Overview
The ancient city's layout consists of streets that converge towards the center from six gates located in the 5-mile-long walls dating back to the 11th century. Although the walls and gates were destroyed after the town was captured by the Russians, the medieval plan of the city has been preserved. Within the old city, one can find remarkable examples of Central Asian architecture spanning from the 14th to the 20th century.
These include various structures from the time when Samarkand served as Timur's capital city. Notable among these structures are the mosque of Bībī-Khānom, commissioned by Timur's favorite Chinese wife between 1399 and 1404, and Timur's own tomb, the Gūr-e Amīr mausoleum, constructed around 1405. Another significant tomb from the second half of the 15th century is the Ak Saray tomb, featuring a magnificent fresco in its interior.
Rīgestān Square, an impressive public square within the old city, is adorned by several madrasahs, including the one built by Timur's grandson, the astronomer Ulūgh Beg, and those of Shirdar and Tilakari, which border the square on three sides and date back to the 17th century. Samarkand also boasts numerous other mausoleums, madrasahs, and mosques from the 15th to the 17th century, although they may not match the grandeur of the structures from Timur's era.
The defining characteristics of Samarkand's ancient buildings are their magnificent portals, vibrant colored domes, and intricate exterior decorations made of majolica, mosaic, marble, and gold. In recognition of its historical significance, the city was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.
In contrast, the newer section of Samarkand, known as the Russian section, began its construction in 1871 and experienced significant expansion during the Soviet period. This area saw the development of public buildings, houses, and parks. Notable establishments in this section include Uzbek and Russian theaters, a university established in 1933, as well as higher educational institutions specializing in agriculture, medicine, architecture, and trade.
Tashkent, the capital and largest city of the nation, boasts a metro system consisting of four lines that was initially constructed in 1977. Following a decade of independence from the Soviet Union, the metro system underwent expansion in 2001. Currently, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the sole countries in Central Asia with a subway system. Renowned for its cleanliness, the metro system is promoted as one of the most pristine in the former Soviet Union.
The stations themselves are adorned with exquisite ornamentation. For instance, the Kosmonavtlar station, built in 1984, showcases a space travel theme to honor humanity's accomplishments in space exploration and commemorate the contributions of Vladimir Dzhanibekov, the Uzbek cosmonaut. Adjacent to one of the station entrances stands a statue of Vladimir Dzhanibekov.
In addition to the metro, the city operates government-run trams and buses, while taxis, both registered and unregistered, are also prevalent. Uzbekistan boasts modern car manufacturing plants, with the government and Korean auto company Daewoo providing support for car production. In May 2007, UzDaewooAuto, the car manufacturer, entered into a strategic agreement with General Motors-Daewoo Auto and Technology (GMDAT), which is now known as GM Uzbekistan. The government also acquired a stake in SamKochAvto, a Turkish producer of small buses and lorries. Subsequently, an agreement was signed with Isuzu Motors of Japan to manufacture Isuzu buses and lorries.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan has established train connections that link various towns within the country, as well as neighboring former Soviet republics. Following independence, two high-speed train systems were introduced. In September 2011, Uzbekistan inaugurated the first high-speed railway in Central Asia, connecting Tashkent and Samarqand. The state-of-the-art electric train, named Afrosiyob and manufactured by Patentes Talgo S.L. of Spain, embarked on its maiden voyage from Tashkent to Samarkand on August 26, 2011.
Cheap Hotels in Samarkand, Uzbekistan