Explore the World. Part 2. Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Hello Steemians. In this blog I continue to publish the series of articles under Explore the World section. This time our journey goes to Samarkand, Uzbekistan...

Are you looking to travel soon? Yet to find the perfect destination? Well, I have just the place for you: Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Although I currently live in Paris, France, Samarkand is in fact my hometown. I was born and raised there but left when I was 23. I will share with you more about myself in #introduceyourself blog in a few days, but for now, let us talk about Samarkand.

Muhammad Ibn Battuta, a scholar and great traveler of the medieval ages, once said that traveling leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller. And that is precisely what I am doing in this article, telling you stories about Samarkand which will hopefully interest you enough to visit.

So where exactly is Samarkand?

Otherwise spelled Samarqand, is an ancient city in Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia. Its position in River Zeravshan’s valley and along the Great Silk Road trade route immensely contributed to its growth.

Normally with location comes the question, “how do I get there?” Let that not trouble you as one of Uzbekistan’s airports of entry is located in Samarkand. It is officially known as the Samarkand International Airport and is among the busiest in the country.

A little history?

Why not? Although today Samarkand is the capital of Samarkand Region and Uzbekistan’s second largest city after capital Tashkent, it did not start as so. It is not exactly clear when the city was founded but various archaeologists propose either the 7th or 8th century BC. Interestingly, they did dig up evidence suggesting human activity in the area 10000 to 50000 years ago.

The region has seen the rise and fall of many great historic leaders, the likes of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Amir Timur and others. Similarly, the rule of many dynasties, empires, and kingdoms such as Kushan Empire, Tang Dynasty, Greco-Bactrian Kingdom etc.

This frequent change of rulers brought about a diversification of cultures, building designs, and a lot of artifacts causing UNESCO to include my hometown in their World Heritage List. I bet you are interested or a little curious now aren’t you?

Things to do and places to go

I know that an airport and some history is not enough to get you packing but maybe a list of some of the things to see and do while there will do the trick. These include:

• A silk carpet factory visit

Silk is a great resource in the East and the art of silk weaving is quite common in the region. You probably have a silk carpet in your home or have seen one and this gives you a chance to see how exactly they are made and even take part in the process yourself.

You will mostly find women at this factory as weaving is mainly a woman’s job. Silk carpets as you probably already know are very colorful, interestingly, the coloring materials used are made of organic colors! How? Trust me, it is a process you would rather see than read about.

• Taking private or group tours

Where to? Everywhere! I mean the whole city is flourishing with beauty. As a matter of fact, Samarkand’s sites are the main attraction for tourists from all over the world. If I were to classify these sites, they would be:

· Museums

· Historic/Heritage sites

· Sacred and Religious sites

· Historic Architectural buildings

However most, in fact all of these sites come to think of it, combine two, more or all of these aspects. With my all-time favorites being:

Registan

If there was a competition for public squares, Registan would take all three medals due to its spectacular surrounding which in fact earned Samarkand that spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On 3 of its sides are the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori madrassahs whose entries face the square. Notably, each of this madrassahs has a unique architectural design with the earliest dating back to 1417.

Shah-i-Zinda

Now this ensemble always brings a wowing feeling whether you are there for the first time or tenth. The site mainly has mausoleums and a few ancient buildings from as early as the 9th century. In fact, most of the mausoleums which are decorated in various styles belong to members of Timur’s family and empire.

Ulugh Beg Observatory

The observatory was built in the 15 century and was considered the largest in Central Asia. Both it and the madrassah with the similar name were built by Ulugh Beg. Mirza Muhammad, also known as Ulugh Beg, was not only a sultan during Timur’s reign but also a renowned mathematician and astronomer.

He is actually credited for his works in trigonometry and spherical geometry. Many esteemed Islamic astronomers such as Al-Kashi got to work in this observatory over the years. While in the observatory you can almost tell how astronomers carried out their works in the earlier centuries, it is simply amazing and enlightening.

Bibi Khanym mausoleum and mosque

The first thing I guarantee you’ll notice will be the majestically designed blue domes on the mosque. Remember Timur? Well, he ordered the construction of the mosque in honor of his favorite wife, yes you guessed it right, Bibi Khanym. Timur intended the mosque to be uniquely fascinating and if you do see it you will agree that that is precisely what it is.

I cannot possibly mention all the sites but there are so many more, such as:

· Central Bazaar,

· Gur-Emir Mausoleum

· Timur’s statue,

· Ruins of ancient city Afrosiab, now you know where @afrosiab is coming from ;)

· Sher-Dor-Madrasah

· Rukhabad Mausoleum etc.

The architecture in most of these places may have similar style, but if you have a good eye and a love for history you will appreciate the difference and beauty each holds.

• Sample local delicacies

What is a list of things to do’ without mentioning food? Incomplete. To begin with you will want to try palov also known as pilaf, it can be said to be the staple food of Uzbekistan. It is a simple dish whose main ingredients are rice and meat; other ingredients vary depending on the chef. A soup called Shurpa (Shurva) is another must try made of fatty meat (usually lamb) and vegetables. It’s not looking too good for vegetarians, is it?

Not to worry as the local chefs are pretty good at what they do and will make you a delicious meal no matter your preference. You should also try the local pastries, as well as the Samarkand bread popularly known as Naan(Non). The locals have a great liking for green tea which they drink throughout the day.

• Go shopping

We all want to take home a souvenir after a trip to remind us of our life’s adventures. Fortunately, inside Samarkand’s bazaars and along its streets you are sure to find affordable artifacts, clothing, jewelry, spices, etc. that you will love. May I suggest Samarkand’s pistachio and zeera (cumin) which are popular and widely purchased.

• Where to stay

There are many places of accommodation most of which are hotels and guest houses. The prices just like anywhere vary depending on size, services offered, location, how long you plan on staying etc. Would I recommend any hotel? How about you pick a place that doesn’t strain your budget this will also mean you have extra cash to buy some of the things we mentioned up there.

Uzbeks are naturally good-mannered, welcoming and hospitable people and they will definitely make your stay more enjoyable and comfortable. I am sure, if you decide to go and visit Samarkand and Uzbekistan, this will be the most memorable trip!

• Image rights belong to me