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Specialists estimated that 80 percent of tourists visiting Central Asia choose the itinerary called "Golden Ring on the Silk Road". The itinerary is as follows: Tashkent - Urgench (Khiva) - Bukhara - Samarkand - Tashkent.

Within a rather short time (7 days/6 nights), those guests who choose the above itinerary can see many interesting things and experience the atmosphere of this mysterious ancient land.

At all times Uzbekistan was a major crossroad on the Great Silk Road. This land abounds in many outstanding historical and architectural monuments. The most remarkable are the sights of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent. Their age exceeds thousands of years, and they are full of natural exotics. To the present day these oriental cities, each with its own tales and legends, fascinate tourists with turquoise domes of their mosques and mausoleums, sky-rocketing minarets, radiance of colours and richness of decor of palaces and madrassahs, many-coloured pallete of the boisterous bazaars.

The first destination on the itinerary where tourists can familiarize themselves with Uzbekistan's cultural and historical legacy is city-museum Khiva. Taking a morning flight Tashkent-Urgench, within less than two hours tourists reach city of Urgench - the centre of Khorezm Province. In the ancient times this land was home to legendary state of Khorezm-shakhs and, as some scientists believe, the birthplace of Zoroastrianism - one of the world's most striking religions. From Urgench, by motorcar, tourists are taken to Khiva. This city, which developed on the north-western border of the Kara Kum desert in the 10th-11th centuries, is the best extant Silk Road centres. Walking along the labyrinth of narrow streets of the city's historical core – Ichan-Kala, the visitors can admire ancient citadel Ark, Tash Hauli palace, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Mahmud mausoleum, many other splendid constructions.

The next destination is "Blessed" Bukhara. On approaching the city one can see the main vertical line of the city – the majestic Kalon Minaret, whose height is 47 metres. The Ark (citadel) which is more than 1500 years old, Chor Minor Madrassah, Ulugbek Madrassah, Miri-Arab Masdrassah, ensemble Bolo-hauz – these are the wonderful works of ancient architects. The real gem of Bukhara, as well as of the whole Central Asia, is Samanid Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries) which fascinates the visitors with its compositional completeness and intricacy of its lace-like brickwork.

Next day tourist make their way eastward, for magnificent and gorgeous Samarkand: the city whose history numbers 25 centuries. "Rome of the East", "Image of the Earth", and "The Eighth Wonder of the World" – the city enjoys many panegyric epithets. Centuries-old history of Samarkand is closely connected with the names of outstanding rulers and travelers, scholars and poets, such as Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, Avicenna, Alisher Navoi. It was here that the dynasty of Amir Temur reached its acme. Meaning to make Samarkand the great capital of the world, the ruler of Movarounnahr did not spare his riches and carried out grandiose construction work. Today tourists are captivated by the beauty of Gur Emir Mausoleum, where Temur found eternal peace, magnificent Bibi-khanun Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, Registan Square - a kind of city's "visiting card"- with its three marvelous madrassahs: Ulugbek Madrassah, Tillya Kari Madrassah and Sher-Dor Madrassah.

Finally tourists reach their last, but not the least destination on the "Golden Ring" itinerary - city of Tashkent, a centre of ancient civilizations, a modern megapolis, the capital of independent Uzbekistan and its political, economic and cultural centre. The nightlife of the city is represented by numerous discotheques, clubs, bars and restaurants, where common merriment lasts all through the night leaving no one impassive.

Many monuments of medieval architecture, such as Kukeldash Madrassah, Barak-khan Madrassah, Juma Mosque have been preserved in Tashkent.

The Uzbek proverb states: "He knows much who has seen much, rather than lived a long life". The itinerary called "Golden Ring on the Silk Road" provides visitors with opportunity to follow the caravan routes and get to know the history of the greatest cultural phenomenon of the mankind.

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Roxana Tour Co.
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Tashkent,
Uzbekistan

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