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Detailed tour description:
Day 12. Bukhara.
You start next morning in cozy Bukhara hotel with breakfast. After breakfast you will continue to see the sights of Bukhara. You are in prospect of 6 hours excursion program.
At the beginning you will visit the mausoleum of Ismail Samani (9th-10th centuries), which is a pearl of Central-Asian architecture. It is a family burial-vault of the local dynasty, which founder was Ismail Samani. From different points of view the mausoleum is unique. For example - according to canons of Moslem architecture the construction of covered mausoleums was prohibited. Probably this rule was for the first time broken during the construction of this mausoleum. Besides, as say historians of architecture, the building itself corresponds to all canons of Zoroastrian fire temples which means that in spite wide spreading of Islam in Central Asia it was built according to traditions that existed here before the Arabs. Thus the mausoleum of Ismail Samani can be referred to the structures that identify the assimilation of different cultures, on the basis of which was developed architectural style of Central Asia.
Leaving the park of Samanids you will visit the burial vault Chashma Aiub Mazar (12th c.), which means (Job spring). This place shows the influence of Great Silk Road on the development of different cultures. A legend says that Job (Aiub), biblical prophet (wandered in this territory during the time of drought. The locals suffered from it and begged for water. Than prophet stroke the earth with his walking stick and beautiful spring of clear water appeared there.
Today you will have opportunity to see the most ancient fortress in Buhara, citadel Ark (about 3rd c.), which is the most impressive fortified fortress. The ancient Buhara started from here. The citadel acquired its modern view after the last reconstruction of gates Ark (1785-1800) by the ruler Shahmurad known as “sinless emir”. It is said that during the time of another ruler - Nasrulla, famous for his cruelty as “emir- butcher” on one of the walls hang a leather lash as symbol of authoritarian power. A compact town was situated in Ark which included dwelling houses and administrative buildings: mosque, prison, the Treasury, emir’s residence and others. The complex Poy - Kalan (12-16c.) is the central in Buhara and is translated as “at the foot of the great” which means the foot of famous minaret Kalan (49 miters high built in 1127), the tallest in Buhara. Which survived by miracle after multiple wars and invasions. It was for some time the watching point, and next, a place for public executions. The word “minaret” is translated from Arabic as “a tower with a light on top”. There are lots of legends connected with it!
Madrasah Ulugbek (15th c.) was built in Buhara as in Samarkand in 1417. Ulugbek was a fair and highly educated ruler, oriented for science ideals and enlightening. Also remarkable was his attitude toward women. Let’s take for example the aphorism that was cut out on the doors of his madrasah in Buhara: “Aspiration for knowledge is a duty of every Moslem man and Moslem woman”.
Further on you will visit ensemble Liabi-Haus (16th-17th c.) which consists of Madrassah Kukeldash (1568 year) and Hanaka and Madrasah Nadir Divanbegi (1622year). All buildings were grouped around central pond, one of a few that remained during the time of mass ponds’ reclamation in Buhara during soviet time. At that moment it was a necessity because ponds were disease-breeder of infectious diseases among local population. The history of the pond is rather interesting. That’s how it was going on: Divan Begi had decided that this place was very good for making water reservoir near hanaka. He addressed a widow with proposal to sell her courtyard for good money. But the Jew turned down the proposal. Divan begi brought her to Emir with hopes that Emir would force her to sell the house. But Imam Kuli - Han handed over the consideration of this question to collegiums of muftis. The Moslem specialists in law made the decision which prohibited taking away the court yard from Jew by force, by their opinion Jews had equal rights with Moslems. . . But the cunning grandee laid a gutter close to the walls of Jew’s house. After some tine when water started to wash away the basement of the house, Jew came to Divan-Begi to appeal to his conscience. He answered her that his proposal was still in force and he was ready to pay for her house immediately. The widow answered that she didn’t need money but instead of the house she wanted to get a piece of land with permission to build a synagogue. She was granted it. At the present moment this residential quarter is called “Jewish” (mahalli-kuhma). Soon the first synagogue was built in Buhara and big haus (pond).
There are many stories that you will be told in ancient Buhara!
But now - overnight in Bukhara hotel.
Day 13. Bukhara.
Another unforgettable day in Buhara will give you opportunity to know more about cultural relations of West and East. After all it is impossible to overestimate the influence of commerce on cultural and historic development of any modern civilization.
To day you will travel outside the city (it is not far - 15-20 minutes drive from Buhara). Here you will visit summer residence of Bukhara emir (19th c.) called “Sitori Mohi Hosa” (“Palace of Moon and Stars”). Palace represented a fantastic mixture of Russian, Eastern and European architecture.
Sitori Mohi Hosa, popularly known as the Emir’s Summer Palace, this charming and unusual collection of dwellings and state rooms was built by the Russians in 1911 for the last Emir Alim Khan, as an inducement to get him out of the Ark fortress and safely ensconced in a strategic and cultural no-man’s-land on the edge of town.
By the end of the 19th century, the Emirs of Bukhara spent little time in their official residence, the Ark, but preferred to flit between winter layover in Shakhrisabsz, summer suburban residence in the destroyed at he present moment Shirgaron Palace and safe haven of Karmana. It was a physical dislocation that merely reflected a wider cultural confusion as the modern sparked along the medieval. By now the ruler of Central Asia’s most fanatical bastion of Islam paid annual visit in his private train to the banquets and balls of St Petersburg’s Winter Palace or to his fashionable dacha on the Crimean coast, while his son read Dostoyevsky and tried to reconcile a four-year military education in St Petersburg with the medieval theology taught in Bukharan madrasah. With its uneasy mixture of Russian and Central Asian architectural traditions, Alim’s summer palace offers an intriguing symbol of emir’s lifestyle, a man who was trying to bridge two worlds and of emirate caught between two epochs.
Let’s visit complex Bahaadin Nakshbandy which is considered as Middle Asia Mecca. Bahaadin Nakshbandy mausoleum is situated here, during his lifetime he was Amir Timur’s spiritual adviser and the founder of sofy order Nakshbandy. The complex includes many different buildings: mosque, minaret, mausoleum, hanaka. But one of the most significant is the burial - vault of emirs which represents labyrinth of bricked walls a bit higher than a human height. And near the hause (pond) lies dry trunk of a mulberry tree, touching it you should conceive a secret wish.
After return to Buhara you can get pleasure wandering along small shops, situated in former caravan-serais. And you should visit Bukhara golden and carpet markets, even if you are not planning to by something they are worth visiting. Speaking of golden market - it is simply unique nobody will annoy you with commercial offers. The salespeople with dignity wait till the customer steps up himself.
After dinner - another overnight in Bukhara hotel.
Day 14. Bukhara - Khiva (440 km., 7-8hours).
To day you have another early wake up. The long road to ancient capital of Khiva khanate may appear to you tiresome, but don’t underestimate Uzbekistan nature and landscape.
You will arrive to Khiva in the afternoon, after accommodation in one of its hotels you can have a rest.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 15. Khiva.
Today you will have a fascinating city tour of another ancient city. This “museum in the open” has more than 2500 years history.
The time of appearance of the city is connected with the legend according to which Sim, son of Noah with his retinue traveled in Khorezm. When strength of the travelers run low because of thirst it was decided to dig a well. Sim fall asleep while his retainers were digging the well. In his dream he saw paradise with abundance and prosperity. He was awaken and offered water to taste from the new well. The water was cold and of pleasant taste and Sim was quickly freshened up. With satisfaction he exclaimed: ”Kheivakh!” That’s how the Khiva appeared.
Today the age of Khiva is considered to be 2500 years, although officially it was registered since the 10th century as one of the four main cities of Khorezm, after city of Kiat was submerged after the flood by Amu-Daria river (not accidentally Arabs called this river Djeihun - madden) the strategic importance of Khiva considerably increased.
Excursion starts from the western gates “Ota Darvoza” (father-gates) one of the four gates of inner city - “Ichan kala”, “Palvan Darvoza”- eastern, “Bogcha Darvoza”- northern, “Tosh Darvoza” - southern. Ichan kala is surrounded by 2100 m. of defensive walls 7-8 meters high and 5-6 meters thick with galleries for marksman and 40 towers - bastion with embankment and defense moat. The outer city - “Dishan kala” had 6000 m. of surrounding defensive walls, eleven gates with towers- bastions, domes and shopping malls. Ruins of these walls remain today in some places and two gates: “Hozarasp Darvoza” and “Kosh Darvoza”.
The inner city has the form of irregular rectangle 650 Х 400m. elongated from north to the south. Since 1825 during the short time the city was almost completely rebuilt by Allakuli khan and was surrounded by walls in six months only.
That’s exactly how it appears today before visitors.
City tour:
Madrasah Amid Khan and Kalta minor (1851-1855);
Kunia Ark (1686-88 and 1804-25);
Madrasah Muhammad Rahim khan II (1871);
Mausoleum of Seid Allaudin (1306-1370);
Workshops of wood carvers and carpet makers, Madrasah Shirgazi khan (1718-1720);
Pahlavan Mahude mausoleum (1247-1325);
Madrasah and minaret Islam Khodja (1908);
Friday mosque Djuma masjid and minaret (1788-1799);
Ak masjid - White mosque (1657);
Madrasah Kutlug Murad inak (1804-1812);
Caravan saray Allakuli khan(1830);
Madrasah Allakulikhan (1834-1835).
The tour’s length is 6 hours.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 16. Khiva - Urgench - Tashkent.
Today you will be brought to Urgench, the city from which you will travel back to the capital of the state on the territory of which in former times was situated ancient Sogdiana.
After accommodation in one of Tashkent hotels you can dedicate the whole day to this beautiful city: to visit museums, to walk in the parks and enjoy the fountains splashes.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 17. Tashkent. Departure.
Our travel through the ancient capitals of Persia and Sogdiana arrived to its logical end. During the short time we tried not to miss something important. Surely if we had more time, the pearls of East - ancient Persia and Sogdiana could show another interesting things. But we saw the most important - the soul of Ancient Sogdiana.
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