Within Uzbekistan’s borders are three historical cities on the ancient trade route that once spanned the Eurasian continent. Amid the ancient surroundings of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, visitors can explore beautifully restored Persian architecture and lose themselves in the mausoleums, madrasas, mosques and minarets that glint with Uzbekistan’s characteristic azure ceramic tiling.

It is these architectural treasures that have gained the triad of historical cities their coveted UNESCO World Heritage status. After all, the sheer number of monuments is astounding, as is the blend of blue cupolas, mosaics and graceful pointed arches set deep into the facades of mosques that transports travellers centuries back in time.

How do you keep your bearings in this architectural sea of blues and beiges? Learn the unique stories behind the buildings. In each of Uzbekistan’s three Silk Road cities, a landmark minaret has a myth behind it, adding a touch of intrigue to the present-day wonder.

Behind the ornate beauty of the Kalyan minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, is a history of salvation and doom. Photo by Wallace Faria

The Kalyan Minaret in Bukhara

The city of Bukhara was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993 by UNESCO, which noted that the urban layout is over 2,000 years old and remains amazingly intact. This makes Bukhara one of the oldest and best-preserved examples of a medieval city to be found in Central Asia.

Monuments in Bukhara attest to every era of the city’s long history. In fact, the skyline of Bukhara’s historical centre is dotted with ornate mosque rooftops, turquoise domes and minarets.

Towering above everything else, one impressive minaret in particular catches the eye with its delicate grace and form. This is the Kalyan minaret that crowns the Poi Kalyan mosque complex. Intriguing lore about this 45.6-metre tower abounds. It is said that the minaret we see today, completed in 1127 AD, is actually not the original construction. The first one inexplicably collapsed just after having been praised in medieval chronicles. “There was not anything of its kind, so womanlike and beautiful ever made.” From this description, we are left only to imagine the original doomed minaret.

The second construction of the Kalyan minaret was more charmed than cursed. According to legend, Central Asian conqueror Genghis Khan was so smitten with its beauty that he spared it from destruction during his siege of the city in the 13th century. Condemned criminals led to the top of the minaret were not so lucky, however: For centuries, the minaret was used to execute them by throwing them from the top, hence the nickname “tower of death.”

A landmark of Khiva, Uzbekistan, is the short and stout Kalta-Minor minaret, which tells the tale of the overconfident and short-lived khan who commissioned it. Photo by Ben P. Jones

The Kalta Minor Minaret in Khiva

In the old city of Khiva, it is the walled citadel, Itchan Kala that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the fortressed interior of Khiva, visitors immediately understand why it is known as an “open-air museum.” As the most coherent and immersive of Uzbekistan’s three ancient cities, Khiva’s streets and alleyways teem with history.

Just beyond the entrance of the citadel is a midget minaret. This landmark if the Kalta Minor Minaret. Compared to tall, elegant minarets like the Kalyan in Bukhara, the Kalta Minor is awkwardly short and stout. Like the Kalyan in Bukhara, though, the story of the Kalta Minor is also one of monumental hubris and abrupt endings.

As the story goes, this minaret was commissioned by Mohammed Amin Khan, Khiva’s ruler in 1855, who had grand plans to construct the highest minaret in the Muslim world. It was to reach 80 metres in height with a view from the top that would encompass all Bukhara on a clear day. Then, the great Khan suddenly and unexpectedly dropped dead before the project’s completion, which is why all that remains is a dwarfed column measuring up to only 29 metres. As compensation, it is the only minaret whose entire surface is covered with glazed tiles.

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the twin minarets of the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum guard the remains of Amir Temur (aka Tamerlane), a great khan of Uzbek history. He placed a curse on anyone who dares to disrupt his eternal rest. Photo courtesy of Luke Ford

The Twin Minarets of the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum in Samarkand

The ancient city of Samarkand was deemed a “crossroads of cultures” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its fantastic art, architecture and historical urban structure.

A must-see in the city of Samarkand is the massive Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, burial place of Uzbekistan’s greatest khan, Amir Timur (also known as Tamerlane). The building’s symmetry is masterful – the central dome and arched entrance are flanked by mirror-image minarets. Construction was completed in the 15th century when Amir died, and heavy restoration projects have been carried out over the past hundred years.

The lore behind this mausoleum is simply uncanny. In 1941, Timur’s remains were exhumed so as to verify their authenticity. According to the writing on the wall, this was a bad idea. Carved in the stone coffin is an inscription that reads “The one who breaks the precept of Timur will be punished, and a terrible war will break out all over the world.” Tellingly, on the 22nd of June in 1941, just three days after the exhumation, German forces attacked the Soviet Union, kicking off some of the bloodiest battles along the Eastern Front of World War II. Was this the Timur’s curse for disrupting his eternal rest? Some believe so.

To do your own exploration of Uzbekistan’s mesmerising ancient cities along the Great Silk Road, get in contact with Afsona Travel, the whl.travel local connection in Uzbekistan.

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The Gur-e Amir (which translates to ‘tomb of the king’) is steeped in both rich architecture and legend. Its construction began in 1403 after the death of Temor’s most beloved grandson, who is also buried there. The Persian-style building features a single turquoise copula, ribbed and detailed with ornate rosette pattern. The dome tops an octagonally-shaped building that is also highly detailed with ornamental mosaics and epigraphs.

Is Temur really buried in this mausoleum? In 1941, the tomb was unsealed to verify the remains as Temur’s. The excavation was successful in the sense that the skeleton’s damage matched descriptions of the injuries Temur received in battle that caused his death and confirmed that the remains are indeed his.

Local conductor and musician Sadriddin Gulovs has been working for years to preserve the traditional sounds of Bukhara and Uzbekistan. With his brother and band, Sadriddin plays traditional Central Asian instruments like the dourma and shashtar that have been used in the area for centuries. As his reputation spreads, the artist has been invited to play international sets in neighbouring Turkmenistan and as far away as Paris.

Sadriddin Gulovs plays the shashtar during a private performance in his home in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

My chance encounter with Sadriddin occurred in a local coffee shop in Bukhara. What started as an inquisitive chat between tables ended with an invitation to join him and a musician friend for a jam session in his living room. After three or four songs and a bit more conversation conducted slowly over a Russian-to-English dictionary, we parted ways, but not before he suggested that, later that night, I attend a local wedding reception at which he was performing.

The author and Sadriddin Gulovs pose with traditional instruments during their first meeting in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

The day after my first Uzbek wedding, doing my best to shake off the combined effects of all-embracing hospitality and a proclivity for vodka that seems to pop up in many post-Soviet countries, I decided to forego afternoon sightseeing in order to drop back in on Sadriddin with a CD of my favourite photos from the day and night before. In the course of that conversation and then more chats over the next week, I was invited along to three more weddings with Sadriddin and the band.

Four Weddings and a Musical

Though the people, venue and even band members changed with each wedding, all four revolved around the same two anchors: music and dancing.

Showing up as a guest of the band meant access to every part of the performance, from carrying in keyboards and speakers to the 2am tear-everything-down-and-stuff-it-into-a-car moment at the end of the celebrations. The most exciting part, though, was always the height of a wedding itself. As soon as the first guests arrived, the band started playing. For the rest of the night, they seemed to stop only for important toasts to the bride and groom.

As the band’s music began, a professional dancer commenced her rounds of the central floor, spinning to the sounds of the performers and collecting tips to be shared out later to all the members.

What started as one woman dancing in a festive but controlled atmosphere very rapidly became a massive dance party, including everyone from the smallest child in her father’s arms to the oldest babushka who could still manage to move out onto the dance floor.

It goes without saying that as the out-of-place foreigner, I was absolutely required to get into the mix early and often.

Much to the delight of the older Uzbek ladies, the author dances with abandon at the first of four weddings during his stay in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

Four weddings’ examples of overwhelming generosity, three trips to Sadriddin’s house to visit his family, two toasts in English that I’m confident only a handful of guests understood and one amazing week in Bukhara later, I finally had to flee town in order not to overstay my visa. I left Sadriddin Gulovs with a handshake, a CD of his music and an email address through which to get in touch if I ever go back.

After a week in a city famous for its giant Kalon Minaret, beautifully conserved old city and fortress, and local Jewish culture, I departed instead with memories of music, dancing and an obliging sense of welcome that leaves most others’ I’ve experienced far behind.

We’ve taken a look at some of the most fascinating horse sports in Asia – tournaments, games and traditions that are often not well known to the Western world. In each case, knowledge of the sport has been passed down through the generations and even helped define the local cultures of which they are still an integral part today.

The Kurosh event at the Kyrgyzstan Horse Games is an intense horseback wrestling competition where the athletes and horses alike can showcase their strength and prowess

Horse Games of Kyrgyzstan

For the nomadic people of Kyrgyzstan, riding a horse is thought of the way Westerns drive cars. Every Kyrgyz man is comfortable in the saddle; it’s a skill passed down from father to son, and horses are very much a part of the culture. The annual Kyrgyzstan Horse Games are therefore not just for entertainment. They are a fierce test of talent and skill, speed and balance, flexibility and precision.

Watching the Kyrgyz Horse Games will not leave you in want of excitement. There’s Kurosh, essentially fierce wrestling on horseback, or Ulak Tartysh, where two teams of horsemen struggle to claim a goat carcass (like Buzkashi in Uzbekistan). For the more dexterous, there’s the Tyiyn Emmei, where the horse rider attempts to pick a coin up from the ground while moving at full gallop. For the romantically inclined, there’s the Kyz Kuumai, where the male rider must catch the female rider in order to win his prize: a kiss. And of course, there’s plain old-fashioned horse racing at Chaybash.

While admiring the thoroughbred Kyrgyz horses and their rides is the main event, there are plenty of other ways to experience Kyrgyz culture at the Horse Games. Sample some local Kyrgyz food or explore the nearby historic town of Krakol. Anyone interested in folk music or traditional performances will not want to miss the festival’s regular national folk shows.

At the annual camel fair in Puskkar, India, a majestic horse dancing competition briefly steals the spotlight. The horse and its handler perform to the rising and falling beats of the music. Photo courtesy of flickr/ratnasignrathore

Horse Dance at the Pushkar Fair, India

Every year in November, in the town of Pushkar in northeast India, locals celebrate with a camel fair. It’s a tribal gathering that coincides with the full moon of Kartik Purnima, a holy day on the Hindu calendar. As word has gotten out internationally about the the colour and spectacle of the camel fair, it has grown in scale. The tiny lakeside town becomes a huge tented fairground that now attracts some 300,000 people, including livestock-traders, religious pilgrims and tourists. Estimates are that between 25,000 and 50,000 animals are exchanged each year.

Camels are the livestock focus of the fair. Their tradesmen dress them in ornate costumes for camel beauty contests, and they even compete in artful camel-shaving competitions. For a brief moment of the festival, however, the camels are upstaged by the breathtaking performances of dancing horses. In this competition, the handlers stand next to their horses, guiding them in dances to the changing rhythms of traditional music.

To a chorus of roaring applause the Pasola riders thunder onto the playing field on bareback horses, dressed in their clan's costume with blunt spears in hand. Photo courtesy of Ng Sebastian

Pasola Harvest Festival in Sumba, Indonesia

The island of Sumba, one of the lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, has an athletic horse ceremony that attracts crowds of people each year, usually around late February. The equestrian competition is called Pasola, and it takes place as part of a joyous annual harvest festival – a celebration that culminates in a harrowing face-off of blunt-sworded men on horses.

In this sport, horsemen are divided into teams of two. Suspense hangs heavy in the air as different pairs align at opposite ends of a playing field. Then, they wait for a cue to charge toward each other at full force while wielding unsharpened spears. As they approach each other, they launch their weapons. The crowd goes wild.

A pasola tournament is not child’s play; it is not uncommon for athletes to be wounded and/or shed blood. For local onlookers, this is actually an encouraging sign of life: legend has it that blood spilled during a pasola will cleanse and purify the playing fields and ensure a bountiful harvest during the coming year.

To learn more about the full legend and ceremony behind Sumba’s Pasola festival, read Pasola: The Heart-racing Horse and Harvest Festival of Sumba, Indonesia right here on The Travel Word.

In Uzbekistan, in the game of Buzkashi, the objective of the solitary athlete with the goat carcass is to guard it from aggressive attempts to free it from his grasp. Photo courtesy of Nabihan Utarbekov

Buzkashi in Uzbekistan

The action-packed horse sport of Buzkashi has thrived for centuries on the open terrain of the central Asian steppe, including in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan (see more above), Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and northern Pakistan, as well as in Uzbekistan.

The main object of Buzkashi is for a horseman, called the chovandoz, to carry a boz, or goat carcass, from one point (a circle of paint on the ground) to a designated safe zone – another circle called the hallal, or ‘circle of justice.’ He must avoid losing the boz to any of a group of opponents along the way.

While the rules of Buzkashi may sound simple, the game is difficult and extremely technical. Athletes spend decades in long and persistent training, which is why the most skilled chovandoz are around 40 years old. Equally intensive training is given to the horses; valuable steeds are prepared for no less than five years with special nutrition and care.

Buzkashi is a thrilling spectator sport.

Read all about Buzkashi in Buzkashi: One Against All on Horseback in Uzbekistan right here on The Travel Word.

Naadam is a traditional festival in Mongolia held annually in mid-July. It is a widely celebrated national holiday for all Mongols and the main events are the sports of wrestling, horse racing and archery. Photo courtesy of Batbold Ragchaa

Naadam Horse Races in Mongolia

Horses have a very important place in the history of the Mongolian people. As early as the 12th century, the country’s mail relay system, known as the Yam, was a network of horseback postmen who could travel at high speeds over hundreds of kilometres per day. It was on horseback that emperors such as Genghis Khan conquered vast territories during the same time period. Today, horses are still a vital part of the culture. To put things into perspective, Mongolia is home to approximately 20 million steeds, compared to a population of only around 2.8 million people.

It is no wonder, then, that the annual Mongolian festival of Naadam features a horse race as one of the ‘three games of man’ that are the festival’s major events (the other two being Mongolian wrestling and archery.) Unlike the hardened athletes that compete in Uzbekisan’s Buzkashi, the contestants in the Naadam horse races are of all ages and sizes. The horses can be as young as two years old, and their child jockeys can start competing as early as age five or six. The races unfold with festive customs of songsinging and the placing of wagers.

Read more about Mongolian horse culture in Horsing Around in Mongolia right here on The Travel Word.

Buzkashi competition is fierce. It’s the kind of sport that requires dexterity, courage and force from the athletes, while also presenting a fantastic and fascinating show for spectators.

The 'chovandoz' (horseman) struts his stuff to rally the support of the Buzkashi spectators, an enthusiastic group of locals and travellers in Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy of Nabihan Utarbekov

Guard the Goat Carcass

The object of Buzkashi is for one horseman, called the chovandoz, to carry a boz, or goat carcass, from the centre of a circle painted on the ground to a designated safe zone – another circle called the hallal, or ‘circle of justice.’ He must avoid losing the boz to any of a group of opponents along the way.

What exactly is a boz? A few days before the game, a goat is beheaded. Its carcass is then soaked in cold water and sometimes salted, making it strong and heavy. The result is the cured trunk of a goat that weighs between 60 and 90 kilograms; merely lifting this boz from the ground and carrying the weight is a true feat of strength for the chovandoz. The curing process is necessary so that the boz survives the athletes’ rough handling.

A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master

The rules of Buzkashi are rather simple. Without dismounting, a horseman must lift the boz from the centre of the painted circle and head toward the hallal goal zone. Meanwhile the other riders use both strength and strategy to attempt to steal the trophy boz. It is against the rules to tie the goat to the saddle, hit the rival’s hands in order to knock the goat carcass loose or use rope to unsaddle other riders. That’s why being a chovandoz is not easy – it requires pure sportsmanship: no cheap shots allowed.

In the game of Buzkashi, the objective of the solitary athlete with the goat carcass is to guard it from aggressive attempts to free it from his grasp. Photo courtesy of Nabihan Utarbekov

Despite the simplicity of the rules, Buzkashi is difficult and extremely technical. The riders need many years of long and persistent training. It is no coincidence that the most skilled chovandoz are in their 40s. Similarly intense training is necessary for the horses; generally they are prepared for no less than five years with special nutrition and care, and the value of prize Buzkashi horses is measured in thousands of dollars. Horses bred for Buzkashi all have particular characteristics and not just any horse can train to become a champion. For example, if a chovandoz falls during the game, the horse knows to stop in the dust cloud and wait for him.

Dressed for the Part

Like any good national sport, Buzkashi is wildly entertaining to watch. If, somehow, the fans aren’t caught up in the sheer drama and suspense of it, the costumes add even more special effect. When the game begins, up to 50 horsemen enter the playing field in heavy, quilted jackets and protective headwear. Their high boots have heels that clip to the horses’ stirrups, allowing the athletes to stay attached to the horse while leaning low to pick up the boz. Much like polo, Buzkashi can get rough. In some variations, the players carry whips to ward off other horses.

The game is also high-risk, but the players are prepared. The passion, pride and prizes are well worth the risk. Prizes are always different, ranging from carpets to domestic appliances and even cars and large sums of money.

In Uzbekistan, a champion 'chovandoz' is both fierce and highly skilled, having trained for decades to master the game of Buzkashi. Photo courtesy of Nabihan Utarbekov

How to Watch a Buzkashi Match

If you’re planning on visiting Central Asia, be sure to catch a game of Buzkashi. The games are held throughout the year, usually for special occasions such as weddings and births. In Uzbekistan, there is an annual game every 21st of March. It’s the biggest competition, held during the celebration of Navruz, when local Uzbekistanis from all over the country (as well as foreigners and tourists) flock to Urgut, an area situated just 60 kilometres from Samarkand with one aim – watching this extraordinary, exciting and noble game of nomads.

Take in the local experience and excitement of a Buzkashi game on the Conquering the Steppe Day Tour, offered by Afsona Travel, the whl.travel local connection in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Traditionally, bazaars are not only the place to buy food, but also, and more importantly, to socialise, hear the latest news and bargain vigorously.

At the Mirabad Bazaar – pictured in this photo – you will find a huge variety of products, from clothing to all sorts of fruits and vegetables for which Uzbekistan is so famous. Being a country with hot climate (for 250 days a year there is sunny weather), Uzbekistan is a major producer of excellent fruits – peaches, grapes, cherry, melons and watermelons. The fruits are very sweet and have a natural taste, unlike those found in your local grocery store.

Uzbek fruits are known and exported all around Russia and former Soviet countries. Another good use of the fruits is to dry them and consume them during winter, along with a great abundance of nuts, which are used raw, salted and/or fried.

The bazaar is usually very big, with sections devoted to meat, meat products and fish, fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, nuts, and sweets and dry fruits. The last is the spice area, smelling of cinnamon, coriander, pink, cayenne and sweet pepper.

Some of the spices and nuts, as well as natural dyes, are imported from India, China and Iran along the ancient Silk Road running from Xinjiang in China via Central Asia, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, through Turkmenistan and Iran in the south, to Turkey and the Mediterranean. In the Middle Ages, before the sea way around Eurasia was found, thousands of camel caravans brought silk, paper and spices from China and India to Europe and then returned with industrial products.

As Uzbek people have always been involved mainly in agriculture and cattle breeding, their dishes usually contain a lot of meat and fat. The main dish, called pilaf or plov (the Russian name), is made of rice and meat, with lots of spices such as barberries, saffron, cumin, coriander and garlic. In some areas and recipes, dried apricots and raisins are added too.

Needless to say, visiting local bazaars is a central part of any tour program in Uzbekistan.

It is usually quite easy to meet representatives of the elder generation on the ancient streets of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. This photograph of an old man was taken in Samarkand in 2006 during a tour by one of our groups. He was resting at the entrance to the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world, built between 1399 and 1404.

Like many other people of his generation, this man considered this place holy – as he would other mosques and mausoleums in Uzbekistan – and visited them regularly to pay respects to his ancestors.

The man is wearing traditional headgear called a sallah. The history of this head covering is long and dates back to nomadic times. Merchants travelling along the Great Silk Road used to wrap long pieces of material around their heads that could be used as grave cloth in case someone died during the journey. The material also served as a protective covering from the hot sun. Although nowadays this tradition has lost its original meaning, you can still see elderly people wearing this garment especially on hot sunny days.

Although not many Uzbeks speak English, the cordiality and openness of the locals make it easy to find a common means of communication with foreigners; the language of gestures and facial expressions overcomes the so-called language barrier. However, you will easily find English speakers among the workers of the travel industry. With the help of our guide, visitors were able to talk with this honourable old man. During a short conversation, he shared a couple of legends about the grand mosque, built by the order of Amir Temur for his wife and meant to outshine everything seen before by the mighty sovereign.

The discussion with this man left a warm feeling in the hearts of our travellers; it became, for many, one of the the most memorable moments of their time in Uzbekistan. This is why we try to include a lot of interaction with local people in our tours. Locals provide the most precise and lively impression of Uzbekistan.

Exploring Uzbekistan is like leafing through the pages of an Eastern fairytale. During your journey you come across ancient fortresses, emirs’ palaces, tall minarets, noisy bazaars, fragrant cuisine and myriads of legends. The ancient cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara are popular must-see destinations for travellers coming to Uzbekistan, however, beyond some of the more better-known highlights there are distinctive aspects of each place that should not be overlooked.

Legendary Samarkand Non
An inseparable part of Uzbek culture is non, the traditional bread made in special earthen ovens. There are over 20 kinds of non, yet the most famous comes from the village of Gala-Osiyo near Samarkand. The secret recipe has made Samarkand the home of the best non in the region.

According to legend, when a Bukharin emir tasted Samarkand non, he ordered the best baker to make the same non in Bukhara. The baker made the bread, but the taste was different. The angry emir demanded an explanation. The baker reported that the air in Samarkand makes the bread so delicious!

Although it’s sold everywhere in the city, there are three main places where you can buy genuine Samarkand non. First is the main bazaar of Samarkand – the Siyob Bazaar – which has a special section of seemingly endless bread stalls. Less well known is the area near Registan Square, behind the Museum of History and Culture of Uzbekistan, where Registan Street turns into Pendjikent Street. Lastly, delicious non is available in the area of Ulugbek’s Observatory.

Keep in mind that local sellers may be quite pushy, but don’t panic. Take your time and always bargain a little. Expect to pay 2000 Uzbekistan Som (approximately US$1.50).

* Non Etiquette: Samarkand non should be divided into pieces with your hands (not with a knife) and also should not be placed bottom-side up when served. Don’t forget to drink hot tea after traditional meals, as the local food is rather greasy.

Ichan-Kala of Khiva
Ichan-Kala, the inner city of Khiva, is an open-air museum of unparalleled examples of ancient Oriental architecture. It comprises a collection of minarets, mausoleums and 10th-century mosques. In the summer the best time to visit is from 9-11am and in the evenings from 4-7pm. The hot afternoons should be spent in a chaihona (local teahouse) or in your hotel.

A view of the Ichan-Kala, the old walled city of Khiva and its Madrasah of Muhammad Rakhim-khan II. Construction of the surrounding walls began in the 6th century BC. Today the 2.25km of walls stand 10m high!

For a truly authentic overnight experience, travellers can stay at the Hotel Orient Star, situated in the Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrasah, a 19th-century theological school boasting remarkable architecture. Guests can say stay in actual hujras, or student rooms, which have retained the detail of its original interior.

Plan to spend no fewer than two days at Ichan-Kala and make sure that you wander around Khiva at night, when the moonlight creates magical silhouettes of the ancient city.

*Mosque Etiquette: Always take off your shoes and make sure not to interrupt a prayer. Women should visit the area conservatively dressed and with their heads covered. Avoid raising your voice in the visiting area and smoking is never permitted.

The crooked branch of the mulberry tree located on the grounds of the Bahouddin Naqshbandee complex is believed to bring blessing if walked around three times. If it hits your head or back, it means that you are granted forgiveness for your sins.

Mysteries of Naqshandee
One of the main trading centres of the Great Silk Road is legend-laden city of Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, one of the most mysterious and sacred places in Uzbekistan is situated 12km northwest of Bukhara, at the mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshbandee (1318–1389) in the village of Qasri Orifon.

The founder of Sufism and the Naqshbandiya order, Bahouddin is said to still be alive in the complex surrounding his tomb. Some claim to have seen him appear. The tomb of the Sufi is a popular pilgrimage destination and it is believed that walking around the tomb anticlockwise three times will bring you good blessing.

To get to the mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshbandee from Bukhara, travellers should arrange with a local operator.

For more information about Uzbekistan, including accommodations, tours, activities, all your travel needs, and lots of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: Shoista Saydaminova and the team from Afsona Travel at www.samarkand-bukhara-travel.com.

SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN RUSSIAN

One of the latest additions to the whl.travel network is Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a destination that, in contrast with some of its ancient sister-city counterparts, is rather unvisited by today’s Western traveller. It has been considered by poets and historians as the “Rome of the East” owing to its impressive cultural history and numerous ancient sites. In fact, given its 2500 years of history, it is as old as Rome and Babylon, and, due to its unique geographical position on the Silk Road route, it has served as a link between Europe and Asia, influenced by a fascinating blend of cultures – Indian, Mongolian, Iranian, Eastern and Western. Which is why, in 2001, Samarkand was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as “Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures” and is counted among the top cities of Central Asia to visit.

Samarkand's Registan Square, a pearl of Oriental architecture with three majestic madrasahs – Ulugbek Madrasah (left), Sher-Dor Madrasah (right), Tillya-Kari Madrasah (center), is a symbol of the city.

“We want you to experience the authentic life of a multinational Central Asian community as it is, with its diversity and unique character. Afsona Travel is at your service to provide the most invigorating and comprehensive tour in Central Asia.” - Shohista Saydaminova

whl.travel has partnered exclusively with a local agency in Samarkand, Afsona Travel, operated by the owner Shohista Saydaminova. As one of the first travel agencies in Uzbekistan, Afsona Travel has vast experience in the tourism industry of Central Asia and has developed a wide range of cultural, adventure and other mixed forms of tourism in Uzbekistan. However, after launching their site, www.samarkand-bukhara-travel.com, Afsona Travel is now the first in Uzbekistan to offer a local online booking and payment option, opening the doors to travellers globally.

The ancient Shaki-Zinda Necropolis in Samarkand fascinates both foreign visitors and locals.

Unique from other online booking sites, whl.travel provides ‘Caring for the Destination’ ratings to their accommodation and tours to supply travellers with information about what a provider might be doing that’s positive for the destination, whether environmental, social or cultural. One example of this is at the Hotel Malika Samarkand, who are actively engaged in offering master craftsmen of traditional woodwork of Samarkand the opportunity to display their unique skills to the guests of the hotel from all over the world, sharing their remarkable talents and keeping the traditional Uzbek practice of woodwork alive.

Guests booking a room at the Hotel Orient Star in Khiva, will have the unique opportunity to stay inside one of the largest madrasahs in Central Asia, on the premises of a theological school built in 1851-1855. The accommodation has made a great contribution by preserving the original architecture and décor, offering visitors the chance to stay in the original khujras, rooms for the students of the madrasah.

This woman is selling ceramic plates by the walls of Ichan-Kala in Khiva. Everything here is made by a master craftsman.

Tours provided through Afsona Travel include accommodation with local providers, meals at national houses and local restaurants, and shopping at local bazaars, workshops and souvenir shops. On the Discover Uzbekistan Tour, travellers will have the chance to visit Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent in seven days, while staying with local providers and visiting bazaars where they can buy souvenirs made by local craftsmen to promote the local cultural heritage. Apart from the cultural promotion, the agency also makes a sizable economic contribution to the local community.

“I am pleased to have Samarkand join our network. Their efforts to support and promote their local community fall right in line with our values at whl.travel. Not only does it mark a significant milestone for tourism in Uzbekistan, it has opened new doors to travellers around the world.” – Len Cordiner, CEO of whl.travel

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IN RUSSIAN

Its Электронная коммерция у ворот древнего Самарканда!

The Sher-Dor or 'Tiger's Bearing' Madrasah on the Registan Square is decorated with a mosaic of tigers chasing gazelles.

Одним из последних дополнений к сети whl.travel является направление Самарканд, Узбекистан. В сравнении с другими древними городами, Самарканд в меньшей степени исследован современными западными путешественниками.

Поэты и историки называли Самарканд «Рим Востока» благодаря его поразительной культурной истории и многочисленным древним памятникам. В действительности, Самарканд является ровесником Рима и Вавилона, ведь он имеет историю, насчитывающую более 2500 лет! Благодаря своему уникальному географическому положению на Шелковом Пути, соединяя Европу и Азию, культура Самарканда складывалась под влиянием удивительного смешения культур – Индийской, Монгольской, Иранской, Восточной и Западной. Именно поэтому в 2001 году Самарканд был включен в список всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО как «Самарканд – Перекресток Культур» и является одним из основных городов для обязательного посещения в Центральной Азии.

«Мы хотим, чтобы Вы в полной степени познали подлинную жизнь многонационального средне азиатского общества с его разнообразием и уникальным характером. Компания Афсона Тревел будет рада предоставить Вам самый обширный и увлекательный тур в Центральной Азии» – Шоиста Сайдаминова.

Компания Whl.travel заключила эксклюзивное партнерское соглашение с местным агентством Афсона Тревел, возглавляемым Шоистой Сайдаминовой. Как одно из первых туристических агентств в Узбекистане, Афсона Тревел имеет обширный опыт в туристической индустрии Центральной Азии, предлагая широкий спектр культурно-познавательных, приключенческих и комбинированных туров в Узбекистане и соседствующих регионах. Более того, с запуском электронного портала www.samarkand-bukhara-travel.com, Афсона Тревел стала первой компанией в Узбекистане, предоставляющей возможность бронирования и оплаты в режиме online, тем самым, открывая двери для путешественников со всей земли.

A charismatic character from the older generation of Samarkand citizens.

В сравнении с другими сайтами, предоставляющими услуги бронирования через сеть Интернет, отличительной чертой WHL является рейтинг «Забота о направлении». Данный рейтинг применяется для гостиниц и туров, с целью показать путешественникам, какое возможное положительное влияние оказывает деятельность гостиниц и туристических операторов на развитее направлений, включая улучшение окружающей среды, социальное и культурное развитие. Одним из таких примеров является гостиница Малика Самарканд, администрация которой предлагает Самаркандским мастерам традиционной резьбы по дереву возможность демонстрировать свой уникальный талант гостям гостиницы со всего мира. С помощью таких действий уникальное мастерство традиционной резьбы по дереву продолжает жить и становиться обозримым для туристов со всех концов земли.

Shaki-Zinda Necropolis in Samarkand is special to Muslim people, for it houses mausoleums and mosques.

В то время как путешественникам, желающим поселиться в гостинице Ориент Стар в городе Хиве, представится уникальная возможность пожить в стенах самого большого медресе в Центральной Азии, построенного в 1981-1985 годах. Администрация данной гостиницы совершила существенный вклад в сохранение и реставрацию исторического памятника, одновременно предоставляя постояльцам гостиницы возможность пожить в настоящих худжрах – комнатах для студентов медресе.

В основу туров, предлагаемых компанией Афсона Тревел, входит проживание в местных гостиницах, питание в национальных домах и ресторанах, а также туры по местным базарам, мастерским и сувенирным магазинам. Участвуя в туре Discover Uzbekistan, у путешественников будет возможность посетить Самарканд, Бухару, Хиву и Ташкент в течение 7 дней, проживать в местных гостиницах и покупать сувениры у местных мастеров, тем самым, поддерживая местное культурное наследие. Помимо продвижения местной культуры, Афсона Тревел совершает существенный экономический вклад в развитие своего региона.

«Я очень рад, что Самарканд присоединился к нашей сети. Их усилия в поддержке и продвижении региона полностью перекликаются с ценностями, которые мы поддерживаем в компании whl.travel. Это обозначает не только существенный вклад в развитие туризма в Узбекистане, но также раскрывает новые двери для путешественников со всех концов земли». – Лен Кордайнер, Генеральный директор, whl.travel