Tourism in Uzbekistan
Encyclopedia
Uzbekistan
is a country with great potential for an expanded tourism
industry. Many of its Central Asian cities were main points of trade on the Silk Road
, linking Eastern
and Western civilization
s. Today the museums of Uzbekistan store over two million artifacts, evidence of the unique historical, cultural and spiritual life of the Central Asian peoples that have lived in the region. Uzbekistan attracts tourists with its historical, archeological, architectural and natural treasures.
According to the Statistical Internet Survey, carried out in May 7-August 27, 2008 by Pagetour jointly with Walter Kafer Fremdenverkehrdienstleistungen, the largest proportion of those surveyed (39%) visit the country because of their interest in the architectural and historical sites of Uzbekistan. The next-largest group (24%) visit Uzbekistan to observe its culture, way of life and customs.
Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as rock-climbing, to exploration of its rich archeological and religious history.
In 2005, 240,000 tourists from 117 countries visited Uzbekistan. The industry earned US$30 million (90.9% of forecast). Overall, the tourism sector served 621,700 people and rendered services for 40.6 billion soums (73.1% of forecast). The industry earned 598.4 million soums. Each autumn, the Uzbek travel industry holds an International Tourism Fair.
Uzbekistan is located on the Great Silk Road and many neighboring countries (including Kazakhstan
, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan
and Turkmenistan
) promote their countries based on their location along the Great Silk Road.
The World Tourism Organization
's Silk Road
Office was opened in 2004 in Samarkand
. This office was commissioned to coordinate the efforts of international organisations and national tourism offices of countries located on the Silk Road. Uzbekistan is also member of The Region Initiative (TRI). TRI is a Tri-regional Umbrella of Tourism related organisations. TRI is functioning as a link between three regions----South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe which is also by Armenia, Bangladesh, India, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Ukraine
and the natural conditions of Uzbekistan
are among the most favorable in Central Asia
. For example, the former capital of Kazakhstan
, Almaty
, which is 502 mi northeast of Tashkent, the average annual temperature is 5-8 degrees lower. At the same time, 804 mi southwest of Tashkent in Ashgabat, the average annual temperature is 8-10 degrees higher. The relatively temperate climate, plus the presence of irrigated water, enrich the land of Uzbekistan and increase its agricultural yields. The melons, grapes, apple
s, quince
s, and pear
s of Uzbekistan are well-known for their quality.
The combination of snow and mostly warm, sunny weather makes the Chimgan and Beldersay ski slopes near Tashkent extremely popular.
and rock climbing. Most well-known for its ease of access from Tashkent is a highlands Chimgan located in the mountain massive of dominant Greater Chimgan
peak (3,309 m) of the Chatkal range at an altitude of 1,620 m. This place serves as a commencement for many routes of hiking, climbing, horse riding, mountain skiing and hang-gliding.
with its Registan
, Bibi-Khanym Mosque
, Gur-Emir
and Shah-i-Zinda
, Bukhara
with its Po-i-Kalyan
Complex, Ark citadel, Samanid Mausoleum
and Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, and of course Khiva
with its intact inner city Ichan Kala
, mosques, madrasahs, minarets, walls and gates are acknowledged sites of world tourism.
The general conference of UNESCO
accepted the decision of inclusion in the list of anniversaries the celebrating of 2750-th anniversary of Samarkand. Samarkand is one of pearls of East. Here are many unique monuments of culture and architecture, which are evidence of high mastery of the ancient architects. The restoration works are carrying out at the memorial complex Shah-i-Zinda
. Basic principle of rebuilding of the centre of Samarkand is a preservation of monuments in their integrity. The complex of historical centre of the town is included in the list of a world heritage of UNESCO under the name "Samarkand is an intersection of world culture."
Though Tashkent is often overlooked in the search for the Silk Road
oasis towns of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, for the traveler there is much besides this to be seen. Today one can visit such striking sights as Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin
Bobo and the Sheihantaur
or Mausoleum of Zangiata.
is one of three most important tourism centers of Uzbekistan with great historical cultural and ethnographic potential. The territory of the Khorezm Province and Karakalpakstan is strewn with plenty of natural, historic, architectural and archeological sites. The Khorezm Province itself possesses near to 300 historic monuments.
In the last few years, the tourism potential at the region was improved with some new facilities and attractions. One of them is the Savitsky Museum in the town of Nukus
, which houses a collection of unique works of avant-gardism. The museum also has amazing regional collection. A number of ecological tours are organized to the ship cemetery located in Muynak area along what has once been the coastline of the Aral Sea
.
In 2005 Khorezm was visited by 43,000 tourists, of which foreigners accounted for 19,700. The majority of them came from countries such as France, Germany, Israel, Great Britain, Australia and Japan. The visitors of Khiva
were mostly at the age of 50-70 (46%); about 21% of tourists were of the age 30-40. 32% of the visitors of Khorezm was independent travelers, that received visa support from local travel agencies.
After the modernization of the airport in Urgench
it received international status. Now it corresponds to the first category of ICAO.
includes many kinds of rare animals. There is a Kyzyl Kum nature reserve at the flood-land (tugai) drained by the Amu-Darya. Another reserve (eco-centre)"Djeyran" is located 40 km to the south of Bukhara.
The region of the Aydar Lake
is an area of great potential for fishing, yurt
ing and camel-back riding tourist activities.
In addition to fauna common for Kyzyl Kum
, there are many kinds of water birds migrating from Aral Sea
that make their homes around the lake. Many sorts of fish were introduced to the Aydar Lake, which nowadays works as a source of industrial fishing.
Another point of interest the Sarmish Gorge (Better known as Sarmishsay
) is located on the southern slopes of the Karatau mountain range, 30-40 km to the north-east of the city of Navoi (Kermine) in Uzbekistan
. This place is famous for various ancient monuments of anthropogenic activity concentrated in an area of about 20 km². The sights include flint quarries, mines, old settlements, burial mounds, crypts and petroglyphs, including monuments of the Middle Ages
, early Iron Age
, Bronze Age
and even Stone Age
. There are over 4,000 petroglyph
s still intact in Sarmishsay. Since ancient times this territory has been a sacred zone, where locals performed their sacred ceremonies on holy days.
know that dozens of historical sights of Islam such as Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo
, Sheihantaur
and Mausoleum of Zangiata in Tashkent or Bakhauddin Ensemble, Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum
, Saif ed-Din Bokharzi Mausoleum
and many others monuments in Bukhara are related to Sufism. Uzbekistan is a country with predominantly Islam
ic roots. However, small pockets of Nestorian Christians co-existed.
The first Baptist
congregations in Uzbekistan were started at the close of the 19th century at small towns near to Tashkent (Gazalkent, Karabog, Iskander) where the population were mostly consisted of the colonists from Russian Empire
.
There are more than 160 Muslim relics located in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan dental clinics use high quality dentistry equipment (such as panoramic pantomograph, which allows taking the shot of all 32 teeth, making a digital x-ray, which can be immediately shown on the computer monitor), high quality materials and effective anesthetics.
The clinics provide prophylaxis, treatment, cleaning, polishing of teeth, irrigation and massage of gums, treatment of tooth canal under the control of digital x-ray apparatus. As a result of restoration, practically any defect can be removed: the color and form are identical to original healthy tooth. The prosthesis of teeth is done using primarily metal-ceramic and effective clasp dental prostheses that use special joints.
, the capital city of Uzbekistan. The city is serviced by an international airport, a domestic airport, two Vokzals (train stations), and numerous bus stations. Tashkent is serviced by Uzbekistan Airways, Korean Air
, British Airways
, airBaltic
, Asiana Airlines
, Turkish Airlines
, Transaero
, Aeroflot
, Domodedovo Airlines
, Air Kazakhstan
and Pakistan International Airlines
.
Three more airports of Uzbekistan have international status. Those airports are of Samarkand
, Bukhara and Urgench
. Besides local flights and some regular international flights (not numerous), the charter flights on demand of local and foreign tourist agencies fly in/out of those airports.
The tickets for domestic flights cannot be reserved or purchased until 14 days prior to departure due to the specific rules of Uzbekistan airlines.
Uzbekistan Airways transported more than 1.7 million passengers in 2005
Currently, Uzbekistan Airways works on updating its aircraft fleet, changing old dated Soviet-made aircraft.
Uzbekistan Airways has 13 western-made aircraft, including seven Boeing aircraft, three A-310 and three RJ-85.
At the end of 2005, the Tashkent airport had put in operation a new arrival hall for local airlines, with the new addition meeting modern requirements. Its technical equipment allows to serve up to 600 passenger per day. The new automatized registration system offers improved quality and comfort to travelers.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
is a country with great potential for an expanded tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry. Many of its Central Asian cities were main points of trade on the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
, linking Eastern
Eastern world
__FORCETOC__The term Eastern world refers very broadly to the various cultures or social structures and philosophical systems of Eastern Asia or geographically the Eastern Culture...
and Western civilization
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
s. Today the museums of Uzbekistan store over two million artifacts, evidence of the unique historical, cultural and spiritual life of the Central Asian peoples that have lived in the region. Uzbekistan attracts tourists with its historical, archeological, architectural and natural treasures.
According to the Statistical Internet Survey, carried out in May 7-August 27, 2008 by Pagetour jointly with Walter Kafer Fremdenverkehrdienstleistungen, the largest proportion of those surveyed (39%) visit the country because of their interest in the architectural and historical sites of Uzbekistan. The next-largest group (24%) visit Uzbekistan to observe its culture, way of life and customs.
Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as rock-climbing, to exploration of its rich archeological and religious history.
In 2005, 240,000 tourists from 117 countries visited Uzbekistan. The industry earned US$30 million (90.9% of forecast). Overall, the tourism sector served 621,700 people and rendered services for 40.6 billion soums (73.1% of forecast). The industry earned 598.4 million soums. Each autumn, the Uzbek travel industry holds an International Tourism Fair.
Uzbekistan is located on the Great Silk Road and many neighboring countries (including Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
and Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
) promote their countries based on their location along the Great Silk Road.
The World Tourism Organization
World Tourism Organization
The World Tourism Organization , based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information...
's Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
Office was opened in 2004 in Samarkand
Samarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
. This office was commissioned to coordinate the efforts of international organisations and national tourism offices of countries located on the Silk Road. Uzbekistan is also member of The Region Initiative (TRI). TRI is a Tri-regional Umbrella of Tourism related organisations. TRI is functioning as a link between three regions----South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe which is also by Armenia, Bangladesh, India, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Ukraine
Climate and natural advantages
The climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
and the natural conditions of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
are among the most favorable in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. For example, the former capital of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
, which is 502 mi northeast of Tashkent, the average annual temperature is 5-8 degrees lower. At the same time, 804 mi southwest of Tashkent in Ashgabat, the average annual temperature is 8-10 degrees higher. The relatively temperate climate, plus the presence of irrigated water, enrich the land of Uzbekistan and increase its agricultural yields. The melons, grapes, apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s, quince
Quince
The quince , or Cydonia oblonga, is the sole member of the genus Cydonia and native to warm-temperate southwest Asia in the Caucasus region...
s, and pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
s of Uzbekistan are well-known for their quality.
The combination of snow and mostly warm, sunny weather makes the Chimgan and Beldersay ski slopes near Tashkent extremely popular.
Mountaineering, hiking and rock-climbing
Uzbekistan Mountains are an attractive place for those who love active forms of tourism such as mountaineeringMountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
and rock climbing. Most well-known for its ease of access from Tashkent is a highlands Chimgan located in the mountain massive of dominant Greater Chimgan
Greater Chimgan
Greater Chimgan of the Chatkal Mountain range is located in the territory of the Ugam-Chatkal National Park, and it is in the Bostanlyk administrative district , Uzbekistan....
peak (3,309 m) of the Chatkal range at an altitude of 1,620 m. This place serves as a commencement for many routes of hiking, climbing, horse riding, mountain skiing and hang-gliding.
Architectural and historical sights
SamarkandSamarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
with its Registan
Registan
The Registan was the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand, now in Uzbekistan. The name Registan means "Sandy place" in Persian....
, Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Bibi-Khanym Mosque is a famous historical Friday mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, whose name comes from the wife of 14th-century ruler, Amir Timur.-Features:...
, Gur-Emir
Gur-e Amir
The Gūr-e Amīr or Guri Amir is a mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It occupies an important place in the history of Persian Architecture as the precursor and model for later great Mughal architecture tombs, including Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in...
and Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis in the north-eastern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.The Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble includes mausoleums and other ritual buildings of 9-14th and 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda is connected with the legend that Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was...
, Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
with its Po-i-Kalyan
Po-i-Kalyan
The title Po-i-Kalyan , which means "The foot of the Great", belongs to the architectural complex located at the foot of the great Kalyan minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.-History:...
Complex, Ark citadel, Samanid Mausoleum
Samanid mausoleum
The Samanid mausoleum is located in the historical urban nucleus of the city of Bukhara, in a park laid out on the site of an ancient cemetery...
and Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, and of course Khiva
Khiva
Khiva is a city of approximately 50,000 people located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia and the Khanate of Khiva...
with its intact inner city Ichan Kala
Itchan Kala
Itchan Kala is the walled inner town of the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan. Since 1990, it has been protected as the World Heritage Site.The old town retains more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, dating primarily from the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries...
, mosques, madrasahs, minarets, walls and gates are acknowledged sites of world tourism.
The general conference of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
accepted the decision of inclusion in the list of anniversaries the celebrating of 2750-th anniversary of Samarkand. Samarkand is one of pearls of East. Here are many unique monuments of culture and architecture, which are evidence of high mastery of the ancient architects. The restoration works are carrying out at the memorial complex Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis in the north-eastern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.The Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble includes mausoleums and other ritual buildings of 9-14th and 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda is connected with the legend that Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was...
. Basic principle of rebuilding of the centre of Samarkand is a preservation of monuments in their integrity. The complex of historical centre of the town is included in the list of a world heritage of UNESCO under the name "Samarkand is an intersection of world culture."
Though Tashkent is often overlooked in the search for the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
oasis towns of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, for the traveler there is much besides this to be seen. Today one can visit such striking sights as Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin
Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin
The Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.The Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo was a writer and popularizer of the Sufi order known as Suhrawardiyya. The exact date of his birth is unknown. It is believed that Sheikh Zaynudin died when he was 95...
Bobo and the Sheihantaur
Sheihantaur
The Mausoleum of Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur is an architectural monuments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.-Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur:Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur was born at the end of 13th century. He was a Sayyid, meaning that he claimed descent from the Quraish, the tribe of the prophet Muhammad...
or Mausoleum of Zangiata.
Tourism in Khorezm Province and Karakalpakstan
Ancient KhivaKhiva
Khiva is a city of approximately 50,000 people located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia and the Khanate of Khiva...
is one of three most important tourism centers of Uzbekistan with great historical cultural and ethnographic potential. The territory of the Khorezm Province and Karakalpakstan is strewn with plenty of natural, historic, architectural and archeological sites. The Khorezm Province itself possesses near to 300 historic monuments.
In the last few years, the tourism potential at the region was improved with some new facilities and attractions. One of them is the Savitsky Museum in the town of Nukus
Nukus
Nukus is the sixth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and the capital of the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic. It has a population of 260,000...
, which houses a collection of unique works of avant-gardism. The museum also has amazing regional collection. A number of ecological tours are organized to the ship cemetery located in Muynak area along what has once been the coastline of the Aral Sea
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was a lake that lay between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south...
.
In 2005 Khorezm was visited by 43,000 tourists, of which foreigners accounted for 19,700. The majority of them came from countries such as France, Germany, Israel, Great Britain, Australia and Japan. The visitors of Khiva
Khiva
Khiva is a city of approximately 50,000 people located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia and the Khanate of Khiva...
were mostly at the age of 50-70 (46%); about 21% of tourists were of the age 30-40. 32% of the visitors of Khorezm was independent travelers, that received visa support from local travel agencies.
After the modernization of the airport in Urgench
Urgench
Urgench is a city in western Uzbekistan. It is the capital of the Khorezm Province, on the Amu Darya River and the Shavat canal. The city is situated 450 km west of Bukhara across the Kyzyl Kum Desert. It is located at latitude 41° 32' 60N longitude 60° 37' 60E, at an altitude of 91 meters.The...
it received international status. Now it corresponds to the first category of ICAO.
Wildlife areas in the desert and other attractions on nomadic ways
Desert fauna of Kyzyl KumKyzyl Kum
The Kyzyl Kum , also called Qyzylqum, is the 11th largest desert in the world. Its name means Red Sand in Turkic languages. It is located in Central Asia in the doab between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, and is divided between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan...
includes many kinds of rare animals. There is a Kyzyl Kum nature reserve at the flood-land (tugai) drained by the Amu-Darya. Another reserve (eco-centre)"Djeyran" is located 40 km to the south of Bukhara.
The region of the Aydar Lake
Aydar Lake
The Aydar Lake is part of the man-made Aydar-Arnasay system of lakes, which covers an area of 4,000 square kilometres . This system includes 3 brackish water lakes located in the saline depressions of the south-eastern Kyzyl Kum...
is an area of great potential for fishing, yurt
Yurt
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...
ing and camel-back riding tourist activities.
In addition to fauna common for Kyzyl Kum
Kyzyl Kum
The Kyzyl Kum , also called Qyzylqum, is the 11th largest desert in the world. Its name means Red Sand in Turkic languages. It is located in Central Asia in the doab between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, and is divided between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan...
, there are many kinds of water birds migrating from Aral Sea
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was a lake that lay between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south...
that make their homes around the lake. Many sorts of fish were introduced to the Aydar Lake, which nowadays works as a source of industrial fishing.
Another point of interest the Sarmish Gorge (Better known as Sarmishsay
Sarmishsay
The Sarmish Gorge is located on the southern slopes of the Karatau mountain range, 30-40 km to the north-east of the city of Navoi in Uzbekistan. The mountain range of the Karatau is considered to be one of the western spurs of the Turkestan Mountain Ridge of the Western Tien Shan...
) is located on the southern slopes of the Karatau mountain range, 30-40 km to the north-east of the city of Navoi (Kermine) in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. This place is famous for various ancient monuments of anthropogenic activity concentrated in an area of about 20 km². The sights include flint quarries, mines, old settlements, burial mounds, crypts and petroglyphs, including monuments of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and even Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
. There are over 4,000 petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s still intact in Sarmishsay. Since ancient times this territory has been a sacred zone, where locals performed their sacred ceremonies on holy days.
Religious tourism
A large number of tourists have been visiting Uzbekistan because of their religious-based interest. The followers of SufismSufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
know that dozens of historical sights of Islam such as Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo
Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin
The Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.The Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo was a writer and popularizer of the Sufi order known as Suhrawardiyya. The exact date of his birth is unknown. It is believed that Sheikh Zaynudin died when he was 95...
, Sheihantaur
Sheihantaur
The Mausoleum of Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur is an architectural monuments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.-Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur:Sheikh Hovendi at-Tahur was born at the end of 13th century. He was a Sayyid, meaning that he claimed descent from the Quraish, the tribe of the prophet Muhammad...
and Mausoleum of Zangiata in Tashkent or Bakhauddin Ensemble, Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum
Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleums
Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khan MausoleumsIn the settlement called Fathabad, to the east from medieval Bukhara city, in the past was situated vast religious complex. The initial core of the complex was the grave of Saif ed-Din al-Boharsi - very popular poet, sheikh, and theologian - who...
, Saif ed-Din Bokharzi Mausoleum
Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleums
Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khan MausoleumsIn the settlement called Fathabad, to the east from medieval Bukhara city, in the past was situated vast religious complex. The initial core of the complex was the grave of Saif ed-Din al-Boharsi - very popular poet, sheikh, and theologian - who...
and many others monuments in Bukhara are related to Sufism. Uzbekistan is a country with predominantly Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic roots. However, small pockets of Nestorian Christians co-existed.
The first Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
congregations in Uzbekistan were started at the close of the 19th century at small towns near to Tashkent (Gazalkent, Karabog, Iskander) where the population were mostly consisted of the colonists from Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
There are more than 160 Muslim relics located in Uzbekistan.
Dental Tourism
Lately many modern dental clinics were established in Uzbekistan. They provide patients with high quality dentistry services. But for all that, prices here much cheaper in comparison with Western and Russian clinics.Uzbekistan dental clinics use high quality dentistry equipment (such as panoramic pantomograph, which allows taking the shot of all 32 teeth, making a digital x-ray, which can be immediately shown on the computer monitor), high quality materials and effective anesthetics.
The clinics provide prophylaxis, treatment, cleaning, polishing of teeth, irrigation and massage of gums, treatment of tooth canal under the control of digital x-ray apparatus. As a result of restoration, practically any defect can be removed: the color and form are identical to original healthy tooth. The prosthesis of teeth is done using primarily metal-ceramic and effective clasp dental prostheses that use special joints.
Accessibility of the country
Most travel involves entering and leaving Uzbekistan through TashkentTashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
, the capital city of Uzbekistan. The city is serviced by an international airport, a domestic airport, two Vokzals (train stations), and numerous bus stations. Tashkent is serviced by Uzbekistan Airways, Korean Air
Korean Air
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. , operating as Korean Air, is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of South Korea, with global headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air's international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together serve 130 cities in 45...
, British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, airBaltic
AirBaltic
A/S Air Baltic Corporation, operating as AirBaltic and styled as airBaltic, is the Latvian flag carrier airline and a low-cost carrier, with its head office on the grounds of Riga International Airport in Mārupe municipality, near the capital, Riga...
, Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines Inc. is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air. Asiana has its headquarters in Asiana Town in Osoe-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul...
, Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, headquartered in the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakirköy district, Istanbul...
, Transaero
Transaero
OJSC Transaero Airlines or simply Transaero is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Domodedovo International Airport, Domodedovsky District, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It operates scheduled and charter flights to more than 99 domestic and international destinations...
, Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
, Domodedovo Airlines
Domodedovo Airlines
JSC "Domodedovo Airlines" was an airline with its head office on the grounds of Domodedovo International Airport in Domodedovsky District, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It operated scheduled flights within Russia and the CIS, with a focus on flights to the Russian Far East. The airline also operated...
, Air Kazakhstan
Air Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Airlines was the national airline of Kazakhstan. It ended operations in 1997. It operated domestic and international services. It had its head office in Almaty.-Code data:*IATA Code: K4*ICAO Code: KZA *Callsign: Kazakh-History:...
and Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
.
Three more airports of Uzbekistan have international status. Those airports are of Samarkand
Samarkand Airport
Samarkand International Airport is an airport of entry in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.-Airlines and destinations:...
, Bukhara and Urgench
Urgench Airport
-Airlines and destinations:...
. Besides local flights and some regular international flights (not numerous), the charter flights on demand of local and foreign tourist agencies fly in/out of those airports.
The tickets for domestic flights cannot be reserved or purchased until 14 days prior to departure due to the specific rules of Uzbekistan airlines.
Uzbekistan Airways transported more than 1.7 million passengers in 2005
Currently, Uzbekistan Airways works on updating its aircraft fleet, changing old dated Soviet-made aircraft.
Uzbekistan Airways has 13 western-made aircraft, including seven Boeing aircraft, three A-310 and three RJ-85.
At the end of 2005, the Tashkent airport had put in operation a new arrival hall for local airlines, with the new addition meeting modern requirements. Its technical equipment allows to serve up to 600 passenger per day. The new automatized registration system offers improved quality and comfort to travelers.