Samarkand

Charming with its beauty Samarkand has more than 2500 years history. Its majestic ancient buildings have the same historical importance as architectural masterpieces of ancient Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome.

There is the Registan square in the centre of the medieval Samarkand. This place is the outstanding example of the XV-XVII century's city-planning skills of the Central Asian architects. Registan square is surrounded by the magnificent buildings of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and the Tilla-Khari madrassahs on three sides. In ancient times it was the very place where all streets and roads met. From here the rulers proclaimed their decrees and conducted justice. And also it was a centre of medieval trade.

There is the Gur-Emir Mausoleum (XIV-XV) to the south of Registan square. It was built as a burial place for the members of the Timur Dynasty. Great Tamirlane the ruler of Samarkand was buried here, as well as his grandson Ulugbek, an outstanding scientist and astronomer. Ruins of his observatory with pieces of giant instrument for stars exploring were unearthed in Samarkand outskirts in the early 20th century.

There is also the ancient settlement Afrosiab in the outskirts of the city. Afrosiab was populated in VI-XIII centuries A.D. Archeological excavations have discovered numerous objects, pottery and terracotta statuettes which are exhibited in the Afrosiab Museum.

Another masterpiece of middle ages is the Shakhi-Zinda, architectural ensemble of XI-XIV centuries. It was the largest religious and cultural center of the Central Asia. It was known as a Holy place. In those times the pilgrimage to this place had the same importance as the pilgrimage to the Holy Mecca. Shakhi-Zinda means a Tomb of the Living King. It is a complex of cool and quiet rooms where probably is a grave of Qasim Ibn Abbas, a cousin of Prophet Muhammad.

Samarkand is also well known for its brilliant great scientists, writers and painters of meddle ages such as Rudaki, Babur, Jami, Avicenna, Navoi, Ulugbek, Mukimi and Furkat.

Besides ancient architectural monuments there are many rest and recreational places in Samarkand and its environs. There are thickets of sea-buckthorn providing refuge for hares and rare Zaravshan peasants on the banks of Zaravshan River. There are also a lot of really magnificent views and unbelievable corners of virgin nature in the Zaravshan Nature Preserve.

  

Monuments of Samarkand

• The architectural ensemble Shakhi-Zinda
• Hazret-Hyzr Mosque (the middle of the 19thc.)
• Bibi-Khanum Mosque (1399-1404)
• The ancient settlement Afrosiab (the 8thc. BC the 13thc. AD)
• Observatory of Ulugbek (1428-1429), the foot of the hill Chupan-Ata
• Madrasse (Muslim school) of Ulugbek (1417-1420)
• Shir-Dor Madrasseh - (1619-1636)
• Tillya-Kari Madrasseh (1647-1660)
• Chorsu, bazaar dome (the end of the 18thc.)
• Rukhabad Mausoleum (1380s)
• Ak-Saray Mausoleum (1470s)
• Gur-Emir Mausoleum (1404)
• Namazgoh Mosque (17thc.)
• Ishrat-Khona Mausoleum (1464)
• Ensemble of Hadji Ahrar - (the 15th-20thcc.)
• Chupan-Ata Mausoleum (1430-1440s)
• Hadji Abdi Darun Mazar (holy place of burial) (15th-19thcc.)
• Burial-vault of Hadji Daniyar (19thc.)