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Detailed tour description in Uzbekistan:
Day 5. Bukhara - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand.
Say good-bye to Bukhara as you are to be transferred to Shakhrisabz. Tamerlane was born on April 9, 1336 in Khoja-Ilgar village not far from Shakhrisabz. At the dawn of Tamerlane’s political career the town was his residence, and even after Samarkand was announced to be the capital Timur Lang didn’t forget his hometown. He had always been generous and invested a lot of money in building and development of the town, which was continued by his grandson Ulugh Bek.
First of all you have to see the ruins of the summer palace Ak-Saray. Its construction was started by Tamerlane in 1380 and had been continuing for 25 years! Unfortunately, only two separate pylons of the entrance portal are preserved. In the past they were connected with the arch, which was one of the largest in Central Asia (according to the calculations of architects it was higher than a modern 20-storey building). In fact, even these two pylons are quite impressive, even these remains allow us to imagine the power and eminence of legendary Tamerlane.
Even now one can see mosaic on the side-walls of the palace, which make up inscriptions in Arabic. There is also the note of menacing Tamerlane: “The sultan is the shadow of Allah on Earth”. According to historical chronicles, one of the miracles of this palace was the hauz constructed on the roof. Wonderful cascading waterfall was running out of it, which was a real miracle in those times! Water was coming to hauz from the lead trays running from the Takhtakaracha mountain pass not far from the town. The yard paved with white plates, transparent surface of a huge pool of water in the middle - all this is harmoniously combined with gorgeously decorated arched side-galleries and makes visitors feel free…
Next you will proceed to the majestic Dorus Syadot complex (the “Adobe of Power”). Now it is difficult to imagine those separated constructions in the centre of Shakhrisabz being related to each other, although they were. Those constructions are a high mausoleum with a conic dome and an underground vault, which is about 40 meters away. However, in the epoch of the Timurids they were making up a single ensemble. Timur started construction of the mausoleum in 1376 when his elder 20-year-old son Jahangir died. In 18 years the remains of his second son, Omar Sheikh, killed during a siege of a Kurd fortress, were also brought here. In the XX C during excavations of the mausoleum by chance a vault prepared for Tamerlane was discovered to the east from the mausoleum. It deserved our attention due to maturity of its architectural style.
Next you will see the complex of constructions, which were surrounded by wall in the past. Those buildings composed the Dorut Tilavat Madrasah. Its name is translated as the “House of Meditation”. Two persons important for Tamerlane are buried here: his father Taragay and Kulial The Potter, who was one of the founders of “dervish” order of the Sufi Baha-ud-Din Naqshband. In 1435 the Juma Mosque called Kok-Gumbaz was built at the territory of the madrasah in addition to the existing mausoleums. “Kok-Gumbaz” means an “Azure Dome”.
It is thought that in the period of Samarkand and Shakhrisabz development, Central Asian architectural style was the major trend in the most part of the eastern world. Therefore, you’ve managed to see the greatest masterpieces of antiquity! And now you are about to make a ride towards mysterious minarets of Samarkand, to the city, which once was the heart of the great empire of Tamerlane.
Day 6. Samarkand.
Today’s morning is a special one: you’ve finally reached the ultimate goal of your journey and got to the very heart of Tamerlane’s empire as during his rule Samarkand was the capital of his immense empire! Samarkand was one of the main destinations of the Great Silk Road, city-museum, which has retained unique spirit of the Middle Ages just like Khiva and Bukhara. Amazingly, but neither age nor origin of the city name are known yet. Nevertheless, its antiquity, nobleness and exquisite oriental charm are unquestionable!
Well, even the symbol of the city was appealing to Tamerlane, as for several millennia the talisman of the city has been a proud snow leopard, the king of animals, which greets guests at the very entrance to the city with a friendly lifted paw as if he says that the city greets a wonderer and wishes him/her all the best.
First of all you will see the most impressive square in the entire Central Asia - the Registan Square (XV-XVIII C) situated in the centre of Samarkand. The word “Registan” means a “sandy spot”. People say that sand was brought there for purpose - it was necessary to absorb blood because public executions were carried out right here. Much later in 1875 the square was cobbled with baked bricks and stones. How did the Registan appear? For centuries the bazaar was here, at the crossing of six roads outstretched from the city gates. Thus, due to its comfortable location the square became the centre of the city over time. And monumental constructions erected here by the Timurids made it look unique and majestic just as we see it now!
The square is encircled with three majestic buildings: the Madrasah of Ulugh Bek (1417 - 1420), the Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619 - 1636), and the Tilya-Kori Madrasah (1647 - 1660). In 1417 Ulugh Bek (the grandson of famous Timur Lang) started the construction of the madrasah bearing his name. In 1420 the construction process was finished and the square became the centre of science. Initially, more than a hundred students were living and studying there. Two more monumental buildings were erected on Registan in the XVII C: the Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori Madrasas.
The Sher-Dor Madrasah («Lions Gate») with the facade depicting fantastic catlike animals and chamois is a regular reflection of the Madrasah of Ulugh Bek. The snow leopards with sun on their backs are the symbols of power. And in between, in the centre of the portal, there is a big swastika where it is written in Arabian: “God Almighty!”
Ten year after the Sher-Dor had been finished foundation of the Tilya-Kori Madrasah was laid, which completes the ensemble from the north. The name of the madrasah is literally translated as “decorated with gold”. Except its main educative function this madrasah was also used as the main mosque of Samarkand.
Next you will surely visit the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, which is the necropolis of the Timurids. The remains of the honoured commander Timur Lang are still there. Under Ulugh Bek a nephrite gravestone was installed on Tamerlane’s tomb. The inscription made on it states: “Whoever dares to break my peaceful rest either in this or the next life will die suffering”. According to the legend disentombing of his remains is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, the war is to be. How can it be true? Well, the fact is that after archeologists had tried to dig out his remains, the Second World War started!
The Rukhabad Mausoleum is located nearby. According to legends, the hair of Mohammad the Prophet is kept there. And behind the Gur-e Amir, in a quiet street there is the Ak-Saray Mausoleum (XV C), which has not been restored yet; and, thus, it attracts numerous visitors with its authentic antiquity.
Next you will proceed to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque (XV C), which (as it was written in a diary of a Spanish ambassador to Central Asia named Ruy González de Clavijo) was built according to a special order by the best 200 architects from all over Timur Lang’s empire, 500 workers and 95 Indian elephants. It is said that Tamerlane built it in the honour of his oldest wife’s mother. However, contradictory legends exist, which tell that Bibi-Khanym was the wife Tamerlane was mostly fond of and once, when commander was out for another conquest she ordered to construct this grandiose mosque as a present for her husband.
Guess you’ve already been told about Ulugh Bek - a grandson of Tamerlane, a scientist and patron of the arts, haven’t you? And now you can explore a survived part of his observatory (XV C), where you will find a unique astronomic construction - the sextant. Using it Ulugh Bek created his world famous “Astronomic tables”, which shocked even the most progressive representatives of European science of those times.
The architectural ensemble Shah-i-Zinda (XII - XV CC) is of a special historic value. It is situated in the southern part of ancient city of Afrosiab. The name of the ensemble literally means “King Alive”. In fact this is a necropolis erected at the grave of a person mistakably hallowed as a saint. The person is said to be the cousin of Mohammad the Prophet called Kusam ibn Abbas. The legend tells that Kusam ibn Abbas came to Samarkand to preach Islam and was decapitated for his beliefs. However, he was such a strong believer that he managed to take his chopped off head and go down to a deep well where he is supposedly residing now. Most buildings comprising Shah-i-Zinda were erected during the rule of Timur Lang and his closest successors.
Not far from Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis there is the Mosque of Hazrat-Khyzr, which is one of the most ancient sacred Muslim constructions in the territory of Samarkand. It was almost totally demolished by the hordes of Genghis Khan. However, it was successfully reconstructed. The mosque is situated on a hill at the city entrance. An impressive view of the ancient Necropolis Shah-i-Zinda, local bazaar and distant mountains opens from that hill.
After the tour we advise you to fight your laziness and fatigue and walk around the evening city as the following is true about Samarkand: “Everyone must admire this city at least twice - in the eye of day and under the moon”.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 7. Samarkand. Samarkand - Tashkent (330 km, 5-6 hrs.).
Today you will have some more time to enjoy the beauty of Tamerlane’s capital before leaving for Tashkent!
You’ll visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Daniyor (or Daniel the Prophet). Daniel is hallowed by the followers of three major religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. By the order of Tamerlane the mosque was built at the tomb, however, later (in 1900) the mausoleum was erected in its place. Legends tell that here in an 18-meter long grave a hand of the great prophet is lying. Well, in fact 18 meters is too much for a hand! However, national fantasy is quite dodgy: some people say that the hand is growing year by year whereas others claim that Daniel was a giant. The only statement, which is the same in all legends about Daniel, is that Tamerlane brought this hand to Samarkand!
Next you will proceed to another interesting monument of Timurids’ epoch called Ishratkhona. Neither archaeologists nor historians of architecture have any satisfactory arguments to explain the function of this construction. The most widely spread version claims that it was a necropolis for women of blue blood. Another popular legend tells that Ishratkhona is a House of Entertainments built by Timur in place of a peach garden, where he met one of his 18 wives. Besides this construction is quite attractive because it has not been restored yet, thus, you can have a look at the building, which has been witnessing the history of the city for the last five centuries.
Now it is your free time and you can walk around. May be you will decide to visit local bazaar. Or try to find the lost library of Ulugh Bek as the whole set of valuable manuscripts gathered by Tamerlane in conquered states, which was carefully kept by Ulugh Bek, is completely lost now! According to some versions, the library was kept in observatory and after its demolition books were taken by locals and then disappeared. Others claim that the library was kept in a vault of one of Tamerlane’s palaces in Samarkand. But which one?
After a long walk and lunch you will be transferred to Tashkent, where you will be accommodated in a cozy hotel room.
Day 8. Tashkent. Departure.
In the morning Tashkent will greet you with the smells of greenery and coffee as well as the fuss of the capital city. Depending on your flight time you can plan your activities in Tashkent, e.g. you can visit Chor-Su bazaar or simply walk around the New city and admire its parks, water reserves, monuments and buildings. Or maybe you’d like to have an underground joy-riding session. Well, it’s great as Tashkent underground is the most beautiful in the world!
Oh, your flight back home is so soon. It’s time to go to the airport! Your journey around the ancient empire of Tamerlane has reached its close. Hope, you’ve managed to find answers for all enigmas and legends surrounding this outstanding commander and “city planner” of the past, who despite being cruel anyway had really loved his country and tried to keep the memories of him and his family through ages in many different ways. The spirit of Tamerlane the Great is still alive in each corner of his empire, and his noble capital is still shining, thus, attracting travellers from all over the world. It is quite possible that you’d like to come back to this fruitful land once again to commemorate the memory of Tamerlane the Great!
Photo of the tour:
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