Samarkand

Registan Square is an architectural gem located in the heart of Samarkand's old city. It is framed by three madrasas of distinctive Islamic architecture, a legacy of the Turco-Mongol king Timur. In ancient times, it was a public square where people gathered to hear royal proclamations, announced by blasts from enormous pipes called "dzharchis," and at the same time, it was the site of public executions. It was also the city's main square, filled with markets and surrounded by caravanserais that welcomed merchants on the trade route connecting Europe and Asia.

The Ulughbek Madrasa is the oldest in the architectural ensemble in Registan Square. Construction began in 1417, during Ulugbek's reign, a period that marked an important epoch in Samarkand's history, illuminated by Ulugbek's unique vision and leadership. In a remarkable historical turn, Ulugbek rose to power in 1409 after his father abdicated the Samarkand throne. At just 15 years old, Ulugbek, a direct descendant of the famous emir Timur, assumed leadership. At first, his rule was guided by tutors, but in 1411, he embarked on a journey of independent rule.The location of the Ulugbek Madrasa was strategically chosen on the western side of the bustling Registan, Samarkand's main bazaar square. During that time, the square was a hive of activity, home to covered trading houses, shops, and caravanserais, reflecting the region's economic vitality. The madrasa stood as a majestic and imposing structure. Its entrance portal, adorned with an inscription from 1417, boasts of its preeminence and grandeur in the world. The walls of the madrasa are a tapestry of color, adorned with glazed bricks in shades of blue, sky blue, and terracotta. Its facade, facing the lively Registan Square, is distinguished by a peshtak (pointed arch) adorned with intricate colored mosaics depicting star motifs, beneath which are three welcoming entrances. Its construction was completed in 1420, and almost immediately it was granted the status of the highest-ranking madrasa. Renowned for its academic rigor, it offered courses not only in theological sciences but also in mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy. This institution maintained its prestige well beyond 1533, even after Samarkand ceased to be the country's capital.

Located in Registan Square, it was built between 1619 and 1636. Its name translates as "Lion Residence," and it is a distorted and exaggerated reflection of the Ulugbek Madrasa, located directly opposite, on the western side of Registan Square. The age difference between the two is 200 years. Sher-Dor is larger in area and size, but it yields to its "older brother" in the quality of its finish. Both the exterior and interior of this madrasa are decorated with glazed bricks with brilliant ornaments; the walls and towers are covered with majolica tiles with various motifs of climbing flowers and Arabic quotations from the Quran. However, part of the finish has been irretrievably lost, although scientists, historians, and restorers are trying to restore the Sher-Dor Madrasa to its original appearance. In terms of its architecture, the Sher-Dor Madrasa is almost a copy of the Ulugbek Madrasa, meaning it is a square building with an interior courtyard, khudjras (cells) for students, and two classrooms. The madrasa was considered the most modern building of its time, as the latest architectural innovations were used in its construction.

Located in Registan Square, its construction began in 1646 by order of Samarkand's ruler, Yalangtush Bakhadur, and was completed in 1660, designed to complement the grandeur of the Ulughbek Madrasa in the same square. This madrasa showcases the essence of Timurid architecture with a symmetrical design, a soaring dome, and vibrant tilework. The golden dome, which catches the sunlight and reflects it in a dazzling display, is the madrasa's crown jewel. As you stroll through the courtyard, the minaret, also adorned in gold, whispers tales of the artistic prowess of Timurid artisans. Together, they paint a picture of a time when scholarly pursuits were intertwined with aesthetic splendor. Upon entering, the interiors will unfold like a treasure trove. The mihrab, an intricate mosaic masterpiece, commands your attention and serves as a visual testament to the reverence for Islamic art. The main hall, crowned by the celestial dome, creates an atmosphere of serenity, where knowledge and spirituality converge.In short, this madrasa is a testament to the greatness of the Timurid era. A masterpiece of Islamic architecture and a golden sanctuary that takes visitors on a journey through the history, art, and golden legacy of Uzbekistan. Its creation became a symphony of artistic brilliance, a beacon of knowledge, and a testament to the opulence of the Timurid dynasty.

Gur-e Amir, which in Persian means “Tomb of the King,” is the mausoleum of the Asiatic conqueror Tamerlane, also known as Timur. It holds an important place in the history of Islamic architecture as a precursor and model for the great Humayun's Tombs in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by the descendants of Tamerlane, the Mughal dynasty that dominated northern India.It is one of the most significant architectural complexes of the medieval East, a majestic complex consisting of a khanqah, the madrasa of Sultan Muhammad (Amir Timur's grandson), and later the tombs of Amir Timur and his descendants. The madrasa is a small building with a typical courtyard, which was intended to teach children about the nobility of Samarkand. Opposite the madrasa is the khanqah, with a central courtyard and cells (hudiras). Both buildings were erected by order of Sultan Muhammad to become an Islamic educational center. Muhammad's sudden death in 1403 led to a change in the purpose of the complex's use, eventually becoming a mausoleum.

Shah-i-Zinda, meaning “The Living King,” is a necropolis located northwest of Samarkand. The oldest buildings date back to the 11th century, with the most famous being the mausoleums of Touman Aka (1405) and Koutloug Aka (1361), two of the wives of the Turkish leader Tamerlane. The portal facades are generally richly decorated: glazed and sculpted ceramics, glazed bricks, calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic and Persian, with floral and geometric designs. Since 2021, this complex has been integrated into the perimeter of the Afrasiab archaeological zone, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The complex includes mausoleums and other ritual buildings from the 11th, 15th, and 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda is related to the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of Muhammad, is buried here. He came to Samarkand with the Arab invasion in the 7th century to preach Islam. It currently comprises more than 20 buildings divided into three groups: lower, middle, and upper, connected by four-arched vaulted passages called chartak locally.

Bibi Khanum is one of the most important monuments in the Uzbek city of Samarkand and one of the grandest mosques in the entire Muslim world, a vast complex that inspires veneration and at the same time provokes mysterious awe due to the great height of its walls. Construction of this imposing mosque began in 1399 and was completed five years later, in 1404, with the work of the most talented masters, architects, builders, and craftsmen of the time. The courtyard of the mosque was surrounded by luxurious galleries, arches resting on more than three hundred marble columns with minarets on either side. As with all ancient architectural complexes, there are many legends about how this amazing mosque, richly decorated with tiles, paintings, and carved marble, came to be, but historians still hold the opinion that Bibi-Khanum was built by order of Amir Timur immediately after his return from India, where he was victorious, and which he named in honor of his favorite wife. Unfortunately, soon after its construction, when the mosque became a place of ceremonies and acts of worship, the building began to collapse. The idea of building such a magnificent building was too daring for that period, since the appropriate techniques for building a complex of such dimensions were not available. The majestic arch of the portal, which according to Tamerlane's plan was to reproduce the Milky Way, could not withstand the passage of time and collapsed after the first years of its construction.

The Siab Bazaar is an agricultural market, or "dekhkan," where you can buy all kinds of fruits and vegetables, nuts, ceramics, and all sorts of groceries, including the famous apricot seeds.Going to Samarkand and not visiting the Siab Bazaar means missing out on an adventure. It's one of the oldest and most interesting places to include in a visit to the city. This oriental market is a special place, where you can experience the vibrant atmosphere of this ancient city. Many years ago, the bazaar served as one of the main strategic points in the commercial development of the Great Silk Road.

Built in the 1420s by the Timurid astronomer and nobleman Ulughbeg on one of the hills at the foot of Chupanata, it is considered one of the finest observatories in the Muslim world of its time. Ulugh Beg's Madrasa became an important center for the study of the stars and invited hand-picked students to train and work there. It achieved great prestige and at its peak had between sixty and seventy astronomers working. Research at the observatory was very important, allowing astronomers to predict eclipses, calculate the time of sunrise, and the maximum altitude of a celestial body. The facilities allowed Ulughbeg and his team to calculate a stellar year of 365 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, and 8 seconds—just 1 minute longer than modern electronic calculations. Even so, the observatory was destroyed by religious fanatics in 1449 and rediscovered in 1908 by the Uzbek-Russian archaeologist from Samarkand, Vassily Lavrentyevich Vyatkin, thanks to documents describing the observatory's exact location. While working on the excavation, Vyatkin found one of the observatory's most important astronomical instruments: a large arc used to determine noon. A trench approximately two meters wide was dug into a hill along the meridian line where the arc was located. Today, a circular base shows an outline of the original structure and the entrance to the remaining underground section of the Fakhri sextant, now covered over. The sextant was eleven meters long and three stories high, although it was built underground to protect it from earthquakes.Next to the observatory ruins, a memorial museum has been created in honor of Ulubbek, one of Central Asia's most illustrious scholars and rulers. He was not only the grandson of the great conqueror Tamerlane, but also a distinguished astronomer and mathematician. His contributions to science and education have left an indelible mark on the history of the region.

Located in the village of Konigil, near Samarkand, is a small private mill, Meros, which produces the so-called "tissue paper" using traditional methods. It was founded by the Mukhtarov brothers, renowned masters, who, through their efforts, managed to rescue an ancient tradition based on techniques used in Samarkand at this local mill.Production is done by hand, and visitors can observe the papermaking process with their own eyes. The mill grounds are truly picturesque: a shady grove, the bubbling Siab River, a small teahouse at the entrance serving delicious Samarkand pilaf and fruit, and a water mill decorated with antique containers floating on the water. The mill owners claim that it took 10 years to revive Samarkand papermaking technology. Several materials were tested to empirically establish that the raw material for the paper was mulberry bark. The technique for making Samarkand paper involves the following steps: the mulberry bark is taken, cleaned from the outside, and boiled in a large container for a long time. It is then pounded in large mortars until it becomes a homogeneous paste. The paste is then placed in a container with water and filtered through a large sheet of flazelin. The paper is then peeled from the leaves and left to dry upright for a day. The resulting paper is quite strong. To remove the hardness from the paper, the masters polish it on their granite board with a piece of granite or a horn, and this is how Samarkand paper obtains its famous softness.