Cultural and Historical Resources of Uzbekistan

Art Gallery in Nukus - the capital of Karakalpakstan, in the west of the country, it has the best collection of Russian avant garde art outside St Petersburg dating from the beginning of the 20th century to modern day. It also has a unique collection of Central Asian numismatics. Besides its exhibition area, it comprises 15 show-rooms, a duly equipped conference-hall for presentations, seminars, business meetings, video demonstrations and other events.

Baisun - located south of Shakhrisabz in the Surkhandarya province, along the ancient Silk Road, and hidden in a beautiful valley, Baisun was an important town of the Silk Road and has been included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage. It is unique in that its attractions also include cave sites, and Palaeolithic rock paintings of magic hunting which are on display at a number of museums, especially at the newly opened Museum in Termez.

Bukhara - situated on the Silk Road, it dates back to the 8th century when it was, for 200 years, the centre of an expanding Islamic kingdom and prospered as a trade and intellectual centre for Central Asia. Once one of Islam's most sacred cities, Bukhara contains many examples of fine Islamic architecture. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely intact. Monuments of particular interest include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of 10th century Muslim architecture, and a large number of 17th century madrasas.

Ark Citadel - believed to have been settled in the 1st Millennium A.D.., it is also possible that there were earlier settlements. As the fortified residence of the rulers of Bukhara, it comprised palaces, temples, barracks, offices, the mint, warehouses, workshops, stables, an arsenal, and even a prison. Of the two original gates, only the western gate remains which was restored in 1921-1923. Today, there is also a museum within the Citadel.

During the history of existence of the city, the Ark was repeatedly destroyed, but it was invariably restored by the new ruler. During the 16th century, under the Shaibanids, the Citadel was restored to the form in which it has been conserved till present time. Most of the current buildings in the Ark were built from the 17th - 20th centuries.

Chashma Ayub Mausoleum - located near the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, in the Samanids Park of Culture and Recreation, the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum is a low structure with a high cone and several spherical cupolas and was built in the 12th century. It consists of four inner structures, each built during a different period. The Mausoleum is distinguished by the modesty of its decoration and simplicity of forms.

Magoki-Attori Mosque - one of the greatest mysteries of Bukhara, the name of the mosque indicates the approximate time of its construction. "Magoki", means pit or hole and suggests that the mosque stood at a much lower than the present level of the city streets and squares. Ancient Bukharans worshipped fire and they professed Zoroastrian religion. Each family had its own idol to whom they prayed for happiness and wealth. These idols were sold twice a week at the bazaars. Mokh was the ruler at that time and controlled the marketing. In order to develop trade in the city, he ordered the construction of a temple for the fire-worshippers.

Trading Domes - since Bukhara was located on the crossroads of the Silk Road, it had a lively trade. The Shaibanids dynasty, which ruled Bukhara in the 16th century, paid great attention to the development trade and built five trading domes of which three remain and are named after the products they sold: Taki-Sarrafon - vault of the money-changers who were mostly Indians; Taki-Telpak Furushon - for the sale of hats; and, Taki-Zargaron - for jewellery.

Khiva - olocated northeast of Bukhara, it is known as a museum city under the open sky. It existed as a town for about 900 years, but only developed to its modern size in the 19th century when it was the market for captured Russian and Persian slaves. The town still lies within its original walls and has been converted into a museum town.

Itchan Kala Fortress - located in the inner town of Khiva and near the Khiva oasis, it was the last resting place for caravans along the Silk Road before crossing the desert into Iran. Although few very old monuments still remain, it is a coherent and wiei-preserved example of Muslim architecture of Central Asia with several outstandng structures such as the Djuma Mosque, the mausoleums and the madrasas and the two magnificent palaces built at the beginning of the 19th century by Alla-Kulli Khan.

Museums - Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts: - located in Tashkent , it exhibits embroidered wall hangings and reproduction antique jewellery. The State Art Museum is also located in Tashkent . It houses a collection of paintings, ceramics and Bukharian royal robes. The Museum in Ark Citadel is located in the Ark Citadel of Bukhara and opened in 1922, it has three departments dedicated to nature, architecture and history.

Samarkand - this historic town of the Silk Road was a melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century BC, its most significant development was in the Timurid period from the 14th - 15th centuries A.D.. Its major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory. Poets and historians called Samarkand the " Eden of the Ancient Orient".

The architecture and townscape of Samarkand are masterpieces of Islamic cultural creativity. Ensembles in Samarkand such as the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Registan Square played a seminal role in the development of Islamic architecture over the entire region, from the Mediterranean to the Indian subcontinent. The historic town of Samarkand illustrates in its art, architecture, and urban structure the most important stages of Central Asian cultural and political history from the 13th century to the present day.

Registan Square: - this bazaar square is surrounded by three majestic buildings. Ulugbek's Madras: built in the 15th century, it includes 50 hudjras (class rooms for students) where over one hundred students lived. Amongst them, according legend, lived and studied the famous Tajik poet Dzhami; Sherdor Madras and Tillya-Kari Madras, both built in the 17th centuries, are the other two buildings in registan Square.

Tashkent - the "Stone City" is one of the largest cities in Central Asia, and is the capital of Uzbekistan. It was also known as Chach during ancient times. Were it exported gold, precious stones, fruits and beautiful horses to other cities and states. Nowadays Tashkent has nearly 20 museums and the Uzbek Art Museum has one of the largest collections of sculptures, paintings and handicrafts in Central Asia. The most interesting part of Tashkent is an old town near Eskijuva Bazaar, the largest market place that sells everything from cooked food to clothing. Its centre-piece is the Barakhan Madrasa, a magnificent monument of the 16th century. A charming mixture of old and new makes Tashkent a highly recommended place for relaxation and holiday.

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