Samarkand

Samarkand region is located in the centre of Uzbekistan, in the Zarafshan River basin.
Occupied territory is 16 000 square kilometres. Climate is dry and continental.
Population includes more than two million people, half of which inhabiting the rural areas.
Region is divided into 16 administrative districts with Samarkand city as a centre of the region.
Population of Samarkand is 366 000 people. The regional biggest towns are as follows:
Kattakurgan, Nurata, Urgut, Juma and Aktash.
Tourist centres: Samarkand
“PRECIOUS PEARL OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD”, “EDEM OF THE EAST”, “FACE OF THE GROUND” WERE THE NAMES GIVEN TO SAMARKAND BY THE POETS AND HISTORIANS OF THE PAST. SAMARKAND HAS A 2500 YEARS-OLD HISTORY.
CONVENIENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF SAMARKAND IN ZARAFSHAN RIVER BASIN MADE THIS CITY THE IMPORTANT CROSSROADS ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD.
Samarkand  one of the ancient cities of the world, along with Rome, Athens and Babylon is the most popular tourist centre both of Uzbekistan and the whole Central Asia as well. Founded
in the midst of 1st century DC, it was named first Marchanda and later  Afrosiab.
Its most prosperous time was under the rule of the Great Temur. Born in Shakhrisabs,
the Sahibkiran made Samarkand the capital of his great empire stretching from the Ind River up to the Bosfore.
For many centuries the Registan Square was and still remains the centre of Samarkand.
As the history says, many centuries ago, small river crossed the square where the first
medrassah was constructed. Years have passed, the river dried up leaving only sands in
the river-bad. In the 15th century the first medrassah was founded just on that place
giving name to the square  Registan (means “The Sandy Spot”). Beginning from that time,
all celebrations, festivals and Sunday's bazaars took place just at that place.
Shakhi-Zinda Mausoleum located on the hillside of the Abrosiab settlement is a
monument of pride of all Central Asian architecture. The main construction took place during
the 14th and 15th centuries under the rule of Amir Temur. The female burial places of Temur's  
family predominate the ensemble.
The Gur-Emir Mausoleum was constructed by order of Amir Temur, because of the premature death of Sahibkiran's dearly loved grandson, Mukhammad Sultan, are preserved in the sacred memory of the Temurids under the turquoise domes of Ghur-Emir. (Ghur-Emir means “The Tomb of the Emir”).
The Juma Mosque built in 1399 in honour of Amir Temur's beautiful wife, Bibi-Khanum, is one of
the most magnificent buildings in Samarkand. Construction of the mosque was continued for five years. No expense was spared in terms of building materials and skilled workers for the mosque's construction.
But in 1405 Amir Temur died during military maneuver in China. The mosque was not yet completed.
Today only some of the renovated buildings bear testimony of the former splendor of the Bibi-Khanum mosque.
The history of Samarkand is closely connected to famous scientists, poets and philosophers
such as Abu Ali ibn Sino, Rudhaki, Omar Khayam, Navoi, al-Khorezmi, etc.
Many tourists visit Samarkand to pay homage to the relics and sacred places of the Islamic world.
One can visit the grave of Saint Kusam ibn-Abbas, a place that during the middle age,
when visited was regarded equal to a Hadj to Mecca.
Samarkand with its unique historical and architectural monuments, age-old national
traditions and holidays and secrets of Asian cuisine awaits guests to this experience of time long gone.

ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECES OF SAMARKAND

  • Amir Temur
  • Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniil
  • Rukhobad Mausoleum
  • Ak-Saray Palace (15th c.)
  • Gur-Emir Mausoleum
  • Chapan-ata Mazar
  • Ulugbek Observatory (15th c.)
  • Bibi-Khanym Mosque (14—15th cc.)
  • Hazret-Hyzr Mosque (19th c.)
  • Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis (11th—15th cc.)
  • The Registan Square (15—17th cc.)
  • Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex (20th c.)