Uzbekistan is a sunny country with a great past. The edge of an ancient civilization rich in historical events, a country that harmoniously combines antiquity and modernity, culture and art of East and West. For many centuries this region was the center of an ancient caravan route stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean. Along the Great Silk Road, cities arose and fell into decay, states formed and collapsed. Cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva were a place of rest and lively trade along the way, where caravans from Spain met merchants from China. The historical and architectural richness of Uzbekistan, the traditions and culture of the Uzbek people make this country an attractive region for tourists who seek to follow the famous Silk Road.
Over the centuries, this land has witnessed the clash of the armies of such great rulers as Cyrus, Darius, Macedonian and Genghis Khan. Amir Temur founded his empire here.
Traveling to Uzbekistan is the call of the soul. The country has preserved a rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage. There are still palaces here, similar to those that you read about in the fairy tales “A Thousand and One Nights”. Madrasahs, mausoleums and minarets of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz are majestic and unique in their beauty. At the same time, Buddhist temples and monasteries of Termez and Zoroastrian shrines of ancient Khorezm beckon with undisclosed secrets.
Everyone will find something for themselves in Uzbekistan: delicious cuisine and delicious oriental fruits, the mountains of Chimgan, called Asian Switzerland, Aydarkul Lake, monuments of history and religion, and not only Islamic.
Tourists going to Uzbekistan should definitely stock up on film or memory cards and a large bag for souvenirs.
You can travel around the country at any time of the year. Keep in mind that the peak of the fruit harvest here is at the end of spring, summer and the first months of autumn.
In general, the Uzbek land has a unique and rich nature. None of the republics of the Central Asian region has such a variety of geographical zones. The glaciers of the Kuramin and Chatkal ranges are replaced by alpine meadows and forests of the reserves of the Akhangaran valley. The gloomy landscapes of the Hungry Steppe, surrounding the regional center of Jizzakh, abruptly end at the border of the western Tien Shan spurs with a wall that encloses the Fergana Valley – the main fertile oasis of Uzbekistan. If you drive past the picturesque Ferghana, Andijan and Shakhrisabz and cross the mountain passes, then you will face the deserts of Kyzylkum, in which the full-flowing Amudarya and Syrdarya are lost without a trace.
Today Uzbekistan is a young secular democratic state. This is a large industrial and industrial state with a developed infrastructure, a global exporter of cotton, a major supplier of gold and natural gas.
Dozens of nationalities and nationalities live here, among which are residents of the Central Asian region: Tajiks, Turkmens, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uighurs, Dungans, as well as Russians, Tatars, Germans, Jews, Lithuanians, Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Greeks, Turks… In addition, diasporas Koreans, Iranians, Armenians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis and many others live in Uzbekistan.
One of the features and real pride of this amazing land is the traditions of the Uzbek people, which are preserved in its culture, songs and dances, arts and crafts.
From a trip to Uzbekistan, you will remember for a long time the aromas of gourds, the image of noisy and colorful oriental bazaars, the most interesting legends and the hospitality of local residents. There is a good tradition in Uzbekistan: a dastarkhan is always spread out in front of the guest and a freshly baked cake is broken with the words “Khush kelebsiz” (“Welcome”)!
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and also the largest city in Central Asia. For many years, Tashkent has been the most important business and cultural center of the country, attracting tourists and businessmen from all over the world.
The history of Tashkent has more than 2 thousand years. Some of the first mentions of the city were found in chronicles written as early as the 2nd century BC. In ancient Chinese sources, Tashkent was called Shi, which means stone, and in the early Middle Ages, Shash or Chach.
Scientists came to the conclusion that the Turkic tribes who settled in this territory later borrowed the name, since “tash” in the Turkic languages is also translated as a stone. Due to its favorable location, the city was considered one of the main points on the Silk Road.
Nowadays, Tashkent is a modern metropolis and perfectly combines medieval buildings and modern business centers in its architecture. The city has all the conditions for a wonderful pastime. It merges long history and modern lifestyle. There are two international airports and 2 railway stations on the territory of Tashkent. One of the main modern sights of the city is the metro. It was opened in 1977 and is the first in Central Asia. Each station has its own unique design and unique architecture.
In Tashkent, you can see both historical monuments and modern mosques, stroll through the oriental bazaars, get acquainted with the thousand-year history and culture of the people in the capital’s museums, and, of course, relax in the parks, restaurants and nightlife of the city.