Samarkand: the most beautiful place of Central Asia

Samarkand: the most beautiful place of Central Asia

Samarkand is not only beautiful but also very important in historical aspect. Samarkand city is the second largest city after its “big brother” Tashkent. Like Tashkent, Samarkand once was the capital of Uzbekistan. Proudly standing right in the center of Uzbekistan, on the left bank of the Zarafshan River, Samarkand generously welcomes everyone wanting to know its unbelievable breathtaking story which takes the beginning in the earliest days of humanity.

“Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures” is the official moniker used to describe this city as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Samarkand conjures up images of ancient times and sounds almost mythical. However, this is no fairytale: Samarkand today is a lively city that cherishes its traditions. Archaeological excavations have revealed a history which dates back 3500 years; the town of Afrosiab was founded in the 7th century BC. The area was continuously inhabited and served as a melting pot of diverse cultures. It was conquered by Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, was the sumptuous capital of the Timurid Empire and played an important role in the development of Islamic architecture and arts. You won’t want to miss Registan square, the Bibi Khanum and Gur Emir Mausoleums, the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Afrosiab & the Ulughbek Observatory

Satellite view is showing Samarkand (also Samarqand), it the second-largest city in Uzbekistan, situated in the valley of the river Zarafshan in the center of the country.

The Sher Dor Madrasah, part of the Registan in Samarkand

Image: Tchumbley

The city's old name is Afrasiab, famous as a center of trading because of its central position on the Asian Silk Road between the Far East ( China) and the Mediterranean region.

Today Samarkand has a population of about 500,000 people. Official language is Uzbek, but the majority of the city's inhabitants are Persian-speaking Tajiks.