Category: Asia & Pacific

For more than 2,000 years, camel caravans laden with textiles, jewels, spices and countless other coveted trinkets traversed the Silk Road between the Mediterranean and China. Harsh deserts and rugged mountains made for exhausting journeys, so traders were always relieved when welcoming, oasis-like cities appeared on the horizon. Our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure visits three of them—Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand—immersing you among the nation’s most breathtaking mosques, madrasas and mausoleums.

Khiva: First Oasis in Uzbekistan

A welcome sight to traders after their desert trek from Persia, extravagant Khiva emerges on the horizon like a mirage. Here are just a few highlights of this spectacular city:

• The Ichan-Kala, or inner town, was defended by brick walls that stood 33 feet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains today one of the most remarkably preserved examples of medieval Muslim architecture and urban planning in Central Asia.
• Ichan-Kala’s expansive royal court is encircled by crenellated walls that might remind you of a massive sand castle. Palaces, mosques, minarets and other stunning structures adorned with majolica tiles transport you back to the days of powerful emirs.
• The Kunya Ark dates back 1,000 years. It served as an expansive residence for Khiva’s rulers, complete with harems, stables, a throne room, and a jail that held slaves and prisoners.
• The Djuma Mosque boasts a forest of some 200 pillars carved of wood and decorated with spiraling motifs.
• The graceful architecture and blue tiles of the Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum are etched with age-old proverbs ascribed to the beloved poet and patron saint of the city.

Bukhara: The Holiest City

Bukhara is Central Asia’s most complete example of a medieval city. The urban planning and architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site were unsurpassed in the region. Its historic district is an open-air treasure trove of mosques, madrasas and minarets.

• Within the Poyi-Kalon complex stands the massive Kalon Mosque, which can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. With its luminous blue domes, it proudly stands as a testament to Bukhara’s place as the most holy city in Central Asia. So stunning is its towering minaret, even Genghis Khan spared it from destruction.
• The shakhristan, or Old Town, provides a snapshot of life in Bukhara 500 years ago. Slim alleyways of mud-brick lead to secluded mosques and fanciful residences from the 19th century.
• Home of emirs, the Ark Fortress is an opulent summer palace and a resplendent town within a town.
• The Oriental Bazaar evokes Silk Road traders of old with its shining jewelry, brightly hued carpets, silk clothing and countless other glittering treasures.
• The center of Bukhara, the Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, is where locals gather for tea and conversation. Covered bazaars fan off the square and lead to the city’s religious sites.

Samarkand: A Thriving Center of Uzbek Culture

By some accounts, Samarkand is the most romantic of the Silk Road cities. It was certainly its most resplendent, thanks to the prosperous (albeit vicious) rule of Tamerlane the Great, who made it the shining capital of his empire.

• The city, a stunning collection of architecture and art from the 13th century to today, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Registan Square is celebrated as the symbol of Central Asia. The ensemble of shimmering tiled buildings and gateways, including three madrasas, surround a vast and glorious square.
• Samarkand’s mausoleums are a magnificent tribute to the dead. The enormous Guri Amir is the resting place of Tamerlane. Elsewhere, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis—where dozens of history’s most notable people were laid—houses intricately decorated tombs surrounding that of Qussam Ibn Abbas, the cousin of Mohammed who is said to have brought Islam here in the 7th century.
• The world’s largest mosque upon its completion in the 15th century, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque was built as a tribute to Tamerlane’s wife.
• Portal to the stars in the 1420s, the short-lived yet fascinating Ulugh Beg Observatory was named for its builder. He and his colleagues used it to study the heavens until it was destroyed by religious zealots in 1449.

Experience these remarkable centers of the Silk Road during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure!

To the Muslims of Uzbekistan, the madrasa is one of the most important cultural institutions in daily life. You need only look as far as their grand and glorious entranceways—enormous gate-like portals (called “iwan”) lined with glittering tiles and precise geometric design—to be moved to imagine what wonders lie within. The answer is both purely simple and highly revered—within each madrasa, you will find the wisdom of the ages.

“Madrasa” comes from an ancient word meaning “a place of learning or study.” Today, it refers to any type of school, whether it teaches children or young adults, from kindergarten to university. But madrasas date back to at least 859 when the first one was established in Fez, Morocco. Back then, students studied the teachings of the Koran, first aid, handwriting, athletics and other elements of wellness and wholeness. Over time, subjects taught at a madrasa evolved with shifts in culture, civics and science. For a time, “religious science” was often given priority over philosophy and secular science. That changed during the Islamic Golden Age, when fields such as astronomy, mathematics and botany saw major advances. Law and medicine, too, found their ways into the hallowed halls. 

Many madrasas include mosques as part of their complexes. Thanks to this religious element, the schools often enjoy an intimate link to a city’s social life. Outreach to local communities may include aid to the poor and other types of support to under-served populations. Citizens and students alike also benefit in a more organic way: The moral and spiritual teachings of a madrasa spill into a school’s community, while members of the community in turn contribute to the values upheld by the madrasa.

So essential is the madrasa to Uzbek life, it is impossible to spend a day in any major city without passing one by. The most fantastic ones may well be at Registan, the public square at the heart of Samarkand. Here, royal proclamations were once announced by horns forged from giant copper pipes called dzharchis. Registan is surrounded by three madrasas, making for a magnificent tableau of towering portals whose tiles glimmer in the sun. The Ulugh Beg Madrasa (1420), constructed by its namesake sultan, astronomer and mathematician, is the oldest. Its founder was a prominent teacher there, as was the great Persian poet and mystic Abdul-Rahman Jami. The Sher-Dor Madrasa (1636) is interesting for its mosaics. The tigers depicted in the glazed tiles ignored the Islamic ban that forbade the illustrations of living beings on religious buildings. Finally, the Tilya-Kori Madrasa (1660) doubled as a mosque. Its turquoise dome rises behind the façade. 

Join Discovery Tours during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure to learn more about the revered madrasas that grace this proud nation’s stunning cities.

The cuisine of Uzbekistan has a lot in common with the food of the rest of Central Asia. Indeed, it shares much of its heritage with neighboring countries, thanks to their similar agricultural resources. To Americans, many dishes may look exotic, but ingredients are quite similar in origin. Grain farming, for instance, is widespread here, so you will often find breads, rice and noodles on the menu. Carrots and onions also figure prominently in various preparation, as do other in-season vegetables such as cabbage, eggplant tomato and garlic. And with an abundance of sheep roaming the hillsides, mutton is a very popular ingredient. Herewith, a primer on the Uzbek diet.

Food:

Obi non – The staple bread of Uzbekistan is baked in a tandir, or clay oven. So central is it to Uzbek culture that it was mentioned in The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of oldest written works in the world. Variations of non (bread) are made around the country, from the small, thick non of Samarkand to the sesame-sprinkled non of Bukhara.

Manti, chuchvara, somsa – These dumpling dishes can be filled with various ingredients, from lamb or beef to cabbage or potato. Manti may be served as an appetizer with sour cream, ketchup, or onions dashed with vinegar and black pepper. Chuchvara may be prepared as part of a larger dish, such as vegetables in a tomato sauce. Samsa is more of a meat pastry and has the appearance of baked buns.

Oshi toki – Similar to dolma found throughout the Mediterranean, these stuffed grape leaves are usually served as a small plate or appetizer.

Palov – Uzbekistan’s signature dish is a blend of rice, meat and grated carrots and onions. Similar to pilaf (and also related linguistically!), it may be served any time of day. One version of it (plov) is typically served in the morning as part of multi-day family celebrations.

Shurpa – This soup is prepared with chunks of fatty mutton and fresh vegetables.

Norin – The pasta and meat dish, made with very thin hand-rolled noodles, can be served hot or cold.

Dimlama – This stew of Turkic origin is made with meat, potatoes, onions, vegetables and sometimes fruits. It’s a popular spring or summer meal as the vegetables are in season.

Kebabs – Though kebabs are cooked throughout the world, they were first skewered and grilled over an open flame in the Middle East. In Uzbekistan, they are served as a main course.

Drink:

Green tea – The national hot beverage of Uzbekistan, green tea is served throughout the day in homes and teahouses alike. Tea – whether green or black – is part of every meal.

Ayran – A refreshing and nutritious summertime staple, ayran is a chilled yogurt drink.

Wine – Some 14 wineries operate in Uzbekistan; despite that Uzbeks consider themselves Muslim, they live a largely secular lifestyle. But the grapes grown here don’t exactly roll off the English-speaking tongue: Gulyakandoz, Shirin, Aleatiko and Kabernet likernoe. (This last one translates into “Cabernet dessert wine” in Russian.) By some accounts, vines were introduced here by the Romans as they passed through on the legendary Silk Road. Today, wines produced here win international awards.

Sample it all during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure!