Overview of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan ancient cities are located on the route of Great Silk Road. From modern Tashkent to the ancient cities Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, from the land of silk to the picturesque bazaars, from the Timurid's history to the imaginative ancient buildings, from the warm welcome to the informal hospitality, all reflect Uzbeks affection for and faithfulness to the spirit of this unique corner of the world.

If you are already in Uzbekistan and planning to stay for a long time, you might want to devide trips into several visits. Taking a long trip to see everything in 10 days or so is very tiring and you might miss the joy of each and every city, which are unique by itself.  

We do not want to reproduce information about Uzbekistan, which you can read elsewhere and written extensively, but we want to give you practical information as possible. Here we present short information about cities and facts about Uzbekistan. You can ask any information you are interested in using forums.

Facts about Uzbekistan:

Capital city: Tashkent. Although Tashkent was probably first settled around the 1st century BC, written records date the city to its Arab occupation in the 8th century AD. The 13th-century defeat to Genghis Khan and his Mongolian forces threw Tashkent into an era of turmoil. The Mongols lost the city in the 14th century when the Timurids Empire seized control. The Timurids Empire ruled Tashkent until the late 15th century, when the Sheibanids swept through the region. Today, Tashkent is the modern city of Uzbekistan. In terms of technological change Tashkent is moving faster than other cities and some services are yet to develop in other cities.

Money: Uzbek soum. There is two exchange rates in Uzbekistan. One is used for statistical purposes and the other one is used for market transactions. Exchanging money other than in the bank exchange bereau is illegal and there is a significant risk to do so. Exchange bereaus are open from 9:00 till 17:00 during business days and some are open during weekends in the markets (bazaars).  

Famous for: Plov, Atlas (silk material), ancient buildings (such as Registan Square in Samarkand), Timur (Tamerlane), cotton and gold.

Area: 447 400 sq.km

Population: aprox. 27.0 million

Telephone country code: 998

Popular Phrases: Salom aleikum (Hello); Rakhmat (Thank you) you might also want to check Uzbek most commonly used words and phrases here.

Official Language: Uzbek. Other languages used: Russian, Tajik, Karakalpak

Samarkand: One of the oldest cities of Uzbekistan, established during the middle of the first century BC under the name Marakanda and later known as Afrosiab. It was the capital of the powerful state Sogd, the center of Emir Timur's great empire. The numerous monuments of Samarkand and its suburbs impress tourist with their beauty and splendor. The refined architectural shapes, intricate ornamentation, mosaics, blue-tile domes and facades are interesting for all who visit theses beautiful buildings.

Bukhara:The settlement of Bukhara in Uzbekistan dates back to the 8th century when it was for 200 years the center of an expanding Islamic kingdom and prospered as a trade and intellectual center for Central Asia. During the Mongol invasion, It was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1219. Subsequently it was ruled by a succession of regional powers, including descendants of Genghis Khan, Turks, and Uzbeks. Once one of Islam's most sacred cities, Bukhara contains many examples of fine Islamic architecture.

Khiva: Khiva is known as a museum city under the open sky. It existed as a town for about 900 years, but developed into the settlement seen today only in the 19th century, when it was the last oasis on the northern Russian slave trade rout. Important spiritual and cultural values came form the large scientific centers of astronomy, mathematics, and medicine that existed in this area centuries ago. One can wander through the narrow streets of Khiva, peeking into the small courtyards through the wooden carved doors. The life inside the gardens assures the visitor that it is not just a museum, but also a living city.