Uzbekistan
Surface: 446,4 sq. km. Climate: continental.
Average temperature: January - 4°C, July - 36°C
Population: 22 million people.
Languages: Uzbek and Russian.
Religions: Islam, Christianity.
Capital: Tashkent (2,3 min, inhabitants).
Time: 4 hours ahead of GMT.
National currency is soum. 1 scum = 100 tiyn.
Samarkand - the ancient capital of the huge Tamerlan`s Empire. Even nowadays the monuments of that time strike us by their size, beautiful mosaic with numerous drawings, the exactness and symmetry of architectural forms. The blue dome of Tamerlan`s Mausoleum - Cur- Emir and its inner ornamentation area unique. Complex of Mausoleum Shahi- zinda, Afrosiab - the ancient town, historical museums of the city, bazzar - the most interesting sights ot the city. Tourist can also see the fight and musical show in Registan Square, folk show in Sher-Dor - Madrassah, the theater of historical costume; the taste-room in the most ancient vine-making factory in Central Asia is famous among many of the tourists.
Bukhara is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in the world. It is about 2500 years old. Many mosques and madrasahs (religious schools) are still preserved. Among them Char-Minor, Chashma- Aub, Gav-Kushon, Namazgoh. Cultural- religious complex Nakshbandi has been recently restored. One on the most ancient monuments I - Samanid’s Mausoleum (9 - 10 c.) strikes by its geometrical strictness. Country residence of Bukhara emir - Sitorai Mohki-Hosa, architectural complex Laybi-Hauz, Ark fortress, Necropol Chor- Bakr are particularly popular. The gold embroidery and the coinage of Bukhara are very famous far from outside of the country.
Khiva is the unique museum-town under the open sky. The main monuments, being preserved nowadays, dated 19 - 20 centuries, are concentrated inside Ichan-Kola - the old part of the city, surrounded by the fortress’s walls. It seems that time has stopped here. From the top of Islam-Hodja minaret one can perfectly see Tashhauli - palace of Khiva Khan, Djl mosque, Pahlavan-makhmud Mausoleum, Shirgazi-khan Madrasah. There are wooden gates of the madrasah and mosques, every dwelling house is decorated with unique patterns. The famous Khiva carpets are valuable all over the world.
