Discovering Uzbekistan: At the centre of the Silk Road

At the centre of the Silk Road, and ready to be found, is Uzbekistan. It’s faster and simpler than ever earlier than to get there: Uzbekistan Airways additionally flies instantly from London to Tashkent, twice per week (Tuesday and Friday) and it is now visa free for British passport holders (and different EU nationals), so that you simply flip up and current your passport to enter

What are the sights which make Uzbekistan a must-visit vacation spot? As the creator of the Bradt Guide to Uzbekistan, I’ve been lucky sufficient to discover nearly each nook of the nation. Here are my suggestions of what to see, do, and expertise in Uzbekistan.

The Silk Road Cities

First and foremost are the nice Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, which have been inspiring guests with their architectural masterpieces for hundreds of years. All UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these cities are bejewelled with majolica tiles, stained glass, gilded ceilings, and beautiful work and carvings.

Samarkand

In Samarkand, vacationers usually head straight for the Registan Square, which is comprised of three madrassahs (Islamic faculties), the earliest of which dates from the fifteenth century. Each of the buildings is extremely ornamented, and the facade of the Sher For madrassah depicts unusual tigers with human faces upon their backs: they’re grotesque and exquisite in equal measure, and clearly problem the orthodox Islamic view that residing creatures shouldn’t be depicted in artwork.

My favorite web site in Samarkand, nevertheless, is a ten minute stroll away. It’s referred to as the Shah-i Zinda, and it’s a rare necropolis of embellished tombs, some of that are greater than 1,000 years previous. Each of the mausoleums in the complicated is exclusive and exquisite, and collectively they are going to take your breath away.

Termez: off the overwhelmed observe

I prefer to get past the overwhelmed observe, nevertheless, and so it’s crucial to depart the charms of the cities behind and head out into the hinterland. Tourists hardly ever journey as far south as Termez, however consequently, they miss out: this was one of the nice Graeco-Bactrian cities at the time of Alexander the Great, and the archaeological discoveries made listed here are eye-opening.

The most vital finds (and well-done shows explaining the place they got here from) are in Termez Archaeological Museum, however it’s effectively price visiting the open air excavations, too. In my view, the most spectacular of these is at Kampir Tepe, the place you’ll be able to nonetheless stroll what stays of the metropolis partitions, comply with the streets, and enter into houses and outlets, though the final residents left two millennia in the past.

Savitsky Collection in Nukus

Uzbekistan’s historical past is wealthy, no doubt, however there’s additionally quite a bit to be mentioned for exploring its extra up to date tradition. The Savitsky Collection in Nukus (often known as Nukus Art Museum or The State Art Museum of the Republic of Karakalpakstan), in the northwestern half of Uzbekistan, has one of the most vital assortment of avant garde artwork in the world, and the story of how the assortment was amassed and guarded is the topic of the documentary Desert of Forbidden Art. The museum is present process an aggressive growth programme, so an increasing number of works of artwork can be placed on show all through the 12 months.

Head to the capital, Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital, is a regional hub of tradition, too. The wonderful Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre has lately reopened after main renovations, and the reasonably priced tickets provide an opportunity to see world-class classical performances in a outstanding setting.

There are a big quantity of museums in the metropolis, of which the Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Art and the Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan are significantly price exploring.

Make certain you even have time to individuals watch and store at Chorsu Bazaar — the fashionable manifestation of the Silk Road markets of the previous — and, humorous as it might sound, take a experience on the Tashkent Metro, the stations of that are embellished with carved alabaster, mosaics, chandeliers, engraved metalwork, and extra.

Uzbek Food

And then there’s the meals! Uzbek meals is little identified outdoors of Uzbekistan, however even the odor of the grilled meats, soups, and plov (the native variant of pilau, or biryani) can have your mouth watering. Uzbekistan is a significant producer of recent fruit and veggies, in addition to nuts, so you’ll be able to count on to spend so much of your go to snacking on wholesome treats.

Uzbekistan: an up and coming vacation spot

Uzbekistan ticks all the containers for an thrilling, up and coming vacation spot. The nation is growing quickly, and significantly should you journey out of excessive season, it’s comparatively straightforward to keep away from different vacationers and encompass your self with genuine experiences and heat native hospitality. The Uzbeks have been welcoming travellers for hundreds of years, and in case you are fortunate, you’ll quickly be amongst their honoured company.

Where to Stay

The Hyatt Regent Tashkent units a brand new customary for accommodations in Uzbekistan, giving company a much-needed, real 5* lodging choice in Tashkent. It’s the apparent place to base your self throughout a enterprise journey to the metropolis, or to start out and finish a cultural tour of Uzbekistan.

Getting to Uzbekistan

Uzbekistans Airways flies instantly from London to Tashkent twice per week, from £427. If you don’t thoughts routing by way of Istanbul, Turkish Airlines has return flights from £320.

Tourist Visas for Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan turns into visa free for Brits and 44 different nationalities from February 1, 2019

Guided tours of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a scorching vacation spot and a quantity of UK-based tour operators are providing scheduled departures and bespoke itineraries.

Viator additionally has a range of native operators: