11 recommended tourist spots in Uzbekistan: The Blue City that flourished along the Silk Road

As a crossroads of ancient civilizations along the Silk Road, Uzbekistan has long been a thriving oasis in Central Asia. The country's cities, where Eastern and Western cultures intertwine, offer a captivating blend of architectural styles that are as stunning by day as they are enchanting under the night sky.

Uzbekistan is home to numerous magnificent historical buildings, including madrasas—Islamic religious schools—that showcase the region's rich heritage. The four UNESCO World Heritage cities, each with its own unique charm, particularly Samarkand with its iconic blue tiles, are sure to captivate any visitor.

1. Mir-i Arab Madrasa (Bukhara)

Located in the south-central part of Uzbekistan, Bukhara is one of the four UNESCO World Heritage cities. The Mir-i Arab Madrasa, a theological school, was constructed in 1536 by Ubaidullah Khan, the ruler of the Bukhara Khanate. Considered one of the finest architectural achievements in Uzbekistan, it is a highly popular tourist destination.

The exterior is predominantly adorned in blue and white, featuring a beautiful façade decorated with floral motifs. The interior is designed around a central courtyard, surrounded by a two-story building.

The Mir-i Arab Madrasa remains an active theological school. The ground floor houses classrooms, a dining hall, and other facilities, while the second floor serves as a dormitory for students. Additionally, since 1924, the madrasa has functioned as a library, housing a vast collection of books and documents.

2. Shahi Zinda (Samarkand)

The Shahi Zinda mausoleums stand on Afrasiyab Hill in Samarkand, the ancient city of Uzbekistan. This necropolis, also known as the "Street of the Dead," has more than 20 mausoleums from the 11th to 19th centuries, and is a holy place visited by many pilgrims.

Shahi Zinda means "living king." Prophet Muhammad's cousin, Kusam ibn Abbas, was beheaded and killed here, but he remained calm and performed his prayer, picked up his own head, and went deep into the well. It is said that Abbas gained eternal life and will appear again when Islam is in crisis.

The buildings of Shahi Zinda are mainly blue and green, and the contrast with the sunset is a beautiful sight that is burned into your eyes! The atmosphere at night when it is lit up is also unique, so we recommend this as well.

3. Bibi Khanym Mosque (Samarkand)

4. Kalyan Minaret (Bukhara)

Facing the Mir-Arab Madrasa, the towering spire on the right is the "Kalyan Minaret." It is about 46 meters tall and is the tallest structure in the World Heritage city of Bukhara. It was built by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan over a period of six years from 1121.

The exterior is almost entirely brown, but if you look closely, you can see that the bricks were carefully stacked to create a 14-layer pattern, making it a very elaborate construction. It is said that when the Mongol Empire attacked in the 13th century, Genghis Khan, who was so impressed by its beauty, ordered that this tower be the only one not to be destroyed. On the other hand, in the 18th and 19th centuries, criminals were executed by being put alive in a bag and thrown down from the top, so it is also known as the "Tower of Death."

Currently, ordinary tourists can walk up the 105-step spiral staircase to the top of the tower. From the top floor, you can get a 360-degree view of the city of Bukhara. Take your time climbing up, one step at a time, feeling the gentle light pouring in through the small gap beside the stairs.

5. Gur-i-Amir Mausoleum (Samarkand)

Gur-i-Amir is the mausoleum where Timur, the founder of the Timurid dynasty, whose capital was Samarkand, and his family rest. It was originally built in 1404 for Timur's grandson Muhammad Sultan, who died during an expedition to Turkey, but Timur himself died the following year and was buried in the mausoleum together with him.

Gur-i-Amir, which means "Tomb of the King" in Persian, is a magnificent historical building that symbolizes Samarkand, known as the "Blue City."

The interior is also very luxurious, and is filled with gold decorations. In particular, the muqarnas ceiling, which is said to have been restored with 3kg of gold, is a must-see! It is also recommended visiting at night, when the building is fantastically lit up with colorful lights. Above all, there are fewer visitors than during the day, so you can take your time to explore the building.

6. Registan Square (Samarkand)

Registan Square is the starting point for sightseeing in the ancient city of Samarkand. Since the Timurid Dynasty established Samarkand as its capital, it has played an important role as the center of the city.

The three madrasahs surrounding the square on three sides are particularly impressive. Ulugh Beg Madrasah is the oldest of the three, having been built in 1420 by Ulugh Beg, the fourth Timurid ruler. The other two, Tilla-Koli Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah, are similarly large and impressive. By the way, locals are free to enter Registan Square, but tourists are required to pay an admission fee.

7. Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace (Bukhara)

The tourist attraction, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace, is located in a residential area about 4km north of the old town of Bukhara. It was built in 1911 by Alim Khan, the ruler of the Bukharan Amir, which was a Russian protectorate.

Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace, which means "where the moon and stars meet," was built by Russian architects and Bukharan craftsmen, and is known as a rare example of architecture that combines Russian and Bukharan styles. One of the highlights is the murals and decorations with designs that are rarely seen in Uzbekistan, such as a bouquet of flowers in a vase and Chinese-style patterns in bright red. As the name of the palace suggests, the moon and stars are also painted as patterns, giving a glimpse into the aesthetic sense and lifestyle of Alim Khan, the last ruler of Bukhara.

Bukhara is an oasis city with a long history, but Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace is a relatively new tourist attraction, being built about 100 years ago. Located in Bukhara, which is described as the "brown city," the Summer Palace exudes an open atmosphere and fresh brilliance.

8. Juma Mosque (Khiva)

Juma Mosque is the Grand Mosque of Khiva, a fortress city near the border with Turkmenistan. The old town of Khiva is surrounded by double walls, and the Ichan Kala district, which means "within the fortress", is registered as a World Heritage Site, including Juma Mosque.

Juma Mosque, which means "Friday Mosque", does not have a dome, cloister, or courtyard, and is characterized by a simple building shaped like a square bento box, with a facade and minaret.

The interior is a vast space with many pillars lined up, and there are no walls separating the rooms. There are many mosques with only one room, but a design with so many wooden pillars lined up in an orderly fashion is very rare. The more than 200 pillars are arranged so that the preacher can see everyone's face. Each pillar is beautifully decorated with intricate detail, and one of the highlights is that the materials and carving designs differ from each period from the 10th to the 18th century. This amount of wood cannot be obtained around Khiva, so it is believed that it was transported from far away.

There are two skylights in the ceiling for lighting and ventilation, which mysteriously illuminate the solemn space with its forest of pillars.

9. Ak-Saray Palace (Shakhrisabz)

Shakhrisabz, which means "Green City", is located about 80 km south of Samarkand. The old town of Shakhrisabz is also registered as a World Heritage Site because of the many historical buildings from the Timurid dynasty.

One of them is Ak-Saray Palace, a summer palace built by Timur over 24 years. Although it means "White Palace", it is actually a colorful building with a blue exterior and gold interior. As a summer villa, there was a pool on the rooftop where water was brought from the nearby mountains. It was later destroyed by the Bukhara Khanate in the 16th century, and only the arch remains today. Even so, the remains of the arch, which is about 38 meters high, are very impressive.

The palace is estimated to have been about 70 meters high, which shows the power of Timur. In front of the arch stands a heroic statue of Timur, which is also a popular photo spot in Uzbekistan.

10. Ark Castle (Bukhara)

Ark Castle, located on a hill in the northwest of the old city of Bukhara, is the birthplace of ancient Bukhara. It is said that the first city walls were built in the 4th century BC.

Bukhara, which was very important as an oasis on the Silk Road, was invaded by foreign enemies many times, and each time Ark Castle became a battlefield, and it was repeatedly destroyed and restored. The current fortress, which stands tall, was completed in the 18th century.

Inside the castle, not only the lord's palace but also various political and economic facilities stood side by side. It functioned as a "city within a city," but today only the stone walls and gates remain. The gates and other buildings have been turned into museums, and some wooden buildings have been restored.

There are shops inside the castle, so it's a good place to look for souvenirs from Uzbekistan. In particular, Bukhara Suzani embroidery with motifs of the moon, sun, plants, etc. is recommended as a specialty of Bukhara.

11. Mausoleum of Ismail Samani (Bukhara)

The Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, located west of the Old City of Bukhara, was built between 892 and 943 and is the oldest Islamic building in Central Asia.

It is said that Ismail Samani, the ruler of the Samanid dynasty whose capital was in Bukhara at the time, built it for his father. However, Samani himself died before seeing the completed mausoleum. It is not certain whether Ismail actually rests there, but it seems that the current name was given to the mausoleum because it is said that he and his son were buried here.

When the Mongol Empire invaded in the 13th century, many cities in Central Asia were destined for complete destruction and massacres. However, since most of the building of the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani was buried underground, it is said that it escaped damage without being noticed. It was later excavated by Soviet archaeologists in the early 20th century and was seen again. There is a legend that if you walk around the mausoleum three times, your wish will come true.

◎ Summary of recommended tourist spots in Uzbekistan

The history and traditions left by each feudal lord still live on in the oasis cities of Uzbekistan, which prospered through Silk Road trade. In addition to the embroidered suzani mentioned above, ceramic tea sets and stork-shaped scissors are also recommended as souvenirs. Uzbekistan, which was the setting for the movie "The End of the Journey, the Beginning of the World" starring Atsuko Maeda, is rapidly gaining attention as a new travel destination! Please visit Uzbekistan once to experience the unknown culture and life of Central Asia.