The following is a report on the “Republic of Uzbekistan” tour organized by the Foundation for Art and Cultural Development of Uzbekistan.
Previously, we introduced the capital city of Tashkent, but this time we will visit Bukhara, a city with a history of prosperity as an oasis on the Silk Road, located a little further south in the countryside.
Although the domestic travel this time is by plane starting from the capital city of Tashkent, many tours are also set up to go around the western side of the country via Samarkand using trains and buses. In this case, visitors should be able to enjoy the scenery as they travel through the magnificent desert area. The actual tour itinerary was in the order of Heva to Bukhara, but I will start from Bukhara, which is closer to Tashkent.
I took a domestic flight from Tashkent to Bukhara on “Silk Avia”, a new LCC operated by Uzbekistan Airways’ partner Uzbekistan Airlines and originating from Tashkent International Airport. I will introduce it here because it is considered a bit unusual. We flew on an ATR 72-600 turboprop twin-engine aircraft. The aircraft is beautiful, with a fancy design that looks like flowing silk painted all over the fuselage.
The oldest known structure in Bukhara is the Kalyan Minaret. This gigantic minaret, which is 48 meters high, has remained unchanged since its construction in 1127.
When the Mongol Empire led by Genghis Khan occupied Bukhara in 1220, the surrounding mosques were destroyed, but only this minaret remained. It is said that Genghis Khan, astonished by its height, ordered that it not be destroyed. The minaret is used to call people to worship, but because it was also a symbol of power, it tended to boast of its height and ornamentation, making it vulnerable to destruction due to the occupation. I visited during the daytime, but it is also beautiful at night when it is illuminated.
The adjacent huge “Karan Mosque” was built in 1514 and is still in use as a mosque.
Near the Karan Minaret is The Ark Fortress, the birthplace of ancient Bukhara and surrounded by walls, said to be 2,000 years old, but the exact location seems to be unknown.
The castle was destroyed by the Mongol army of Genghis Khan in 1220. The present castle was built in the 18th century and was the residence of the rulers of the Bukhara Khanate until it joined the Soviet Union in 1920. The interior is now a museum.
Also nearby is a large round-roofed bazaar called “Taki,” where the first “Bukhara Biennial” will be held from September 5 to November 20, 2025, at the initiative of the Uzbekistan Foundation for Art and Cultural Development. This will be the first international art festival in Central Asia.
In the large area around the bazaar, various art exhibits, installations, symposiums, and performances will be held, and food will be served. Admission is free and open to all. Visitors were able to tour the planned site before the event.
In addition, we visited the Ustoz Shogird Center for Applied Arts, the studio of miniature artist Davlat Toshev. He uses Persian miniature painting techniques to create miniature paintings on themes such as old stories. He will also participate in the “Bukhara Biennial” mentioned above. The building is a restored “Jurabek” caravanserai. Ustoz Shogad” means “apprentice” in Uzbek, and it is also a school where children learn painting.
The city of Bukhara remains more idyllic than Tashkent. Since I had time to stroll around a bit, let me show you some of the exotic streets outside of the historical buildings in the atrondissement.
In Bukhara, we visited the “Old Bukhara” restaurant (QCF9+JV4, Samarkand Str., Buxoro, Buxoro Viloyati) for lunch. All the food is homey and delicious. In Uzbekistan, all the restaurants seemed to serve quite a lot of food, but here the portions are normal, so you should be able to eat it. I saw many locals, and the place was very crowded from start to finish. There were also many group tourists.
English is spoken, so it is recommended to make a reservation if possible before going. If you like lamb, you should definitely try “Baghli,” the traditional Bukhara lamb on the bone, fried and seasoned with cumin and other seasonings, which is simple but very tasty. If you like lamb, you should definitely try it. You can enjoy the taste of local traditional cuisine.
© Source travel watch
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