Uzbekistan is a country in the Central Asia that borders with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It is one of the two countries in the world, which is separated from ocean at least by two boundaries, it is the heart of the East, and in ancient times this area was of strategic importance – those who conquered the land became the emperors.
Ancient Khorezm and Sogdiana spread from plains to mountains, from desert to oasis, had always attracted Rome and Byzantium with its mysteries and natural balance. There were a lot of legends about the treasures of these lands.
Multinational and Colorful
The modern Uzbekistan is a secular state with the population of about 30 million people of different nationalities: Uzbeks, Russians, Jews, Kazakhs, Uighurs, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks and Kyrgyzs. The area has been multinational for very long time and therefore it is almost impossible to provoke a riot here on ethnic grounds.
The consistent state policy aimed at cultivating liberal attitudes towards religions and tolerance plays a huge role in maintaining the stability. Uzbekistan is the most peaceful country of the Central Asian region. The friendly, welcoming and non-militant mentality of the Uzbekistan people, which they are famous for, has a significant importance for the stability in the country.
Discover the Land
The best time to travel to Uzbekistan is spring, from early March to June, and autumn, from late August till November. Winter is short and warm; summer is dry and hot with its forty days Saraton. In different regions of Uzbekistan, the temperature difference can reach 20 degrees centigrade. The coolest area is the mountains of the Fergana Valley; Karakalpakstan is the hottest and the driest area.
In spring, on March 21, Uzbekistan celebrates the Eastern New Year, a pagan festival Navruz, which has always been a bright, funny and memorable time, a season of cherries, strawberries, apricots, flowering trees and rave of colors. Autumn in Uzbekistan is the velvet, golden and sunny season, with plenty of fruits and vegetables in markets and bazaars.
The original heritage of Central Asian civilization – mosques, mausoleums, caravanserais, madrasahs, strongholds, signal towers, Emirs’ palaces and ancient neighborhoods – are of immense interest for the tourists.
Historic Cities
Three cities in Central Asia – Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are the pearls of medieval architecture. Many monuments in these cities are under UNESCO protection and carefully guarded and maintained in Uzbekistan.
Khiva is a museum town, the dream from the “One thousand and one nights” tales, an impregnable fort of the ancient Khorezm, it is walled, with four gates at the cardinal points. In this city every stone appears to be a symbol of something everlasting, here you can see one of the oldest mosques and one of the highest unfinished minarets.
The patron of Khiva, Mahmoud the Hero, was a philosopher and poet. Mamun Academy of scientists worked here, and Al-Khwarizmi, the greatest scientist of the medieval East, wrote his tractates here.
Samarkand was the capital of Tamerlane's Empire, a city of legends and the great conquests, a science and education center, one of the most tolerant cities in the world where many religions and beliefs exist side by side.
Palaces of Samarkand are the unique architectural structures built in the time of Timurids. In Samarkand there is the tomb of Tamerlane, it is the structure of incredible beauty, decorated with majolica, gold and onyx.
Bukhara is the religious heart of the East. It is a point of interest for pilgrims. In Bukhara there are architectural ensembles that remained unchanged, the old town untouched by civilization, the Emirs’ country palaces, monuments of culture dated before the Arabian invasion.
Tashkent is the largest metropolitan area in Central Asia, combining hoary antiquity and super-modern urbanism, the city where you will find a lot of secrets and mysteries, once you move away from highways and skyscrapers. The Koran of Osman, which is a relic of Muslims, is kept in the museum of Koran in Tashkent; the book contains unique lists stretching back centuries.
Handicrafts and Art
Uzbekistan is also well known for its handicrafts. This includes ceramics, which in each region varies with respect to the manner of production, materials and colors. This also includes the production of handmade silk carpets, the production of the smallest of which takes not less than a year. It is also the national embroidery which you can see on the traditional Suzane, tablecloths, bags and clothes; silk and cotton scarves, woven and printed, whose manufacturing technology dates back to the time of Tamerlane. The old machines and printing tools are themselves the works of art. This also includes embossing: the most beautiful products are traditionally made in Bukhara and Kokand.
Applied art in Uzbekistan is one of the favorite activities. Exhibitions, fairs and festivals of folk art are held here several times a year. School of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan has traditionally been one of the most professional ones in the post-Soviet world. Uzbeks have always been distinguished with the love to a good rhyme, thin lines and elegant proportions. Commitment to the canons closely coexists with the love for innovations.
Philosophy and Teahouses
It is impossible to describe the wonderful country in just a few words... The reasons to visit Uzbekistan may take many pages to write. Moreover, seeing once is better than hearing and reading twice, and it is better and much more exciting to touch the treasures and mysteries yourself, to see the beauty of nature and biosphere reserves, the harsh beauty of the desert, to hear the sounds of oriental bazaars, to philosophize in teahouses drinking a cup of tea, lying on an old aivan, to gain wisdom, peace and appeasement.
By Farkhad Rasulev (Dolores Travel Services)
Dolores Travel Services Company offers historical, pilgrimage, environmental and extreme, incentive and VIP tours for groups and individual tourists through Central Asia – Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. You may also use the transportation services, visa support and hotel reservations in Central Asia, which all are provided by the Company.