Places to Visit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Asia

Places to Visit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Asia

Samarkand according to Persian language means “Stone Fort” or “Rock Town”. Located along the ancient Silk Road, Samarkand city is the second biggest city in Uzbekistan and forms the administration of Samarqand Province. Samarkand is at an altitude at 703 meters and coordinates are 39⁰39’15” N and 66⁰57’35” E. According to 2010 estimates the population of Samarkand province has touched 708,545. Summers are hot with temperature crossing 40⁰ C and winters are cold with temperature dropping to -0.5⁰ C. From November to February is the best time to visit Samarkand.

History of Samarkand

During 332 B.C, when Alexander the Great conquered Samarkand, the place was then known as Marakanda. In the 14^th century, Samarkand was ruled by Empire of Tamerlane called Timur. Many monuments were built in his memory. In the year 2001, Samarkand was noted as the Crossroads of Culture under UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

Food and Shopping at Samarkand

The bread of Samarkand is called as “Samarkand Non”. There are very good restaurants at Samarkand such as Regal Palace Restaurant, Istiqol, Karim Bek, Sikhookyung Korean and Kafe Labig’Or Restaurant where breakfast costs $10, lunch $12 and dinner $13. There are also coffee points in Samarkand where one can enjoy snacks served along with coffee at Café Magistr.

Tourist Places in Samarkand

Registan

Registan Square was built in between the 14^th and 16^th century Islamic period, and is regarded as ‘Jewel in Central Asia’s crown’. Tourists need to shell out a few dollars as entry fee at Registan Square.

Shahr-i-Zindar Monuments

Shahr-i-Zindar monument is a masterpiece built from the finest majolica tile work is dedicated to the memories of Timur and his family.

Gur Emir Mausoleum

Built in the year 1404, Gur Emir Mausoleum houses the grave of Timur.

Afrasiab

One of its kinds in Samarkand, Afrasiab is the oldest civilized architecture building that has stood against all odds for more than two thousand years.

There are other tourist places of interest in Samarkand such as:

Bibi Khanym Mosque
Central Bazaar
Ulugh Beg Observatory
Tillya Kori Madrasah
Sher Dor Madrasah
Ulugbek Madrasah
Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine
Chupan Ata Shrine
Khodja Akrar Madrasah

Means of Commutation to Samarkand

Airway:

Flights from Moscow, Kazan and Tashkent land and takeoff at Samarkand Airport, which is situated 6.9 km away from Samarkand city. Flights to Moscow are available on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Samarkand. On Monday and Friday there are flights from Samarkand to St. Petersburg. Flights are available everyday to Tashkent from Samarkand except on Friday. Flights from Samarkand to Kazan operate only on Friday.

Railway:

Other than Tuesday and Wednesday of every week train no.2 runs between Tashkent and Samarkand in the morning at 7 am and train no. 4 runs between Tashkent and Samarkand in the evening except on Wednesday. Train no. 662 leaves for Bukhara daily at 8.45pm reaching Samarkand at 2.11 am. International trains are also available at Samarkand railway station to places like St. Petersburg in Russia and Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan.

Roadway:

Samarkand is connected via road to places such as:

Tashkent – 290 km
Bokhara – 270 km
Khiva – 740 km
Andizhan – 610 km
Fergana – 600 km
Urgench – 700 km

There are buses as well as shared taxis accessible from Sobir Rahimov Bus station which takes tourists to the above mentioned places from Samarkand.

Accommodation Options at Samarkand

Three star Hotel with world class amenities such as air condition room, bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs, spas, massage center, free Wi-Fi, free car parking, car on hire, etc are available at Samarkand. The cost for a room such as luxury or suites varies from $180 to $210. A decent economy hotel are with air conditioned single room are available at cost of $65 while double room costs $85 at Samarkand.