The Blue City – The Exquisite Oasis City of Samarkand
A Silk Road hub with a history spanning 2,750 years, Samarkand is a place where ancient civilizations intersect.
Legends speak of Alexander the Great visiting in ancient times, trying traditional dish “plov,” and even taking a local woman as his wife, highlighting the deep historical roots of this land.
In ancient times, Samarkand was renowned as a cultural and trade crossroads linking the East and the West. The remaining blue-hued monuments mostly date back to the 14th century when it became the capital of the Timurid Empire.
The historic buildings were registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in 2001.
The city itself is not overly large, and major tourist attractions can be explored on foot.
For a standard sightseeing experience, two nights would generally suffice to fully enjoy the attractions.
Attractions in Samarkand
Registan Square
Registan Square, meaning “sandy place,” is synonymous with Samarkand. It serves as a symbol of Uzbekistan, captivating tourists with its grandeur and beauty.
Situated at the intersection of six major roads, it is an iconic Islamic architectural complex in Central Asia and the Islamic world.
In the 14th century, during the Timurid era, Samarkand’s central hub was established here, and a large bazaar was constructed.
Ulugh Beg, Timur’s grandson, erected the Ulugh Beg Madrasah (theological school), followed by the construction of the Sher-Dor Madrasah and Tilla-Kori Madrasah in the 17th century, forming the present appearance of Registan Square.
Inside the madrasahs, visitors can explore souvenir shops, museums, and the interior of the Tilla-Kori Madrasah’s mosque with its dome covered in gold leaf.
During the season, around 20:30, “The Light Music Show” takes place, featuring illuminations synchronized with elegant music. (Please note that the time and dates may vary, so confirmation on the day is advisable.)
Guri Amir
Guri Amir is said to be a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture.
It is a mausoleum constructed for Muhammad Sultan, the beloved grandson of Timur, who died suddenly in 1403. Interestingly, Timur himself, who passed away in 1405, was also buried at this site.
Additionally, other powerful figures from the Timurid era, including Ulugh Beg and other descendants, rest in this location.
The distinctive feature of Guri Amir is its dome structure. With a double-layered design, it appears tall when viewed from the outside. The interior is adorned with gold leaf, creating a dazzling and splendid mausoleum.
Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda, located on the Afrosiab hill, is a complex of mausoleums. Originally built for Quthum ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, to spread Islam in this region, it attracts many Muslim visitors for prayers.
The name Shah-i-Zinda means ‘Living King.’ The name stems from the belief that Quthum ibn Abbas, after being attacked by non-believers and having his head severed while in prayer, took his own head, entered a well, and continues to live. This sacred place is a constant destination for Muslims and tourists alike.
During the Timurid era, additional mausoleums were constructed, housing the tombs of Timur’s descendants.
With multiple blue mausoleums and a rich variety of tiles, Shah-i-Zinda is a popular spot for photography. As it is also a place of Islamic worship, visitors should adhere to rules such as avoiding excessive skin exposure.
Bibi-Khanum Mosque
Constructed by Amir Timur, who returned from his expedition to India, the construction of Bibi-Khanum Mosque began in 1399.
It is said that Timur aimed to build a mosque more dazzling, enormous, and beautiful than any other, gathering renowned architects and artists from various places for the project.
The completion of this mosque took five years. It is attributed to Timur’s grandson, Ulugh Beg, that a marble lectern was created to house a colossal Quran dating back to the 7th century, considered the world’s oldest.
However, due to earthquakes, minarets and arches collapsed, leading to the mosque’s ruin.
From the hills of Afrasiab and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, one can appreciate the colossal size of Bibi-Khanum Mosque.
Ulugh Beg Observatory
Ulugh Beg, the grandson of Timur, left a significant legacy as an astronomer.
Despite the lack of telescopes and sophisticated instruments at the time, he calculated the length of a year to be 365 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, and 8 seconds, with an estimated error of less than a minute when compared to observations made with modern precision instruments today.
Ulugh Beg’s observatory remained undiscovered for a long time, but in 1908, it was excavated by Russians. Currently, only the foundations of the observatory and the underground portion of the sextant have been preserved.
Siyob Bazaar
The largest bazaar in Samarkand, where almost everything can be found.
Located adjacent to the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, it is easily accessible for tourists.
As soon as you enter, you’ll find stalls selling dried fruits and nuts, with several souvenir shops lined up as well.
Meros Paper Mill in Konigil Village
Meros is a papermaking workshop located in the outskirts of Samarkand, in Konigil Village.
It is said that during the Battle of Talas in 751, a Tang Dynasty soldier, who was captured, possessed the skill of papermaking. As a result, a paper mill was established in Samarkand.
The knowledge of papermaking spread from this region to the Middle East and eventually to Europe.
Following the industrial revolution in Europe, mass production of paper became widespread, leading to a decline in paper mills during the Soviet era.
However, to revive the traditional art of papermaking from that era, Meros Paper Mill in Konigil works to recreate the ancient craft.
Attractions in the Outskirts of Samarkand
Urgut Bazaar
One of Uzbekistan’s largest bazaars, located approximately 40 minutes from Samarkand.
It is renowned for its size, attracting sellers from various regions of Uzbekistan to source their products.
Many tourists visit this bazaar with a particular interest in Suzanis. This marketplace offers a wide variety of Suzanis – large pieces of fabric intricately embroidered – allowing buyers to acquire them at affordable prices.
From vintage to contemporary designs, Urgut Bazaar features a diverse range of items, including those with Urgut designs and products from the white-clad Nurata region.
