HOLIDAYS IN UZBEKISTAN

10 THINGS TO DO DURING YOUR VACATION IN UZBEKISTAN

It is impossible to convey in words all the beauty of nature, the mystery of the atmosphere, the sophistication of architecture that reign in sunny Uzbekistan. Many cultures, customs and languages have united in this country, which have built a rich spiritual and cultural heritage. You can travel around Uzbekistan for a long time, but as soon as you arrive here, you will definitely realize that you will not have enough of a lifetime to learn about everything. However, there are some things that you should definitely do when you come here.

1. Visit the "Golden Valley". The whole history of the origin of the Great Silk Road began with the desire of the Chinese emperors to get to the Fergana Valley. The Fergana Valley is a jewel in the treasury of Uzbekistan – it is a land of skilled potters, woodworkers, weavers, and carpet makers who pass secrets to their children, and those in turn to their own. Here travelers will be able to see monumental architectural monuments – the palace of the Kokand Khan, ancient madrassas and mosques. You should definitely visit the land where the sweetest grapes ripen and fragrant fruits ripen, taste the tastiest tortillas and especially delicious pilaf of devzira rice.

2. Visit Islam Khoja Minaret. One of the richest historical architectural monuments that have survived to our times is undoubtedly Khiva. For example, the Ichan-Kala fortress has been preserved almost in its original form – now it looks exactly the same as a hundred and two hundred years ago. The beautiful mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, built in honor of the philosopher, poet and the strongest fighter of his time. Amazing carved wooden columns of the Juma Mosque. Majestic, despite the fact that it is not completed – the minaret of Kalta Minor.And finally, the monumental Islam Khoja minaret, whose height is 56.6 meters. Climbing it is a real challenge for tourists. The steps are steep enough, the passage is narrow, the whole climb keeps in constant tension, however, as soon as you climb to the dome of the minaret – you will have much more reasons to be proud of yourself.

3. Ask for good luck from Khoja Nasreddin.Sacred Bukhara, as the Uzbeks call it, is incredibly rich in architectural monuments. If you find yourself in this beautiful city, be sure to visit the teahouse, which is located by the Lyabi-Hauz reservoir. There is a monument here – no, not to a military commander, not to a great ruler, not to a famous scientist, but to a beloved native of Bukhara – the witty Khoja Nasreddin. Here he is respectfully called Afandi. You will hear a lot of instructive and funny stories about him. And be sure to rub the right cavouche of the monument of Khoja Nasreddin. Locals are sure that this will certainly bring you good luck in business and in love.

4. Purchase a sheet of paper for 1000 years. While walking around Samarkand, you will definitely visit all the iconic and monumental places of this majestic city. Be sure to make a trip to the village of Konigil near Samarkand, where the Meros paper mill is located. This factory was founded by the Mukhtarov brothers, who are famous craftsmen in the territory of Samarkand. They managed to revive the ancient tradition of making paper, which was once made by our ancestors. Absolutely all the production of this paper is carried out manually, which can be seen by every guest who wants to go on a tour of the factory. Today, it is Samarkand paper that is used for the restoration and restoration of various historical manuscripts, not only in Uzbekistan, but all over the world.

5. Enjoy an overnight stay in the Kyzylkum desert. We live in an age of advanced technology, so we just need to leave sometimes where there is no Wi-Fi, and myriads of stars shine overhead. Be sure to visit the Nuratinsky mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. On the way there, make a stop at the Nuratinsky Pass, where ancient rock carvings have been preserved. And finally, you will be embraced by the great silence of the Kyzylkum desert, cozy yurts, and a delicious cavourdak awaits you for dinner.

6. To touch the mysteries of Sufism. Followers of Sufism from all over the world are eager to visit Uzbekistan in order to worship holy places in Bukhara. No wonder Bukhara is called the "Holy Land of 7000 piirs". We strongly recommend you to visit these majestic architectural monuments. You will walk through such iconic places as: seven graves of Sufi Saints, the mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshbandi, the mausoleum of Gur-Emir, as well as the necropolis of Shahi-Zinda

7. Touch the beautiful. Uzbekistan is rich not only in beautiful nature and architectural monuments of antiquity, but also in its museums and galleries. For example, in Nukus, the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, there is a unique museum where beautiful exhibits collected by Igor Savitsky are presented. Many people know the collection of paintings by Russian and Soviet avant-gardists. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Savitsky literally saved such wonderful works as the works of Alexander Volkov, Usto Mumin, Robert Falk, Nikolai Karakhan, Ural Tansykbayev and many others.

8. Unravel the secrets of the ancient center of Buddhism. It's no secret that in the old days, a variety of religions, such as Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Manichaeism, peacefully coexisted on the territory of Central Asia. For the ancient and beautiful Termez, Buddhism played a significant role in ideology. This can be judged by the ancient monuments that have survived to the present day.

9. Walk along the bottom of the former sea. This journey, though sad, but at the same time a very beautiful and instructive journey. More than half a century ago, there was a beautiful, huge salt lake, which has long been called the sea. Once upon a time, fishing vessels sailed on this sea, and it fed hundreds of people. On the coast of the Aral Sea, there were many settlements, fish factories, factories and fish receiving points. Every year, fishermen extracted more than 60 thousand tons of fish of 34 species from this sea. And now, where the waves splashed, where they beat against the sides of fishing boats, the Aralkum desert is spread out, and the water continues to go away from the former shores of the once beautiful sea, exposing the cemetery of sunken ships.

10. Visit the Gulkam narrows.How many cities in the world can boast that there are cool, fast rivers, rocky gorges and pearl, noisy waterfalls just an hour away from the city? And Tashkent can rightfully be proud of such mountain landscapes, just some 40 minutes from the city. If you are lucky enough to be in Tashkent, be sure to try to visit the mountains of Uzbekistan. The Gulkam gorges, which are located in the vicinity of Bolshoy Chimgan, are considered the most picturesque place.