{"id":51062,"date":"2023-11-16T06:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T06:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/?p=51062"},"modified":"2024-07-08T16:51:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T16:51:57","slug":"uzbekistans-silk-road-oasis-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-silk-road-oasis-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"Uzbekistan\u2019s Silk Road Oasis Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Why you should visit Samarkand, Bukhara, AND Khiva!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Golden light and blue Timurid tiles in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One question we often get at MIR is whether it is necessary to visit all three of the UNESCO-listed Silk Road oasis cities in Uzbekistan<\/strong>. These are (going east to west) Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva<\/strong>. The short answer is that a trip to Uzbekistan that covers just two of the three oasis cities is still worthwhile. But if you have the time, including all three is definitely better<\/strong>. It is precisely for that reason that most of our flagship tours to Central Asia spend time in all three, including Journey Through Central Asia<\/a>, Backstreets & Bazaars of Uzbekistan<\/a>, Outposts of the Silk Road<\/a>, Silk Route Odyssey<\/a>, and Essential Uzbekistan<\/a>. Each of those tours features Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva but approaches them in different ways and in combination with other neighboring countries and destinations. These include small group tours<\/a>, private options<\/a>, and rail journeys by private train<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why are our tours structured this way? It is partly because, for most travelers, getting to Uzbekistan involves long flights. After trekking halfway around world, why not make the most of your time in the region?<\/strong> But really there are deeper and better reasons to visit each of these spectacular cities. The fact is that while outwardly similar (all feature spectacular, UNESCO-listed Islamic architecture), Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva all have strikingly different histories, cultures, layouts, and styles<\/strong>. Visiting one is definitely not the same as having visited them all. Read on to learn a bit more about each.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. Samarkand \u2013 Monumental Architecture that Cannot be Missed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Samarkand is the largest of these three cities<\/strong>, with a population of over 500,000. Locals are a mix of Turkic-speaking Uzbeks and Persian-speaking Tajiks<\/strong>. The division between the groups is often quite blurry, with many individuals and families fluent in both languages. Samarkand\u2019s history is ancient<\/strong>, stretching potentially all the way back to the 8th<\/sup> century BCE or beyond. The main draw of Samarkand, and for many the main draw of Central Asia as a whole, is the iconic Registan. The three massive madrassas that make up this complex were built by the Timurids and Janids in the 15th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> centuries. They are among the most monumental and impressive examples of Islamic architecture anywhere<\/strong> on the planet and they should not be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Registan in Samarkand is arguably the most iconic monument in of all Central Asia. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Aside from the Registan, the rest of the city is dotted with other excellent examples of blue-domed Timurid mosques, madrassas, and mausoleums<\/strong>, including the tomb of Tamerlane. While spread out and interspersed with more modern parts of the city, these sites arguably make Samarkand the most important of the three Silk Road oases. There is also a lot to do and see beyond architecture.<\/strong> Arts and crafts like silk paper, woven carpets, and block-printed fabrics are still thriving in the city. It is also a great place to try the bagel-like flatbread for which it is locally renowned.<\/p>\n\n\n

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