“Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 ~On Our 5-Stan Tour”
5 Stan Tour: Five countries in Two Weeks! In Total, we explored:
Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 Tajikistan 🇹🇯 Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
To and Through All Five Countries, we traveled 6,355 Miles in Two Weeks
*****
Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic. It’s known for its mosques, mausoleums and other sites linked to the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean.
Samarkand, a major city on the route, contains a landmark of Islamic architecture: the Registan, a plaza bordered by 3 ornate, mosaic-covered religious schools dating to the 15th and 17th centuries.
Day 5: Friday, August 23
Tashkent to Samarkand, Uzbekistan
….Begin Tashkent City Tour. You will visit the Old City part of Tashkent that includes…
We Khast-Imam Complex: Khast Imam Square (Hazrati Imam) is a religious center of Tashkent. Hast-Imam is located in the old town, within neighborhoods with the old wattle and daub houses that have experienced earthquake of 1966.
This complex appeared near the tomb of one of the first imam of Tashkent city; the famous scientist, scholar of the Koran and Hadith, poet and craftsman Hazrati Imam (full name; Abu-Bakr Muhammad Kaffal Shashi). In the territory of the Hast-Imam, there are few architectural monuments, including the madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari, where future preachers are taught. The Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Central Asia, led by the Mufti, is also placed there.
Chorsu Bazaar:
Chorsu Bazaar, also called charsu bazaar, is the traditional bazaar located in the center of the old town of Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Under its blue-colored domed building and the adjacent areas, all daily necessities are sold
Chorsu Station Met:
From Chorsu Bazaar, we got to ride the metro to Amir Timur Square. Our tokens cost 1,000 som each.
On the other side of the entry doors, we were greeted by two security guards. Before we were allowed to move on, one of them did a cursory check of bags.
Our ride took us from the Chorsu Bazaar Station to the Alisher Navoiy Station. It was all of two stops. Ha! From there, we walked up a flight of steps and down another and we were in the Paktakhor station. From Paktakhor, we rode another two stops to Amir Timur Station. As the train pulled into the Mustaqilliq Maidoni station, right away, we noticed the chandeliers that decorate the ceiling of that Station.
Riding the Tashkent metro gave us our chance to see at least four of the system’s 29 uniquely designed and decorated stations. They are indeed each unique in design; small art galleries unto themselves. Of all the Stations, Alisher Navoiy was the prettiest. All of them were spanking clean. There was no trash or graffiti.
I wanted so bad to check out all of the Stations, but that’s the downside of tours. No flexibility. Even so, we were told we saw the best ones.
When we get to go to Russia to do our touring, the metros, we are told, are even better than here in Uzbekistan. We shall see one day.
….After the Old City tour, you will continue to the city center to promenade at….
Amir Timur Square:
The history of the square in the center of Tashkent named after Amir Timur, the commander and founder of a huge medieval empire, began as early as in the 19th century, when Tashkent was the center of the Turkestan Military Command, composing the Russian Empire. It was established by order of general M. Chernyaev in 1882. The square represented a small park in the center of the city, surrounded by buildings of a women and men’s gymnasium, a school and state bank.
Right in the center of the square, there is a monument to the outstanding commander and statesman of the 14th century; Amir Timur, who managed to found a centralized united state composing of 27 countries in the vast territory from the Mediterranean Sea to India. The monument is represented as a bronze figure of Amir Timur with imperial regalia on a reared horse. The monument plinth is engraved with an Amir Timur’s famous motto in four languages “Power is in Justice.”
Independence Square:
is located in the center of Tashkent city. It is a favorite resting place for the Tashkent residents. The fact that the most beautiful fountains of the city are located in the square contributed considerably to it.
Independence Square has its own history. Before 1865, not far from this place there was a palace of Kokand khan. In 1865 the Kokand khanate was liquidated and by order of the Russian administration and the construction of a residence for a Turkestan Governor-General began next to it. Later, this residence with a vast garden was named the White House.
In the colonial period a wappenshaw was held on its ground before the General-Governor’s residence.
*wappenshaw is a gathering and review of troops. The object was to satisfy the military chiefs that the arms of their retainers were in good condition and that the men were properly trained in their use.
Applied Arts Museum:
The State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan is an art museum located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, founded in 1937 as a temporary exhibition for handicrafts.
…..Transfer to railway station. Board the fast-speed train “Afrosiyob” and depart Tashkent, and arrives in Samarkand after 286 miles Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Day 8: Monday August 26 Samarkand-Bukhara, Uzbekistan
…..Start city tour
Registan Square:
is the main square in Samarkand, and the heart of the Timurid dynasty, built by the Turkic-Mongolian leader, Timur (Tamerlane). The square is dominated by Ulugbke Madrasah a religious education mosque. In Uzbekistan this is one of the monumental buildings in the country. As a building, Ulugh Beg Madrassa (Ulugh beg Madrasah) has an imposing portal and the external facade and internal domemosaic is a major feature of the islamic architecture in this ancient city.
This Persian architectural monument was the seat of learning during Ulugh Beg‘s (Timur’s grandson) rule. It has a mosque, lecture rooms and dormitory.
During the 15th century it was a seat of scientific learning. Ulugh Beg; 1393-1449, the well renowned astronomer, scientist and benign ruler of this time, taught here. Registan Square and Ulugbek Madrasah are one of the worlds most recognized Mosque.
Registan means “sandy place” in Persian, and this ancient city is located on the Silk Road Route.
Gur Emir Mausoleum:
The portal and trademark fluted azure dome of the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum marks the final resting place of Timur (Tamerlane), along with two sons and two grandsons (including Ulugbek). It’s a surprisingly modest building, largely because Timur was never expecting to be buried here. The tilework and dome are particularly beautiful. Timur had built a simple crypt for himself at Shakhrisabz, and had this one built in 1404 for his grandson and proposed heir; Mohammed Sultan, who had died the previous year. But the story goes that when Timur died unexpectedly of pneumonia in Kazakhstan (in the course of planning an expedition against the Chinese), in the winter of 1405, on the passes back to Shakhrisabz, they were snowed-in and he was interred there, instead.
…..Early evening, transfer to the railway station. Take the “Afrosiyob” train for 270 miles
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 9: Tuesday, August 27
Bukhara, Uzbekista
…..Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in this Old City….
Lyabi Hauz Ensemble: Architectual ensemble Lyabi-Khauz is formed with three large monumental buildings: Kukeldash Madrasah in the north, khanaka and Nodir Divan-begi in the west and in the east. From the south the square was closed with Trade Street. The center of old Bukhara large ensemble became a reservoir.
The name “Lyabi-Khauz”means “at reservoir.”According to the old legend, for a long time knan gardener Nadir Divan-begi could not buy a lot for planned building, where a house of alone woman was. Then all-powerful vizier ordered to built a channel under women’s house, and the water began to wash away walls. Unhappy, the women had to sell this lot. The khan hauz secretly was called “khauz of violence,” what in Arabian inscription gives numerical meaning of building dates ~1620.
Magoki-Attori Mosque:
is a historical mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. It forms a part of the historical religious complex of Lyab-i Hauz.
Bukhara is a wonderful place to shop for beautiful handicrafts of great quality,. I spent all my free-time going from shop to shop to see all the lovely hand-crafted items that just begged me to take them home with us!
The Ismail Samani Mausoleum:
is the oldest building in Bukhara, standing west of the city center in a park erected during Soviet times. The mausoleum is believed to have served as the family tomb of the Samanid dynasty; 819 to 1003, the descendants of a noble Persian family who governed Transoxiana on behalf of the Abbasid Caliphate, based in Baghdad. The tomb is named for Ismail Samani; r 892-907, the dynasty’s most esteemed ruler, who was often celebrated for his virtues and lionized by the 11th-century Seljuk vizier Nizam al-Muk, who recommended him as a model of good leadership in his Book of Government.
The mausoleum is extremely important from an art historical perspective as it is the earliest instance of an Islamic tomb to survive in Central Asia.
The Chor Minor:
meaning; “four towers,” was founded by a Turkish merchant, Khalifa Niyaz Qouli in the early 19th century. At that time Bukhara was far from the glory days of the Shaybanid dynasty and the general quality of building construction was quite low. Nevertheless, Qouli managed to create a structure of lasting architectural interest that continues to delight visitors for its idiosyncracy and creative reinterpretation of time-honored design principals.
The purpose of the building is not entirely clear, but it likely served as the forepart of a spacious madrasa which no longer survives. In this capacity the Chor Minor was simultaneously a monumental gateway, a tall “signpost” advertising the location of the madrasa, and an integral component of the madrasa’s curriculum; the top floor includes a domed chamber that was likely used as a library.
Kalyan Mosque:
stands face-to-face with the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa, forming the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble with the Kalyan minaret between them. It serves as the city’s Friday (congregational) mosque and is the largest in central Asia apart from the Bibi Khanum mosque in Samarkand and the Friday Mosque of Herat, Afghanistan. Completed by the 1530’s, it is the earliest of the major Shaibanid monuments of Bukhara and a symbol of the city’s rising status in the 16th century.
Friday mosques have existed in Bukhara from the very beginning of the region’s turn to Islam. In the year 709, scarcely a century after Muhammad’s revelations, the city fell to the armies of Qutayba ibn Muslim; 669 – 715/16, the Umayyad governor of Khorasan.
The historian al-Narshakhi, writing in the 10th century, noted that Qutayba built a grand mosque inside the city’s citadel in 712/13 on the site of a former temple. To attract the newly-converted Qutayba resorted to paying two dirhams to each attendee and allowed the prayers to be held in the native Sogdian language rather than Arabic.
Kalyan Minaret: ⬆️ The Kalyan Minaret is a minaret of the Po-i-Kalyan mosque complex in Bukhara, Uzbekistan and one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. The minaret, designed by Bako, was built by the Qarakhanid ruler Mohammad Arslan Khan in 1127 to summon Muslims to prayer five times a day.
Miri-Arab Madrasah.
The Mir-i Arab Madrasa is one of three buildings comprising the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble in the heart of Bukhara, along with the 12th century Kalyan minaret and the 16th century Kalyan mosque. It was constructed by the Shaibanid ruler Ubaydullah-khan; r 1534-39, who was the first of the Shaibanids to make Bukhara his primary capital.
Its name, Mir-i Arab, literally means “Prince of the Arabs,” and refers to Sheikh Abdullah Yamani of Yemen who rose to fame as head of Bukhara’s Muslim community during the reign of Muhammad Shaybani, the founder of the short-lived Shaibanid dynasty. Sheikh Yamani served as the pir (spiritual adviser) of several Khans and was ultimately laid to rest within the madrasa, that now bears his name. Madrasas were in common use in Transoxiana by the 16th century and served as Islamic “colleges.” Most were rectangular with a monumental entrance gate (an iwan), a large central courtyard, and four inward-facing iwans; a set of design principles originating in Iran
Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasahs:
Opposite Ulugbek Madrasah, there is Abdullazizkhan Madrasah. Abdullazizkhan built in 1651–1652 and it is the last large Madrasah in Bukhara.
The building is typical by composition, with four-ayvans yard, but with unordinary divergent fan of hudj groups after side ayvans and cupola buildings on the central axis.
It is very interesting the improvement of living lodgings, which consisted of entrance hall and hudjra, and were equipped with free-places, attic story, wall niches for bed clothes, dishes, decorated in conformity with the taste of inhabitants, who rented these apartments during their study.
Away from Poi-Kalyan ensemble, we can see trade arcades, belonging to the end of the 16 century Taki-Telpak Phurushon and Taki Sarraphon.
Ark Fortress:
is the oldest architectural monument in Bukhara. It is located on an artificial hill and has a very impressive citadel look. It was built in the 5th century BC and served as the residence of emirs.
The wall was reconstructed over centuries, but the best example of transformation can be viewed on the slopes of the mound that were first cased in earthen blocks and later, changed to mud bricks and baked bricks.
Before the invasion of the Arabs, the Ark Fortress was the residence of bukhar-khudas (city rulers), scientists and poets. Here lived Firdousi, Farabi, Omar Khayyam, Avicenna and many other famous people of the time, during the reign of the Samanids dynasty.
Bolo-Khauz Mosque:
is a historical mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Built in 1712, on the opposite side of the citadel of Ark in Registan district, it is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the other parts of the historic city.
….In the evening visit the National Folklore show at Nodira Devon Begi mmadrassah. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
National Folklore Show at Nodira Devon Begi mmadrassah:
Nadir Devan-Begi is one of the oldest and most beautiful medieval madrasahs of Bukhara. Here tourists and visitors can enjoy the performance of the folk ensemble and national performance, accompanied with live music. Here, in the madrasah Nadir Devan-Begi, you will have a unique opportunity to join the culture of the Uzbek people, to feel an oriental spirit, including traditional dances and music.
The Folk Show begins with silent national music, which gradually turns into a great show. The repertoire of the program is very interesting. You will see the dances of various regions of Uzbekistan: Uzbek national dance, Fergana classical dance, Khorezm folk dance, as well as Tajik and Arab dancing.
Between dances, beautiful girls demonstrate fashion show of exquisite collections that combine modern fashion and national traditions.
…..From Darvaza Gas crater to Turkmen-Uzbek border, then from the border to Khiva.
In Khiva, you will have free time.
The border crossing will takes around 1 to 2 hours
Ichan-Kala Fortress:
is the inner town (protected by brick walls some almost 33 feet high walls of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran.
Although few very old monuments still remain, it is a coherent and well-preserved example of the Muslim architecture of Central Asia. There are several outstanding structures such as the Djuma Mosque, the mausoleums, the madrasas and the two magnificent palaces built at the beginning of the 19th century by Alla-Kulli-Khan.
Itchan Kala, the inner fortress of Khiva, is located to the South of the Amu Darya River (known as the Oxus in ancient times) in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan, and it was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Persia.
Itchan Kala has a history that spans over two millennia. The inner town has around 65 acres and was built according to the ancient traditions of Central Asian town building, as a regular rectangle; elongated from south to north and closed by brick fortification walls that are up to 33 feet high.
The property is the site of 51 ancient monumental structures, 250 dwellings and displays remarkable types of architectural ensembles, as well as caravanserais and markets. All attributes are outstanding examples of Islamic architecture of Central Asia.
Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah:
is one of the main sights, located in the historical district Itchan-Kala. It is the largest madrasah not only in Khiva but in the Central Asia. The two-storied building occupies a large area, and has 125 khudjras (cells), intended for 260 students.
The uniqueness of this madrasah is that each khudjra consisted of two rooms, and khudjras on second floor consisted of room and loggia, looking out the facade.
The Madrasah was built in 1851-1854 by the order of Khiva ruler Muhammad Amin-khan and was named after him. The building of the Madrasah of Mukhammad Amin-khan has five domes and flank towers. The facade is decorated with rich ornament of glazed brick, wooden doors abound in ornamental carving, majolica face impresses with herbal patterns.
Above the entrance, there is the inscription in Arabic: “This wonderful building will stay here forever to descendants’ joy.”
Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah:
was one of the most educated representatives of Kungrat dynasty ever to rule in Khiva since 1770.
During his rule, a number of reforms were carried out in improvement of cities, in policy, economy, but, what was the most important, was in education. His reforms in education resulted in opening of the first “new type” of schools in Khiva, where not only religious, but also secular subjects were taught.
The construction of one of the largest madrasahs in the Central Asia in his own honour became the apotheoses of his rule. Not only in religion and the Koran, but also secular subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, geography were taught at the Muhammad Rahim-khan Madrasah. Also studies included various sciences and theology. Madrasah students composed poems, and held debates.
Kalta Minor:
is an unfinished minaret located near the west entrance to the Ichan Kala (old city).
It was commissioned in 1851 by Mohammed Amin Khan, the ruler of Khiva, as an architectural marvel intended to rise over 230 feet; supposedly high enough to see Bukhara in the distance to the east, though this would have been impossible as the city is about 252 miles away. Too far away to actually see. In order to see Bukhara, the tower would have required a height of cruising altitude of a modern jet aircrafts.
Even so, a height of 230 feet would have made a formidable watchtower, as the Khan’s men could have monitored the desert sands for up to 20 miles, in all directions; alerting for traders, pilgrims, bandits, and armies.
The Khan’s untimely death while encamped on a Persian battlefield in 1855, put an end to the project when the minaret reached a mere 85 feet. However, even in its unfinished form, the structure is dazzling, covered from top to bottom with Khiva’s signature blue-green tiles and various geometric patterns. A band of tiles near the top encircles the minaret with an inscription in nastaliq script, a calligraphic font commonly used for writing in Persian.
Kunya-Ark:
According to historical evidence, in 1686, Arang-khan began the construction of the citadel Kunya-ark at the western gates of Ichan-kala. The ark presented a complex multi-yard composition, containing a house for khan, the members of his family, and dignitaries.
From the large numbers of constructions of the ark, only several buildings of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century were preserved. They were the official reception hall (kurinishkhana), a mosque, the mint, and a harem. Previously, there were an arsenal, a powder-mill, and an official building, warehouses, a kitchen, guardhouses, a stable, and a parade area. Fortified gates led to the citadel. A high-cogged wall separated the ark from the neighborhood dwellings of Ichan-kala.
Juma Mosque:
Khiva’s Juma, or Friday Mosque (after the Arabic ṣalāt al-jumu‘ah, meaning “Friday Prayer),” is located almost at the heart of the Ichan Kala (old city), a fitting location as the name of the ruling Khan would have been read aloud here during Friday prayers.
The prayer hall is laid out in roughly rectangular form and is fashioned as a hypostyle hall featuring 213 karagacha (black elm) columns in a grid configuration.
Apart from two small lightwells and the small entrances on four sides of the hall, there were no windows or other openings to the outside world, creating a dim and secluded atmosphere that is even today a welcome respite from the unrelenting Khivan sun.
The overall form is similar to archaic Arab-style mosques from the early days of Islam. However, it seems likely that the similarity in designs is nothing more than a functional coincidence as there is no indication that early Arab-style mosque design persisted into 18th century central Asia.
The mosque was built atop the ruins of an older mosque on the same location and there is considerable evidence that materials were reused from various reconstructions over a period of centuries. For instance, four of the oldest pillars were fashioned in the 10th century and were taken from the Khorezmian capital of Kath. A further 17 pillars were taken from the same location at least a century later. Of the remaining pillars, most were fashioned in the 17th and 18th centuries but a handful were made in the centuries in between. Though the pillars generally look uniform at first glance, the specific decorative treatment varies according to age.
Apart from the prayer hall, the mosque’s chief distinguishing feature is its 33 meter tall minaret that is physically connected to the north side of the prayer hall. An extra fee allows intrepid visitors the chance to climb the 81 steps to the top.
Toshkhovli Palace:
This palace, which means “Stone House,” contains Khiva’s most sumptuous interior decoration, dense with blue ceramic tiles, carved wooden pillars and elaborate ghanch. Built by Allakuli Khan, between 1832 and 1841, as a more splendid alternative to the Kuhna Ark, it is said to have more than 150 rooms off nine courtyards, with high ceilings designed to catch the slightest desert breeze. Allakuli was a man in a hurry; the Tosh-Hovli’s first architect was executed for failing to complete the job in two years.
Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum:
If blue domes as the symbol of the eastern architecture can be often found in Samarkand and Bukhara, there is only one blue dome in Khiva. It decorates the tomb of Makhmud Pahlavan, a famous poet and warrior of the 14th century.
There are a lot of legends about his strength and courage. One of the legends tells that Pahlavan conquered the Indian ruler, and the latter agreed to reward him with whatever the hero would wish. Then Pahlavan Makhmud said: “Release my countrymen from prison.” And when the ruler asked how many people he should release, Pakhlavan said all those who would fit into a cow skin. He then cut the skin into thin strips, tied them into one large belt and wrapped all the prisoners with the belt. So Makhmud rescued many people from slavery. After his death Muslim clergy canonized him.
Minaret of Islom Khodja:
This almost-modern complex dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It includes a minaret and a mosque.
The complex is called in honor of Islam Khoja, Prime Minister of Isfandiar Khan. Islam Khoja minaret is called the symbol of Khiva.
It is narrowed upwards, which dates back to the earliest examples of the architecture of the 14th century. The brickwork alternates with bands of glazed patterns on the minaret. The height of the minaret is almost 186 feet tall.
….In the evening you will be transferred to Urgench airport for your flight to Tashkent; 679 miles; 1h 40min
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Day 12: Friday, August 3o. Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan to Khiva, Uzbekistan ….Drive to Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point Dashoguz-Shavat through Karakym Desert;
167 miles;4h
Go through border formalities at both checkpoints
Cross 1641 yards of neutral zone (transportation may not be available)
Meet your Uzbekistan driver Continue to Khiva;
37miles; 1h
….In the evening enjoy Master class on cooking tukhumbarak (unusual Khiva ravioli stuffed with raw eggs) at national house of Zaravshan-opa
Day 13: Saturday, August 31 Khiva to Urgench, Uzbekistan to Tashkent, Uzbekista. ….Start guided walking sightseeing tour
Spend a day in the UNESCO World Heritage site….
Day 14: Sunday, September 1
Tashkent, Uzbekistan departure day
….Transfer from hotel to Tashkent International Airport
Click on the links, below to see all the photos from this blog
Tashkent City Tour:
Kiva and Kala Fortress:
*End of Tour*
**We flew back to Almaty, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 to rest and catch up on blogging, and prepare our Visa for our Mongolia 🇲🇳 trip, next**
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More