Uzbekistan is a fascinating country in Central Asia, famous for its historical cities, diverse landscapes and oriental flavor, which will not leave anyone indifferent.
An important fact is that Uzbekistan offers a 30-day visa-free regime for visitors to more than 80 countries, as well as a simplified visa system for citizens of 77 countries.
1. Ancient architecture
Since Uzbekistan was the center of the Great Silk Road, this country is rich in historical monuments built in different styles of the ancient East.
Visiting medieval architectural structures such as Registan Square, the Shakhi-Zinda ensemble, founded by the Turkic Karakhanid dynasty, consisting of eleven mausoleums, the grandiose Bibi-Khanym mosque and many other palaces, minarets and mosques, you will undoubtedly remain impressed.
2. National cuisine
One of the reasons to visit Uzbekistan is the national cuisine. Thanks to the preserved centuries-old culinary traditions and ties with neighboring countries, Uzbek cuisine is very diverse and is in demand all over the world.
Arriving here, you will try many traditional delights of Uzbek cuisine, taste real Uzbek pilaf, which is a symbol of Uzbekistan and has more than a hundred varieties.
In addition to pilaf, you will taste many other dishes, such as: kovurma lagman, beshbarmak, as well as traditional tandyr bread (cooked in a special oven), which are considered table decorations and are always prepared for family celebrations and folk holidays.
3. Oriental sweets
Uzbek sweets will not leave anyone indifferent, there are a large number of them for every taste. Their peculiarity is that they are prepared only from natural products, without preservatives and other additives.
The most famous of them are navat, which is considered to be crystallized sugar, made from sugar syrup and grape juice, and halva made from egg whites, with the addition of crushed nuts, flour and honey.
Cooking methods and recipes for these foods may vary by region.
4. Local bazaars
Bazaars in Uzbekistan are colorful and definitely worth a visit. By visiting local markets, you will plunge into a real oriental atmosphere: an endless stream of people and a wide variety of goods and colors.
The most visited bazaars are Siyab, Alay and Chorsu are considered the oldest markets in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, built in the Middle Ages.
5. National dishes
The national dishes of Uzbekistan are so beautiful and varied that they deserve special attention.
For many centuries, artisans have honed their skills in the production of dishes and passed it on from generation to generation. Today, the national dishes of Uzbekistan are in great demand and are considered a real work of art.
The dishes here are made from fired clay or ceramics, then painted by hand. Such dishes with an original design are called “pahta”.
6. Traditional carpets
Carpet weaving in Uzbekistan is one of the oldest art forms. From ancient times, carpets were considered a symbol of prosperity and comfort and adorned the houses of the wealthy nobility. Today, carpets adorn almost every home.
Products made by Uzbek craftsmen are of high quality and are in great demand all over the world. In addition to large carpet factories, many residents of Uzbekistan make their own carpets at home. Depending on the region, carpets differ in ornament and coloring.
Traveling to Bukhara, be sure to visit the museum of carpet weaving, located in the ancient mosque of Magoki Attori, where various types of carpet weaving are kept.
7. Walk along the mahalla
Mahala is not only a quarter of private houses in Uzbekistan, it is a whole community with its own laws, economy and council of elders. Residents of the mahalla are distinguished by their special unity, they always help each other and live in peace and harmony.
Since this is practically a separate administrative region, it has its own center where the residents of the mahala gather to discuss important issues. The regional center is usually a mosque or teahouse.
8. Feel like a nomad
Since the Uzbeks have nomadic roots, many attributes of nomadic life are still preserved in some remote areas.
Today, there are many yurt camps that offer tourists to plunge into the nomadic lifestyle. Arriving here, you will have a unique opportunity to feel like a real nomad, get to know their way of life, get acquainted with the culture, traditions of the country, as well as a rich variety of landscapes.
9. See sunken ships
Even 65 years ago, the Aral Lake was considered the fourth largest in the world and was a favorite place for many locals and tourists. Many species of fish were found here and ships sailed, large cargo transportation took place between the ports of Aralsk, located in Kazakhstan, and Muynak in Uzbekistan.
But in the 60s, as a result of the excessive use of water for irrigation of fields, the Aral Lake began to dry up quickly, which led to the breakup into two independent reservoirs.
Nowadays, the drying lake, the sandy-salty desert and the sunken ships of the Aral Sea resemble a plot from a movie.
10. Safety
Uzbekistan is one of the safest countries to travel in. Of particular importance here is the safety of tourists; in large cities there are a large number of police stations, as well as tourist police patrolling in crowded places.
