About Uzbekistan

Samarkand’s ancient monuments highlighted by Indian Tourism Magazine
07 January 2024
Samarkand’s ancient monuments highlighted by Indian Tourism Magazine

The famous Indian tourism magazine “Business of Travel Trade - BOTT” published articles on Uzbek-Indian cooperation in the field of tourism and the ancient city of Samarkand.

The first article comes under the title “An Overview of Uzbekistan-India Tourism Partnership” and describes the activities and efforts made within the scope of enhanced cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including the tourism industry.

“Comprehensive and multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and India has a deep history. The two countries have long-standing and time-tested cooperation and partnership in various fields, including politics, economics, education, sports, culture and the humanities, the magazine notes. “In this series, the tourism sector stands out as one of the important areas of interaction.”

The author of the article writes that Uzbekistan is interested in promoting its rich and extensive tourism potential in India, providing Indian travelers with a variety of information about the rich culture and traditions of the country. The places worth visiting, the ancient and eternally young cities of Uzbekistan such as Tashkent, Samarkand , Bukhara, Khiva, Andijan, Fergana and Namangan are mentioned in the article. 

According to the article, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi is a connecting bridge between the two countries, turning lofty plans into reality by participating in marketing campaigns, providing new travel packages to Uzbekistan and conducting promotional activities for consumers across India.

A large-scale road show about the tourism potential of Uzbekistan held in the financial capital of India – Mumbai is also mentioned in the article.  The author notes that this presentation became another striking example of close interaction between Uzbekistan and India in the field of tourism, uniting the two great countries, bringing them closer to each other, allowing the people of India to learn more about Uzbekistan, its true and internationally recognized potential of hospitality.

The next article is entitled “Samarkand: The World Tourism Capital” and begins with the quote: “In the heart of east-central Uzbekistan lies a city that whispers stories of past civilizations, where every cobblestone bears witness to the ebb and flow of time. Welcome to Samarkand, a city that is a living testimony to more than two thousand years of rich history and cultural convergence.”

Trying to understand the magnificent attraction of the city, the author states the following: “The magic of Samarkand lies in its historical treasures - a charming combination of mosques, madrassas and mausoleums. In the center of the city lies the Registan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was once a bustling square resonating with markets, caravanserais and the echoes of rulers' proclamations. The Registan embodies the essence of Samarkand's rich history, inviting visitors to experience bygone eras that shaped this extraordinary city."

The tourists visiting Samarkand are advised to immerse in the winding streets of the ancient city, where at every corner a fragment of Samarkand’s mysterious past reveals itself - from the majestic Bibi Khanum Madrasah to the celestial wonders of the Ulugbek Observatory, the serene spiritual atmosphere of the Khoja Ahrar ensemble and the ancient charm of Afrasiab. “Behold the breathtaking mausoleum of Amir Temur, which echoes the enduring legacy of the historical figure. Each step marks a discovery in this living book of history,” the author quotes.

Breathtaking architectural monuments of Samarkand are admired by the author, descriptively delivering the lively and bustling Siab Bazaar, small dukans and boutiques throughout the city, where artisans create exquisite souvenirs such as the famous handmade Uzbek textiles and unique ceramics. Samarkand’s restaurants are called a culinary oasis, where national and international recipes are harmoniously combined.

“Samarkand, a living chronicle of culture and heritage, invites you to leave not just with souvenirs, but with a piece of its soul. As you say goodbye to the azure domes and labyrinthine streets, know that the magic of Samarkand will remain, like an eternal echo of a journey into the very heart of the charming history of Uzbekistan,” the author of the article concludes.

More news about Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan in the Top 5 List for winter tourism among the CIS countries according to TurStat

According to the last statistical data presented by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurStat), Uzbekistan is in the Top 5 List among the CIS countries for winter tourism. 

14 November 2022
Uzbekistan’s Culture and National Cuisine presented at international festival in Germany

The international festival of Uzbek cuisine and culture was successfully held in the German city of Freiburg.

13 August 2024
Uzbekistan’s attractions broadcast by BBC Travel Show

A film dedicated to Uzbekistan's travel attractions is broadcast on BBC Travel. 

25 August 2024
Did you know?

Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world to be ‘double landlocked’ (landlocked and totally surrounded by other landlocked countries). Liechtenstein is double landlocked by 2 countries whilst Uzbekistan is surrounded by 5!

Did you know that Uzbekistan lies in the very heart of Eurasia, the coordinates for Uzbekistan are 41.0000° N, 69.0000°

Uzbekistan is home to the Muruntan gold mine, one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world! The country has 4th largest reserves of gold in the world after South Africa, USA and Russia

Uzbekistan is the world capital of melons. They have in excess of 150 different varieties, which form a staple part of the local diet, served fresh in the summer and eaten dried through the winter.

It is Uzbek tradition that the most respected guest be seated farthest from the house’s entrance.

Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and engraved metal. It has been called one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

The Uzbek master chef is able to cook in just one caldron enough plov to serve a thousand men.

When you are a host to someone, it is your duty to fill their cups with for the whole time they are with you.  What you must not do, however, is to fill their cup more than half-full.  If you do that as a mistake, say it is a mistake immediately.  Doing it means you want them to leave.  Wow!  Amazing, right?

To Uzbeks, respect means a whole lot.  For this reason they love it if, even as foreigners, you endeavour to add the respectful suffix opa after a woman's name; and aka after a man's.  Example: Linda-opa and David-aka.  You could also use hon and jon respectively.

Having been an historic crossroads for centuries as part of various ancient empires, Uzbekistan’s food is very eclectic. It has its roots in Iranian, Arab, Indian, Russian and Chinese cuisine.

Though identified with the Persia, the Zoroastrism probably originated in Bactria or Sogdiana. Many distinguished scholars share an opinion that Zoroastrianism had originated in the ancient Khorezm. Indeed, today in the world there were found 63 Zoroastrian monuments, including those in Iran, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thirty-eight of them are in Uzbekistan, whereas 17 of these monuments are located in Khorezm.

One of Islam's most sacred relics - the world's oldest Koran that was compiled in Medina by Othman, the third caliph or Muslim leader, is kept in Tashkent. It was completed in the year 651, only 19 years after Muhammad's death. 

Tashkent is the only megapolis in the world where public transport is totally comprised of Mercedes buses. And due to low urban air polution it is one of the few cities where one can still see the stars in the sky.

You would be surprised to know that modern TV was born in Tashkent. No joke! The picture of moving objects was transmitted by radio first time in the world in Tashkent on 26 of July 1928 by inventors B.P. Grabovsky and I.F. Belansky.

Uzbekistan is the only country in the world all of whose neighbours have their names ending in STAN. This is also the only country in Central Asia that borders all of the countries of this region

Uzbeks are the third populous Turkik ethnicity in the world after Turks and Azeris (leaving both in Azerbaijan and Iran)

Did you know that there was silk money in Khiva? Super interesting right? Of course, but the best part of having silk money was that it could be sewn into your clothing.

Famous Islamic physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna in the Latin world) who was born near Bukhara was the one of the first people to advocate using women’s hair as suture material – about 1400 years ago.

Uzbekistan has a long and bloody history. The most notorious leader of Uzbekistan was Timur (or Tamerlane) who claimed descent from Genghis Khan. His military campaigns have been credited for wiping out some 5% of the world’s population at the time.

If you have thought that some of the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan resembles that from Northern India, then that is because Timur’s great great great Grandson, Babur Beg, was the founder of the Moghul Empire that ruled much of India for almost four centuries! Babur’s great great Grandson was Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.

Uzbekistan was once a rum producig country. There is still a real arboretum in Denau (city near Termez on the border with Afghanistan), grown from a selection station that studied the prospects of plant growing in the unusual for the Soviet Union subtropical climate of Surkhandarya region: only here in the whole of the USSR sugar cane was grown and even rum was produced!

Uzbekistan has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world, according to a new global poll. The annual Gallup Global Law and Order asked if people felt safe walking at night and whether they had been victims of crime. The survey placed Uzbekistan 5th out of 135 countries, while the UK was 21st and the US 35th. Top five safest countries:

  • Singapore
  • Norway
  • Iceland
  • Finland
  • Uzbekistan
Exchange rates
100 RUR
14268.8 UZS
100 USD
1298907.01 UZS
100 EUR
1354424.04 UZS
100 GBP
1615060.71 UZS
Weather in cities
Tashkent
+
Samarkand
+