 1889, the link with Russia was forged. During the Russian Revolution, the area saw widespread violence as White Russians and local nationalists unsuccessfully battled the Red wave.Despite its modern appearance, Tashkent lacks neither beauty nor culture; this city of 2.3 million is surprisingly green, thanks to its beautifully laid-out parks and its glistening fountains. For the kids, Tashkent’s famous Uzbek Puppet Theater, established in 1939, holds an ages-old thrall that proves modern media can’t compete with old-fashioned entertainment.

The city also boasts more than 15 colleges, a renowned university and academy of sciences, and a wealth of theaters and museums, including the Museum of Cinematic Art and the Museum of History of the Peoples of Uzbekistan.For researchers, the city offers resources galore, including the Alisher Navoi State Library, dating back to 1870, the Republic of Uzbekistan State Archives (including major pre-Soviet holdings) and the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences Library.

Welcome to Shakhrisabz - The Hometown of Tamerlane

Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane, 160 km from Samarkand, is located in a small valley, surrounded by the foothills of the Pamir mountains. It was only a small town at the time of Tamerlane, but at his behest, his descendants continued the development of Shakhrisabz long after his death.Among the architectural monuments of Tamerlane's time there are the remains of the massive portal of the Ak - Saray Palace, which took 20 years to build and was destroyed by Abdulla Khan of Bukhara in the XVII century.

The Dorussiadat Burial Complex includes a mausoleum for two of Tamerlane's sons, Jahangir and Umar Sheikh, is an outstanding example of Khorazmian architecture, built by Khorazmian slaves in the second half of the XIV century. Also here is a mausoleum built for Tamerlane himself several years before his death, (although he was eventually buried in Gur - Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand). Arranged in the shape of a tent, the crypt of the mausoleum (the only part that have survived) has a single marble grave with its cover left open, waiting for Tamerlane. The walls of the crypt are very simply decorated with design in the shape of a teardrop, and an inscription in Arabic reading: "A wise and powerful man shall seek the advantage in every situation and act on his own, where as a fool waits upon the action of others".In later times the burial complex was expanded and at the time of Ulugbek an adjoining burial ground emerged - the Dorustilavat, built for relatives that lived in Shakhrisabz. Across a small square from the mausolea is a Memorial Mosque called Kuk Gumbos (The Blue Dome) which in the XIX century was turned into a cathedral mosque.

Khiva- The museum under the blue sky.

Khiva may be a small city -- its population barely tops 40,000 -- but its history as the best preserved stop on the old Silk Road gives it a broad appeal for tourists tracing the historic trading route. In the Khorezm oasis of the Kara-Kum Desert, Khiva was the capital of the Khivan Khanate from 1592 until the Bolshevik take-over in 1920.Nobody seems to know exactly how old this ancient city is, though the story goes that Khiva was founded by none other than Shem, the son of Noah (of “and the Ark” fame); at the very least, the city dates back to the 7th century, and probably much earlier. Despite its seemingly romantic history as a Silk Road oasis, the city became most notable as Central Asia’s biggest slave trade center.

For those who’ve seen old cities at their best and worst, Khiva may feel a bit like the Williamsburg of the East, for its genuine dirt and din were swept clean by an aggressive Soviet sanitation in the 1970s. Intent on transforming the traditionally teeming city into a living museum, Khiva was purged of much of its ancient bustle, and its buildings were scrubbed down (or, in the case of some landmarks, such as the 9th century Dzhuma Mosque, rebuilt) and turned into public exhibits.

Khiva is a day-trip city - good hotels and other tourist services are in short supply - but it’s a popular excursion from Urgench. Most of the city’s mosques, minarets and other landmarks, renowned for their delicate majolica tiles and naturalistic paintings, are located in the historic Ichon-Qala area.Must-sees include the exquisite 19th century Tosh-Khovli Palace, the 225-foot tall Islam-Khodzha Minaret, and Pahlavon Mahmud’s mausoleum, with its proverb-embossed tiles, honoring the great Khivan philosopher and teacher.

A Fairy sity - Samarkand.

Samarkand is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as Rome, Athens and Babylon- more than 25 centuries old. Ancient Arab manuscripts refer to it as the “Gem of the East”, Europeans called it the “The Land of Scientists”. A majestic and beautiful city, Samarkand is the city of legends. When Alexander the Great first time saw Samarkand, he exclaimed “ I heard that the city was beautiful but never thought that it could be so beautiful and majestic”.

Yes, by any standards the city has an astonishing collection of ancient monuments. The turquoise domes of Samarkand is among the world’s most evocative architectural symbols. The most magnificent landmark in this old city is Registan Square- a traditional center of the city.

The square is lined on the three sides by sparkling and turquoise tiled buildings- Ulugbek Madrasah, Sherdor and Tilla Qori. Madrasah in Arabic means The medieval universities. Inferior and exterior facades of the madrassah are decorated with ornament of glazed brick, mosaic and carved marble. The Square is considered an architectural gem representing the finest in Islamic Art.

The Other Historical site is Mausoleum of Tamerlane, one of the imposing conquerors in history, who made Samarkand beloved by poets and travelers. The majesty of architectural forms and lines and colorful mosaic designs make this mausoleum a unique monument of medieval architecture. the famous blue ribbed cantaloupe dome of mausoleum rises over the tin roof-tops in central Samarkand. A massive slab of green jade, under which Tamerlane was laid is said to be the largest such stone in the world.

Samarkand’s importance to the history and culture mankind is now being recognized by UN, UNESCO and WTO, which are helping to promote tourism to the region. As the government, who has made tourism a priority sector for development is continuing to invest hotels, airports, transportation and leisure facilities, service is becoming yet another of the country’s attractions.

As one the ancient poets said:

You can travel through the whole world, have a look at the pyramids and admire the smile of the Sphinx;You can listen to the soft singing of the wind at the Adriatic Sea and kneel down reverently at the ruins of the Acropolis, be dazzled by Rome with its Forum and Coliseum, be charmed by Notre Dame in Paris or by old domes of Milan;  But if you have seen buildings of Samarkanda, you will be enchanted by its magic forever. 

Bukhara - the best plase to visit!

Bukhara is an ancient settlement with a history that goes back to the early centuries A.D. In the 6^th century it became the capital of the early feudal lands of the Bukhara oasis. As the Shakhristan, the centre of a shah's realm, it was formed around an ancient citadel, but with the development of handicrafts and trade, new suburbs (rabads) arose beyond its walls, which were included with the Shakhristan in a new fortified wall.

Remains of it dating back to the sixteenth century have survived to our day. Bukhara preserves genuine treasures of architecture of the pre-Mongol period, although not very many in number. One of them is the mausoleum of the Samanids, built in the ninth and tenth centuries. This modest structure is, by virtue of its artistic aspect and the lucid logic of its construction, a true monumental piece of architecture. The art of its construction, the virtuosic use of fired brick in decoration, and the lay-out of the building place it among the masterpieces of world architecture.
The architecture of the following period is better expressed in the Kalyan minaret, built in 1127, at the same time as its Djuma (Friday) mosque (for prayer of the assembly, observed on a Friday), which no longer exists.
The powerful column of the minaret is 9 meters in diameter at the base and grows slightly narrower towards its 46 meter height. The minaret is exquisite not only in its magnificence and ornamental brick work but also for the art with which it was built. It has stood for 800 years now without once needing repairs.
Outside the walls of Bukhara stands the Namazgah, a mosque for five-times daily private prayers (built in 1119-1120), with a sixteenth century Triple-arch gallery. The south portals of the Magoki-Attari mosque are highly characteristic of the very decorative architecture of the twelfth century. The decorative details of the portals are famous because of the fine techniques involved. The few Bukhara masterpieces extant of the 11^th and 12^th centuries testify to the splendid building skill of the architects of the period, and the subtle artistry of their ornamentation.

In the post-Mongol period there was no extensive construction work in Bukhara and in the other cities of Central Asia. But in the next century there was increased activity in this sphere. During the time of Ulug Bek Bukhara acquired a new madrasah (1417). Everything in it is characteristic of Ulug Bek architecture - the clarity of the design, excellent proportions, and understated decorative details.
In the 16^th century, after the establishment of the Uzbek Shaibanai dynasty, Bukhara once again became the capital of a large Central Asian state. The city grew and new walls were built. The intensive construction here started with a Friday mosque, erected in 1514 in the place of an older twelfth century mosque beside the Kalyan minaret. It became one of the biggest structures in Central Asia. On the other side of the square in which the minaret stands, the Miri-Arab madrasah was built in 1535-1536. The madrasah, the mosque and minaret comprise one of the most impressive ensembles in Bukhara.

The same method of kosh, or, of paired buildings, was used in the construction of the kosh-madrasahs, the Modari-khan (1566-1567) and the Madrasah of Abdullah-khan (1588-1590). The architecture of small town mosques combined the technique of monumental architecture and popular tradition. Such are the Balyand and Khoja Zaineddin mosques (16^th c.). The ornamental design of their interiors is on a par with the best Samarkand structures of the fifteenth century.

Civil building played an important role in 16^th century Bukhara architecture: the bazaar takis, caravansarais and baths. They are extremely expressive in their clear-cut silhouettes and constructional solution.
One of the important Bukhara ensembles, the buildings around the Lyabi-khauz date back to the 17^th century. The earliest of them, Kukeldash madrasah (1568-1569) is the largest building in Central Asia among similar structures. In 1620 the Lyabi-khauz pool was dug in front of it, faced with large lime flagstones and its perimeter planted with trees. At the same time, on the two sides of the pool were built the "khana-gah", a mosque and hospice, and the Nadir-Divan-Begi madrasah. The structures stand by the expansive surface of water in a most effective way.
The kosh technique was also used in the construction of the last important Bukhara building, the Abdulazis-khan madrasah (1652), opposite the Ulug Bek madrasah. Despite the fact that the two buildings differ in dates of construction, divided as they are by two centuries, they comprise a united and austere architectural ensemble.

In the eighteenth century, owing to the political situation, construction in Bukhara lost its former creative power.
The individual buildings and whole ensembles of Bukhara played a great role in urban construction and continue to do so even today. The technique of placing them in groups in certain combinations strengthened their artistic influence and gave the finishing touches to the squares and thoroughfares of the city. It is in this that the importance of the architectural ensembles of Bukhara lies. Restored and preserved, they have now acquired a new lease on life, and comprise an integral part of the modern city's flavor.

Uzbekistan common information.

Uzbekistan has an area of 447,400 square kilometres (172,700 sq mi). It is the 56th largest country in the world by area and the 42nd by population. Among the CIS countries, it is the 5th largest by area and the 3rd largest by population.

Uzbekistan lies between latitudes 37° and 46° N, and longitudes 56° and 74° E. It stretches 1,425 kilometres (885 mi) from west to east and 930 kilometres (580 mi) from north to south. Bordering Kazakhstan and the Aral Sea to the north and northwest,Turkmenistan to the southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast, and Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Uzbekistan is not only one of the larger Central Asian states but also the only Central Asian state to border all the other four. Uzbekistan also shares a short border (less than 150 km or 93 mi) with Afghanistan to the south.

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; it is one of two doubly landlocked countries in the world, i.e., a country completely surrounded by landlocked countries – the other being Liechtenstein. Less than 10% of its territory is intensively cultivated irrigated land in river valleys and oases. The rest is vast desert (Kyzyl Kum) and mountains.

The highest point in Uzbekistan is the Khazret Sultan, located at 4,643 metres (15,233 ft) above sea level, located in the southern part of the Gissar Range in Surkhandarya Province, on the border with Tajikistan, just north-west of Dushanbe (formerly called Peak of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party).

The climate in the Republic of Uzbekistan is continental, with little precipitation expected annually (100–200 millimeters, or 3.9–7.9 inches). The average summer high temperature tends to be 40 °C (104 °F), while the average winter low temperature is around −23 °C (−9 °F).

Major cities include Andijan, Bukhara, Samarkand, Namangan and the capital Tashkent.