Uzbekistan - heart of the silk road

The republic of Uzbekistan (447.000 km2) is located in the desert regions of central Asia. In 1991 Uzbekistan declared about its independence.
Uzbekistan borders with 5 states: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Capital - Tashkent.

Official language - Uzbek. Russian is the language of communication.

Population. In Uzbekistan live the representatives of more than 120 nationalities,  75% of them are Uzbeks, 5 %Russians, 5 % Tajiks, 4 %Tatars, 3 % Kazakhs, and also Kirghizians, karakalpaks, Turkmens, Koreans, Ukrainians and Armenians.

Religion. Major portion of the population (about 27 mln.) confesses Islam. In addition to this there are adherents of Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism.

The climate of Uzbekistan is hot, dry and sharply continental. The north of republic relates to that moderated, the extreme south - to subtropical zones. Warm winter and hot prolonged summer is characteristic for Uzbekistan. Coldest month in the year - January, the hottest - July.

This is one of the largest cities in Central Asia. Here live about 2 million people. City lies at the northeastern part of the republic, the river valley Chirchik.To the north of Tashkent we can see the snow-covered tops of big and small Chimgan.
Tashkent - one of the ancient cities. Its history counts more than 2 thousand years. The first time name “Tashkent” is mentioned in XI century in the works of Beruniy and Makhmud Kashgari. Tashkent is translated from the Uzbek language “the city of stone”.
In the old city the excellent monuments of the old-Uzbek architecture were preserved:  medrese of Kukeldash and medrese of Barack- khan built in XVI century. All around, on   curved by-streets and market blocks, occurs eastern fuss. But Tashkent as a modern large city and as an economic center appears behind the picturesque old city.

Samarqand one of the ancient cities of the east and world - is formed approximately in 5th century B.C This makes it possible to include city in the range of such main cultural centers as Rome, Athens, Yerevan. Not any other city is surrounded by such quantity of legends and tales. Samarqand - one of the amazing cities, which combines eastern beauty, excellent monuments of the architecture of the middle ages with the modern architecture. In XIV century Tamerlan made it capital of his great Asian empire. He and his followers invited into Samarqand the best masters and the scientists of the east. Many monuments of Samarqand relate to those periods: the mosque Bibi Khanim, which is considered as the largest and most beautiful mosque of the east, the mausoleum Gur- Emir, where was buried Tamerlan. The main area of old Samarqand, Registan, is picturesquely surrounded by three madrassah (the educational institution of Moslems): the madrassahs of Ulugbek, Sher Dor and Tillyakori.  Not far from the observatory of Ulugbek located dead city Shahi Zinda with many mausoleums, which relate to the different epochs. Even at the beginning of 20th century for those who are not Muslim it was forbidden to enter into this place of pilgrimage. Here also you can see the majestic monuments of the architecture of the epoch of Tamerlan.

Bukhara - the city of poetry and fairy tale - lies at the oasis among the desert of Kizilkum. This is one of the ancient cities of the world, whose history counts more than 2500 years. During the centuries-old history of the city experienced the epoch of bloom and decline. Today Bukhara is one of the significant industrial and economic centers, one of the most important cities of central Asia. As commercial city Bukhara exists 2000 years and more than 1000 years appears to be Metropolis of skillful architecture.  Citadel ARK - the palace of rulers and the residence of government - relates to VII- VIII centuries, the mausoleum of Ismail Samani- IX- X centuries, and the medrese of Kosh and mosque of Magoki-Attari - XII c.  At that time was also built the 50- meter high minaret of Kalyan, at the top of which in the Middle Ages day and night burnt fire. It was lighthouse for the caravans, which dispatch through the desert of Kizilkum into the Holy City of Islam. On the north of city it is located Sitorai Mohi Khosa,  the place where the moon meets stars, the palace of the last ruling emir(king) of Bukhara Said Alim Khan. Bukhara was always famous center of sciences. The medrese of Mir Arab is only higher educational institution in central Asia, in which already more than 400 years continuously are studying the moslem humanitarian science.

Khorezm - Oasis in which are located Khiva and Urgench, lies between the deserts of Kyzyl Kum and Karakum. It is obliged for its rich plant world to Amu-Dar'ya and its strongly branched system of channels. Many centuries ago Khiva became the place, in which stopped the travelers experiencing thirst. The minarets of city as lighthouses lured the caravans to the city, which presented significant source of income. Khiva is the smallest of the splendid cities along the Silk Road; however, city is not inferior in the competition to such great cities as Samarqand and Bukhara. Here you feel yourself transferred into the past: small alleys, low buildings and many mosques, mausoleums and medreses. In the city were preserved approximately 50 splendid construction of that time. Among the many marvelous constructions there is palace Tosh -Khovli, the masterpiece of eastern architecture. UNESCO it declared Khiva world cultural heritage.

“Shakhri sabz” means green city. City is actually surrounded by gardens and vineyards. According to academician Barthold’s opinion the city was formed in III- II centuries B.C. Shakhrisabz - home land of Tamerlan. In the time of his ruling he invited into Shakhrisabz the best of architects, who constructed splendid palaces, mosques and mausoleums. In XV c. the city becomes not only shopping center, but also the city of culture and science.