This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by Country Holiday.
Conquered by Alexander Great and later the Mongols under Genghis Khan, Uzbekistan was home to Timur the Great and Babur, who founded the Moghul Empire. This is the land where the ancient Silk Road passed and the “Great Game” between Great Britain and Russia was played out for almost a century.
The best way to experience Uzbekistan is by traveling through the Karakum Desert, visiting the three medieval kingdoms – Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand.
Khiva is more than 2500 years old. It is located in the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. A living museum, Khiva is the richest in monuments of the once powerful Khanate of Khorezm. Ishan-Kala, the inner town of Khiva, is protected by brick walls about ten meters high. It contains impressive architectural buildings such as towers, mosques and minarets. Ishan-Kala displays medieval architectural forms, delicate wood carvings, and intricate ornamentation. The silhouettes of the buildings, surrounded by huge clay walls, give a clear idea of a Central Asian feudal city.
If Khiva is the best preserved city, Bukhara has the most charming atmosphere. This is Central Asia’s most holy city. The old city is replete with places of learning, fortresses, and colorful bazaars. The architecture reflects its tumultuous history which spans over 1500 years. Clear blue skies framed by sandy domes and minarets make up Bukhara. At the covered bazaars of Taqi Sarrafon and Taqi-Telpak Furushon, you can find carpets, hats, and hand woven silk fabric or admire architectural highlights such as Lyabi-Hauz Plaza, Kalon Minaret (the tallest in Central Asia), and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum.
The best is saved for last. Among the cities of the world, one of the most ancient is Samarkand, whose history dates back 2500 years. It is arguably one of the most glorious and beautiful cities in Central Asia – perhaps one of the greatest Islamic cities of all time.
Samarkand, an important center of power throughout its history, was home to Timur the Great – a fourteenth-century conqueror of Western, South and Central Asia. The glory of this time is best depicted in Registan, the medieval commercial center of the city. Samarkand is a treasure trove of stunning architecture. Shah-I-Zinda Ensemble, also referred to as Avenue of Mausoleums, is lined on either side with the mausoleums of the Timur period. They form a fantastic spectacle of majolica (colorful ceramic) barricades and tile mosaics. The walls of the Bibi-khanum Mosque are faced with polished brick, which serve as a backdrop for the blue enameled bricks used for a large geometrical decorative pattern. Such monumental ornamentation is characteristic of the buildings constructed for Timur.
The history and sites of Uzbekistan, which sound like chapters from One Thousand and One Nights, are what lures travelers looking for a truly exotic trip.
For this tour, please see link:
8 DAYS UZBEKISTAN – An Authentic Living Museum
Written By: Chang Theng Hwee
Trip organized by Country Holidays.
To learn more about tours and packages, please email beijing@countryholidays.com.cn or call (010) 8587-9263 and log onto: www.countryholidays.com.cn.
This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by Country Holiday.
Photos courtesy of Country Holidays
