If you plan a trip to Uzbekistan and you do not have much time to travel around the country, this blog can be useful for you. We have put together interesting day trips from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan:
Tashkent itself
Visiting Tashkent itself is worth your time. The wide and beautiful avenues of the capital are ideal for leisurely walks. Also in Tashkent, you can find unique historical monuments such as the Minor Mosque, the Khazrati Imam complex or the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you love shopping, you must visit the biggest market in the city – Chorsu bazaar.
Samarkand
Thanks to modern and high-speed trains, you can easily explore the main sights of Samarkand in one day from Tashkent. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities of Uzbekistan which was the capital of Timur’s vast empire. Today, the greatness of the city is reminded by its many monuments, such as the Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, where the conqueror Amir Timur himself rests, the beautiful mosques Bibi-Khanum and Khazrat-Khyzr, the Ulugbek observatory and many other historical monuments.
Bukhara
Taking a seat in comfortable high-speed train “Afrosiab” early in the morning, after 4 hours you will find yourself in an amazing city – Bukhara. This city will not leave you indifferent. Take photos of the beautiful mosques and madrasas in Bukhara, decorated with incredible patterns and religious texts and visit the impressive Ark fortress. It is noteworthy that the fortress was not only the main residence of the emir of Bukhara, but also served as a place where great writers and scientists lived and worked at different times: Omar Khayyam, Avicenna, Firdousi.
Khujand
If you have one free day in Tashkent, be sure to visit Khujand, which is over 2,000 years old. The city was once conquered by Alexander the Great. He rebuilt it and named it Alexandria Farthest. During the era of the Silk Road, Khujand connected Samarkand with China and Ferghana Valley. A must-see in Khujand is the colorful oriental bazaar Paishanba.
Ferghana Valley
The Fergana Valley located in the south is famous for its fertile lands, irrigated by the Syrdarya and Naryn rivers, which makes it a perfect place for agriculture. The biggest cities of the valley are Andijan, Margilan, and Kokand. Andijan, surrounded by mountains, was part of the Silk Road. In Margilan you can visit the famous silk factories. In ancient times, silk caravans were sent from Margilan to other countries, where the quality of local silk was highly valued.
Tian Shan mountains
From Tashkent, you can always escape to the beautiful Tien Shan mountains, located not far from the capital, to recharge yourself. Enjoy the stunning beauty of the Charvak Lake and take an easy hike in the Chimgan Mountains. In wintertime, you can go skiing and snowboarding at Beldersay ski resorts.
