Amir Temur Square (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

On August 31, 1994, on the eve of the third anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, the square was named "Amir Temur Square" and a bronze equestrian monument was unveiled in its center. The President of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov, who was present at the opening, made a speech in which he said: "Our nation, which for many years was in a colonial grip, was deprived of the opportunity to honor its great compatriot, to pay tribute to his historical merits."

The sculptors Kamol and Ilkhom Jabbarov depicted the ruler dressed in royal military clothes and sitting on a horse, as he spent most of his life in military campaigns. There are no weapons in his hands, he is depicted here as a ruler, a statesman.

On the monument, Amir Temur's motto - "Strength lies in justice" - is inscribed in four languages. Amir Temur, the famous statesman, military leader was born in the village of Khoja Ilgar, not far from Shakhrisabz. He was a son of Taragai belonging to Barlas family. From a young age Temur took part in various wars and delved into the system of government. He ruled a vast empire for more than 30 years, creating a vast state.

Independence Square (Mustakillik Square) (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

Independence Square is the main square of Uzbekistan, which is located in the heart of Tashkent, the capital of this Central Asian country. The citizens often gather here to celebrate national holidays, on weekdays and weekends you can see honeymooners here, and in general there are always a lot of people and a pleasant atmosphere on the square.Along the square you can take a leisurely and pleasant walk under the noise and splashing of the beautiful seven-meter-high fountains. The majestic cypress alleys also deserve special attention - you just have to see them with your own eyes.

The general reconstruction gave the square a modern look, the buildings were restored and ennobled. The first thing people see at the entrance to the square is the arch of "good and noble intentions," which bears the official name "Ezgulik. The structure consists of sixteen columns made of light-colored marble and connected with each other by a slab, on which the figures of storks - the symbol of peace and serenity - were placed.

Minor Mosque (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

The Minor Mosque is the architectural gem of the Uzbek capital. Although it is very recent, it does not have a rich history and has not had time to grow a legend, the mosque has become a center of attraction for Muslim believers and visitors to Tashkent, who rush to admire one of the most impressive modern structures of Uzbekistan. The mosque in Tashkent is located on the renovated Ankhor Canal embankment. People of Uzbekistan have already given it the name "White Mosque", so beautiful its walls of white marble against the blue sky. On a clear day, the temple with its soft-blue dome is as if illuminated from within.

The Minor Mosque is designed to accommodate 2,500,000 visitors at a time, making it one of the largest religious buildings in all of Uzbekistan. The two minarets are designed in Uzbek and oriental style. The interior, though created using modern materials, is decorated in accordance with Central Asian traditions and religious canons. It is decorated with quotations from the holy book of Muslims Koran, sayings of Prophet Muhammad and the legends about him, openwork carvings, murals and a special prayer niche, called mihrab. It is decorated with an arch and columns, and its location indicates the direction of Mecca, the center of pilgrimage for all Muslim believers. The mihrab in Tashkent is called one of the most beautiful in the country and is a copy of the Samarkand mihrab.

Tashkent City (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

On October 13, the long-awaited Tashkent City Park opened in the capital for all comers. It is located on the territory of Lot 8 of the international business center, in the very center, between Navoi Street and Uzbekistan Avenue. The entire area has a variety of recreational areas for people of all ages and preferences, bringing to life the idea of creating an entirely new format of recreational space.

Every evening the fountain shows a mesmerizing water show with colorful laser effects, to the applause and cheers of the park's guests. At first, the water-laser extravaganza is simply eye-catching, but once you see the stream of water shot to a height of 80 meters, the cheers and applause will not be long in coming.

Victory Park (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

A thematic Victory Park and museum was opened in Almazar district of the capital. The park is decorated in the style of the war years, there are compositions with trenches and dugouts, field kitchens and other elements. There is an outdoor exhibition of military equipment and weapons. The park's exposition includes a unique museum, depicting scenes of front-line life, dummies of combat officers, as if they came to life within the walls of the museum, the compositions with trenches, dugouts and field kitchens, a railway station, old libraries and dressing stations. There is also a unique exhibition of military weapons of the war years.

The central alley of the park is crowned by a sculpture of heroes and participants in the war, headed by General Sabir Rakhimov, the man who commanded a huge army, who performed a huge feat of arms during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Magic City Park (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

Magic City is a project that has no analogues in Central Asia in the center of Tashkent. The largest territory of magic and entertainment for the whole family, where neither adults nor children will be bored. The streets of the park are made in the architectural styles of world cities - you can visit Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin, and others, without buying a plane ticket! Also on the territory there are many stores, cafes, restaurants for all tastes.

Particular attention is paid to creating all conditions for people with disabilities, including the installation of paths for the blind and ramps for people in wheelchairs. Another advantage is the city shuttle bus, which can be used to reach the park. Golf carts circle the vast area of Magic City itself to give people rides from the parking lot to their desired spot in the park.

Tashkent TV Tower (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

This structure is considered the tallest in all of Central Asia - the Tashkent TV Tower is 375 meters high, and its long spire, piercing the sky, can be seen from anywhere in the city. At a height of about a hundred meters in the TV tower you can visit the observation deck, and one level higher there are restaurant halls, where you can not only admire the panoramic views from the windows, but also have lunch.

The main functions of the Tashkent television tower are television and radio broadcasting. The signal from the tower spreads throughout the city, covering Tashkent province and slightly penetrating into Syr Darya province and even into some southern regions of Kazakhstan. The Tashkent TV tower and its hundreds of employees provide round-the-clock communication between important ministries and organize the work of various commercial organizations using the most modern technologies.

State Museum of the History of Temurids (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

In the heart of the main city of Uzbekistan, the capital city of Tashkent, there is the State Museum of the History of the Timurids - its collection contains more than 5 thousand exhibits from the era of Amir Timur and the Timurid dynasty. Opening of the museum in 1996 was timed to coincide with the 660th anniversary of Tamerlane's birth, and the site was located next to the square of Amir Timur, surrounded by beautiful parks, public and educational institutions.

The style of the building corresponds to the era to which it is dedicated - the circular building is crowned by a huge blue dome, the walls are lined with mosaics in the national style. The interior is solemnly decorated and impressive in its pomp; the second and third floors are entirely devoted to the history of the famous dynasty. The interior of these halls is richly decorated with gold leaf, marble, oriental paintings and miniatures, and the walls are decorated with frescoes depicting historical paintings.

State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

The State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan in Tashkent is one of the oldest museums both in the capital and in all of Central Asia. The former Lenin Museum begins its history from the establishment of the People's Museum of Turkestan. The eventful history has found its reflection in numerous museums - these national attractions of Uzbekistan can be found even in the smallest towns of the country.

The huge and original cubic building has a large-scale composition telling about the peculiarities of the country's historical development through cultural objects - different implements, crockery and household items, jewelry, mirrors and much more. On the first floor there is administration, conference hall and cinema hall. And the most interesting places can be found on the 3rd and 4th floors - about ten thousand exhibits are on display here and it is just a small part of the 250 thousand collection in the funds.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

Against the background of the usual Tashkent skyline of blue domes and minarets stands the Gothic silhouette of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the main Catholic cathedral in Uzbekistan, which is not typical of Central Asia. The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tashkent, located on Makhtumkuli Street, is the main and most majestic church in Tashkent, always attracting tourists.

Hearts of Jesus is a magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture. Its odious and gloomy façade is adorned with stained-glass windows and spires, the interior is lined with granite and marble, and the furniture and doors are made of precious wood. The main hall is adorned with a 2-meter statue of Jesus Christ and a musical organ.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Assumption, is an Orthodox cathedral of the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tashkent. The abbot of the cathedral is Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan. Next to the cathedral is the office of the diocese and the Orthodox Center.

The history of the Cathedral of the Assumption is unique in that it was once a small cemetery church, called the Church of St. Panteleimon. In the middle of the last century, work began to enlarge the church. After the end of World War II, the church was consecrated with the name of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and appointed the main Orthodox cathedral in the capital. In the 50-60's the church was almost completely rebuilt, the new premises could accommodate up to 4 thousand worshipers. After the collapse, the cathedral was thoroughly renovated and restored. Today you can visit the territory of the cathedral by passing through a triple arch, topped with a golden dome. The constructions in the courtyard are strikingly beautiful. They are all designed in the same style according to classicism; the white decor in combination with the blue facades give the composition an airy feeling. The five-tier openwork bell tower, reconstructed in the 20th century, deserves special attention.

Tashkent Botanical Garden (Tashkent) (Up to 10 km inside the city)

Tashkent Botanical Garden named after Academician F.N. Rusanov is one of the largest and oldest natural parks in the CIS. Now the botanical garden belongs to the Institute of the gene pool of flora and fauna of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, formerly the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. Today the modern territory of the garden of 66 hectares, is located in a residential area in the north of the capital. There is also the Tashkent Zoo nearby.

The botanical garden is magnificent at any time of the year. Thanks to the unique microclimate of the garden, here you can enjoy the flora of the five parts of the world - Central Asia, East Asia, the Far East, Europe and North America. The collection of the garden is represented by more than 6,000 species and varieties of plants: 170 conifers, about 800 species of tropical and subtropical plants, more than 2000 species of perennial herbs.On the territory of the Botanical Garden there are artificial ponds, and water flowing from the Akkurgan channel, because of the convenient location of the garden flows to planting plants by gravity. This has a favorable effect on the preservation and multiplication of grown plants.

New park "Yangi O'zbekiston" (Tashkent region) (15 km, 20 minutes from Tashkent)

"Yangi O'zbekiston is a new, absolutely huge park, five times larger than Tashkent City Park, located in a new part of Tashkent. More recently, the capital has expanded a lot, and the territory of the park, which used to be the Kibray district, is now part of the Mirzo-Ulugbek district. "Yangi O'zbekiston" is impressive in scale.

The central entrance to the park leads to the Monument of Independence. The stele, 60 meters high, is crowned by the Humo bird of happiness, a symbol of peace, prosperity and freedom. Along the road to the monument are flagpoles with banners flying in the wind, benches and trails with dry fountains. At 7:00 p.m., as darkness falls, the little lights on the ground around the monument are lit, and the Humo bird itself turns red and flickers in the night.

Charvak reservoir (Tashkent region) (61 km, 58 minutes from Tashkent)

Charvak reservoir is a picturesque artificial reservoir, spread in the spurs of the Western Tien Shan, northeast of Tashkent. Among the locals, the reservoir is known as Charvak or the Tashkent Sea. Azure reservoir is surrounded by green slopes of high mountains, which close it from the cold winds. From the banks of Charvak reservoir opens spectacular views of the snow-white caps of Big and Small Chimgan and other peaks of Ugam and Chatkal ranges.

Nowadays the beautiful Charvak reservoir has turned into a place of rest, where Tashkent citizens and tourists arriving in Uzbekistan like to spend weekends and vacations. The picturesque coastline of Charvak stretches for almost 100 km. In many places on the shore equipped comfortable beaches, built boarding houses and recreation centers, and pointed roofs of comfortable hotels perfectly fit into the mountain landscape.

Chimgan Mountains (Tashkent region) (86 km, 1 hour 25 minutes from Tashkent)

Chimgan mountains are not only beautiful nature, picturesque slopes overgrown with relict bushes, valleys and gorges with the cleanest mountain rivers. It is also a popular tourist area where skiing, paragliding, hiking thrives. Reviews testify that a trip to the Chimgan Mountains allows you to "reload" and restore your strength, being nourished by the inexhaustible source of energy - nature itself.

Each year, not only thousands of tourists flock here from all over the country, but also from foreign countries. An hour's drive from Tashkent is the Ugam-Chatkal National Park, a paradise for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, mountain hikers and other extremists.

Gulkam ravines (Tashkent region, Chimgan) (88 km, 1 hour 30 minutes from Tashkent)

Gulkam Canyons is an unusual natural sight in one of the gorges on the northeastern slopes of the Big Chimgan mountain. They are interesting because over millions of years the waters of the small mountain river Gulkamsay have broken through the thickness of the stone into a deep long corridor, which has turned into a narrow canyon with steep walls several tens of meters high. Here the sun's rays reach the bottom of the canyon only in the afternoon hours.

To get here is not difficult, and this somewhat extreme place is regularly visited by mountain lovers: some arrange overnight stays at the entrance to the canyon, but usually the Gulkam gullets are passed in 5-6 hours, so you can arrange a one-day tour from Tashkent. At first, the entrance to the Gulkam gullets doesn't promise anything interesting - a small noisy river disappears between two diverging rocks, but once you walk a few tens of meters, you're on a huge boulder, where you can see a small 10-meter cliff and a ringing waterfall.

Ugam-Chatkal State National Nature Park (Tashkent region) (64 km, 1 hour 22 minutes from Tashkent)

Ugam-Chatkal State Nature National Park is a specially protected natural area in the mountain spurs of the Western Tien-Shan. The national park was created in 1990 with the purpose of preservation of mountain-arch forests, ecosystems and rare species of animals and plants on the basis of Chatkal biosphere reserve. A significant part of the Ugam-Chatkal Park is a single mountain ecosystem of the Chirchik River basin. The park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is the largest nature conservation complex in Uzbekistan. It covers an area of 574.6 thousand ha, of which 56.4 thousand ha is forested area, 177.3 - pastures and hayfields, 1.61 - irrigated lands, and, finally, 329.4 - mountainous, rocky terrain.

Most of the nature park is open to the public, but travel in some areas is restricted by special trails. The Ugam-Chatkal National Park with its beautiful mountain slopes, cliffs, caves, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls has many opportunities for outdoor activities and tourism

Amirsoy resort (84 km, 1 hour 56 minutes from Tashkent) (Tashkent region)

Amirsoy Resort is a year-round resort with the latest infrastructure for Uzbekistan. It is located only 65 kilometers from the capital and occupies an area of 900 hectares. For Central Asia the resort is situated in unique location: Chatkal Mountain range spurs in western part of Tien-Shan mountains is one of the most impressive places of our region. The total length of trails is 15 kilometers. All of them have different levels of complexity, and the altitude difference on the slopes reaches 660 meters. Thanks to the modern artificial snowing system, the skiing season lasts up to 140 days a year, depending on the height of the slopes.

Amirsoy Resort is rich in varied leisure activities. Amirsoy Resort guests will be offered a wide range of active entertainment for all tastes all year round. One of the most interesting amusements of the resort is tubing. Tubing is a fun activity for children and adults alike, and consists of sliding down the hill in inflatable sleds. Such sleds are often called watrushkas, bagels, donuts and buns. This is a great alternative to downhill skiing and snowboarding.

Registan Square (Samarkand) (310 km, 4 hours 12 minutes from Tashkent)

Registan is the majestic central square of the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. This place is the main attraction of the country, thanks to the unique architectural ensemble of three madrassas (schools). The square has existed for more than 600 years, some of its buildings have been preserved in their original form since the 15th century. The Registan is situated in the heart of the old part of Samarkand and all the major roads of the city lead here. Every year thousands of tourists come to Uzbekistan desiring to see with their own eyes the pearl of the Middle East.

During the period of independence of Uzbekistan, the square was finally brought to a modern appearance and beautified. Today Registan is the venue for all major festivals, concerts and festivals in Samarkand. The main event that is celebrated twice a year is the international level music festival Sharq Taronalari, so if you want not only to admire Registan, but also enjoy a colorful national show, it is worth timing your trip to the beginning of one of the major holidays. Note that the square is especially beautiful in the evening, when it is illuminated with architectural lights.

Ichan-Kala (Khiva) (970 km, 14 hours 16 minutes from Tashkent)

Ichan-Kala is a historic, fortress-fenced inner part of Khiva, Uzbekistan, which is more than 2,500 years old. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is now under special protection. Travelers who have been to Ichan-Kale say that you have to pay to enter the old city. In addition, the gate, through which you can get into the historic part of Khiva, is open from 8 am to 6 pm. However, once in the old city, you can stay there overnight - there are guest houses on the territory.

Tourists who have been to Ichan-Kale say that it takes at least two days to see all the sights and walk around the narrow streets of the ancient city of Khiva. We will tell you about the most interesting structures and buildings.

Ark Fortress (Bukhara) (580 km, 8 hours and 13 minutes from Tashkent)

The Ark Fortress is the oldest archaeological monument of Bukhara, dating back to the I-VI centuries. The earth fortification is located in the western part of the city. In plan, the fortress Ark is close to an irregular rectangle, slightly stretched out in the direction from west to east. The fortress is famous not only for its monumental appearance, but also for the fact that great writers and scientists - Omar Khayyam, Avicenna, Ferdowsi - lived and worked within its walls at different times. From the notes of Avicenna we can conclude that in the Middle Ages there was an extensive library with unique books, which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day.

Today, the Ark fortress is a huge open-air museum complex. The territory of the fortress includes an archeological museum, exhibitions of numismatics and epigraphy, Bukhara Nature Museum, Childukhtaron Mosque and Battol-Gozi Honako. In total on the territory of historical-architectural complex "Citadel Ark" there are 8 museums with more than 80 thousand exhibits.

Khoja Donier Mausoleum (Samarkand) (310 km, 4 hours 6 minutes from Tashkent)

One of the many mausoleums that rise throughout the ancient Samarkand differs from the others - it is the tomb of Khoja Doniyor. But not at all by its appearance - it is also majestic and beautiful. But because, according to ancient legends, within its walls rests the relics of the great biblical prophet Daniel. It would seem that Samarkand and the saint who rested in the distant city of Souza, which is located in the territory of modern Iran, things are very far from each other and quite incompatible. However, the reason why this mausoleum was suddenly erected here is wonderfully told by numerous legends.

On the northern side of Afrasiab Hill, near the healing spring, near the old wall, is the mausoleum of Hoja Daniyar. According to legends, Hoja Daniyar was a companion of the Prophet's relative Qusam ibn Abbas in spreading Islam. There is also a legend that Khoja Daniyar is the Koranic and biblical prophet Daniyar (Daniel), whose remains were brought here by Amir Temur.

Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory (Samarkand) (310 km, 4 hours 6 minutes from Tashkent)

The outstanding historical monument is considered one of the main attractions of Uzbekistan. Its creation made a great contribution to the development of astronomy. Ulugbek's construction began as early as the 14th century on the Kuhak Hill. After the architect died, the observatory was abandoned and was only restored in 1908.

In front of the entrance to the museum complex there is a monument to Mirzo Ulugbek on the wall symbolizing the starry sky. He was the grandson of the famous Tamerlane Timur, one of the most famous rulers of Central Asia in the Middle Ages. I personally remember Ulugbek's name from my school days, from my physics and history classes. In the course of his scientific research, Ulugbek specified such astronomical parameters as the duration of the year, the inclination of the ecliptic to the equator and precession. A huge brick circle, which repeats the outlines of the building. Inside the circle is an underground tunnel. It is not possible to get into it, but you can peek through the ajar door. The photo shows the upper part of the tunnel and its ends with portals with Arabic ornaments.

Kyzylkum Desert (720 km, 10 hours 25 minutes from Tashkent)

Another arid region (land with arid climate) of our planet - sandy and stony Kyzylkum - is located in the territory of Uzbekistan. The Kyzylkum desert stretches between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, on the territory of three countries - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The area of sandy desert is 300,000 km². The minimum amount of precipitation falls here - 100-200 mm during the year, most of which occurs in winter and spring.

On the territory of this mysterious desert people constantly observe unidentified flying objects. Witnesses of extraterrestrial civilizations visiting the earth are both local residents and ufologists working there, geologists, and simply tourists. On the map you can see that the desert stretches between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, in the north borders with the Aral Sea and Syr Darya. To the east are the ranges of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai. Part of the desert adjoins the Amu Darya from the southwest.

Shahi Zinda Monument (Samarkand) (310 km, 4 hours 7 minutes from Tashkent)

Tourists come here to see the creation of architects who lived in the Middle Ages. The unique architectural monument Shahi Zinda ensemble in Samarkand deservedly enjoys fame not only in Central Asia but all over the world. There is not only one mausoleum, but whole complex of sepulchral temples of Moslem saints and Samarkand nobility. The Shahi Zinda complex was built during 9 centuries (from 11 to 19). It became an important part of the city life, pilgrims flocked to it from all over Asia.

In total, the complex has about 20 structures. Some of them were practically destroyed and have not survived. The architects showed all their skill and knowledge available to them at that time. Of those mausoleums that have survived to this day, there is not one like another. At their construction and internal furnishings the brick ornament, the carved not watered terracotta were applied. Masters widely used wood carving and painting on plaster. The artists painted on the walls created real pictures, displaying Arabic ligature and performing wonders of calligraphy. Among the ornate drawings decorating the walls of the tombs, one can read the Quranic verses woven into the pattern.

Samanid Mausoleum (Bukhara) (650 km, 9 hours 38 minutes from Tashkent)

One of the most ancient Bukhara architectural monuments - the Samanid mausoleum - is erected on a vast territory, which in the past centuries served as a burial place for the deceased. According to the historical information, the mausoleum appeared in the late X century on the territory of the cemetery. Its construction was headed by Ismail Samani, the ancestor of the famous dynasty, which occupied the throne for more than a century, from 875 to 999. It was the last Persian dynasty to rule in Central Asia. Interestingly, it is the reign of the Samanids that is considered the time of the state's economic and cultural heyday.

The mausoleum is known not only for its extraordinary beauty, but also for its impressive age. It is the oldest of all architectural monuments in Central Asia, reflecting Islamic architectural traditions. Nevertheless, there are deviations from the foundations of religion in the appearance of the building. The restoration work helped to preserve the look of the mausoleum. They were carried out in the XX century after the discovery of the architectural monument, which was almost completely hidden under two meters of the cultural layer. Its walls, which are almost two meters thick, also helped to preserve the mausoleum.