Of course, Uzbekistan isn't
Europe, but that's what makes it interesting!
When you plan to go to
Uzbekistan
as a tourist, it is very important to realize what you expect to receive there.
Once when a local guide was talking to some tourist from Switzerland, the guide
diffidently said, "Yes Uzbekistan is not Europe! ..." What did he mean by that?
Probably that Europe is better, more organized, more convenient... and so on.
Most likely, yes the tour guide had an inferiority complex about his own
country. However, the tourist with a nice smile replied, "But that's what makes
it interesting!"
Therefore, there is no question what is better Uzbekistan or any of other
countries worldwide. Uzbekistan differs from them in its originality. If
European goes on a tour to Uzbekistan, expecting to find here Europe, he makes
big mistake and surely will not be satisfied. Seek Uzbekistan; this is the key
to your satisfaction, when you go there!
Uzbekistan is a country with vast underused capabilities in
tourism.
Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as
hiking,
trekking,
rock-climbing, to exploration of its rich
archeological and religious history.
In 2005, the number of tourists visited Uzbekistan amounted 240,000 from 117
countries. It is supposed the country has the opportunity to accept more than 1
million tourists per year. Currently there are over 4,000 historical monuments
and places of recreation, and more than 500 enterprises manufacturing souvenirs
in the country. Each autumn travel industry of the country holds International
Tourism Fair.
WTOSilk Road
Office was opened in 2004 in Samarkand. This office is commissioned to
coordinate the efforts of international organisations and national tourism
administrations of countries located on the Silk Road.
The climate
and the natural conditions of Uzbekistan are among the most favorable in
Central Asia. For example, in 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 irrigation water, enrich
the land of Uzbekistan, which yields many fruit crops. The melons,
grapes,
apples,
quinces, and
pears of
Uzbekistan have an incredibly delicious taste. More than 60 species of
orchards grow in Uzbekistan many of which started traveling around the world
from their geographical centre of origin.
More than 27 thousand biological types are counted in
ecosystems of Uzbekistan. The fauna is represented by 424 species of birds, 97 species of mammals, 58 species of reptiles and 83 species of fish.
Plants, mushrooms and algae are represented by 11 thousand of species.
Many animals and plants are endemic and are not met anywhere in the globe.
Zaamin mountain archa state reserve area of more than 26 thousand hectares is situated in heights from 1760 up to 3500 meters above sea level. Juniper forests make up a special value and beauty of the reserve. The local type of this surprising and having become rare plant is accepted to be called
archa in Central Asia. It is relative to the well known cypress. Yet not so long ago the main tree of mountain forests of Uzbekistan was called
a plant of not our epoch. Archa was related to extinct breed unmanageable for artificial reproduction. As scientists found out it were not so easy to reproduce it in natural way, besides, it grows very slowly. Only 700-800 aged trees reach 8-10 meters height. Trees which age exceeds a thousand and even three thousands years are met in secluded mountain regions which are difficult of access.
The nature of the Chatkal state biospheric reserve in the west Tyan-Shan
spurs locating on the heights from 1 100 up to 4 000 meters above the sea level
and taking a square of more than 35 thousand hectares is inimitable and diverse.
Mountain landscapes are distinguished here by their variety, wildness and
beauty.
The climate advantages of
Uzbekistan attract
mountain-skiers to the Chimgan-Beldersayarea near Tashkent, which belongs to Chatkal state biospheric reserve.
The combination of snow and mostly warm, sunny weather makes the Chimgan and Beldersay ski slopes extremely popular.
Uzbekistan Mountains are an attractive place for those who love active forms of
tourism such as mountaineering and rock climbing. Most well known for its ease of access
from Tashkent is a highland 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,
horseback riding,
mountain skiing and
hang-gliding.
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."
Ancient 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,
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.
After the modernization of the airport in
Urgench it
received international status. Now it corresponds to the first category of ICAO.
Wildlife areas in desert and
other attractions on nomadic ways
Desert fauna of
Kyzyl
Kum 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
Aidar-Kul Lake is an area of great potential for fishing,
yurting
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 Aidar 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 sq km. 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
petroglyphs
still intact in Sarmishsay. Since ancient times this territory has been a sacred
zone, where locals performed their sacred ceremonies on holy days.
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 leading 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.
All kind of dental works are executed with the most modern equipment,
using the best materials from reliable world producers,
such as: Dentsply (Great Britain), Voco (Germany), Chirana Prema (Slovakia),
Septadont (France), "KaVo" (Germany), Gendex (Italy),
Bego (Germany), Renfert (Germany).
If you became interested in dental services like this, please visit
appropriate page on this site.
Although Uzbekistan is the country with predominantly
Islam roots,
but it is generally known that the Church began in Asia. Its earliest history,
its first centers were Asian. Obviously
Nestorian
Church, which was one of the widespread communities of early Eastern
Christianity, dinted their tracks on the Uzbekistan soil. Those tracks still can
be found at the art and other cultural environment. According to historical
explorations in Bukhara, before it was captured (early 8th century) by the
Arabs, the Christian temple stood at the eastern gate.
One of the components of so-called Evangelical Christianity in Central Asia
became German
Mennonites. They migrated to Russia because of their pacifist convictions.
Russian Government promised to release them from military service. This promise
was kept until 1880, when Russian
tsarAlexander II
had signed the decree that made all males of Mennonites liable for call-up to
military service in Russian army. The way out of the impasse was found when one
of the Mennonites' leaders German Yantcen met the
governor-general of
Turkestan
general Von Kaufman
in
Saint-Petersburg. Kaufman, German itself, invited Mennonites to
Russian
Turkestan. He promised to release them from taxes and from military service
for 25 years. In that way, Mennonites arrived to Sary-Agach village (about 13
miles northward of Tashkent). With time, they widely settled at different places
between Vyernyi (Alma-Ata)
and Khiva. One of Mennonites even used to be a translator at court of Khiva
Khan.
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
Russia. The
extant Gazalkent Baptist congregation is oldest in Uzbekistan.
The oldest Tashkent Baptist congregation was started in 1905 from the group
of the military. To our time, this congregation is the largest in Uzbekistan
(about 600 members). The Baptist Union was set up in Uzbekistan in 1925.
Today the Baptist Union in Uzbekistan unifies near 30 congregations throughout
the country that consist of near 1800 believers.
There are also large amount congregations of
Pentecostal
denomination.
Lately many
protestant churches were started among Koreans, who also live in
Uzbekistan.
... Uzbekistan is a country of ancient high culture with its exceptional architectural patterns.
... Many prominent people lived in Bukhara in the past.
... Bukhara is the centre for trade and handicraft since times of antiquity.
... Bukhara has been the main spiritual, cultural and economic center of Central Asia from ancient time.
... The Architecture of Uzbekistan has been influenced by a diverse array of architectural traditions such as
Islamic architecture, Persian architecture, and Russian architecture.
... Khiva is a museum under the blue sky.
... Ancient cities of Uzbekistan were located on the ancient Silk Road, the trading route between China and the West.
... Uzbekistan is a country with vast underused capabilities in tourism.
... Uzbekistan Mountains are an attractive place for those who love active forms of tourism such as
mountaineering and rock climbing.
... Samarkand is one of pearls of East.
... Ancient Khiva is one of three most important tourism centers of Uzbekistan with great historical cultural and ethnographic potential.
... A large number of tourists have been visiting Uzbekistan because of their religious-based interest.
... Uzbekistan cities including Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz and Tashkent live on in the imagination of the West as
symbols of oriental beauty and mystery.
... The applied arts of Uzbekistan embrace a wide range of materials used and methods of ornamentation.
... There are more than 160 Muslim relics located in Uzbekistan.
... Bukhara carpets are very famous.
... Bread is holy for Uzbek people.
... Traditionally Uzbek breads are baked inside the stoves made of clay called “Tandyr”.
... Uzbekistan is well known for its chaikhanas (teahouses), where men get together and spend time chatting and joking over a cup of tea.
... Uzbekistan is the most historically fascinating of the Central Asian republics.
... Today's Uzbekistan is one of the safest countries to go to for tourism and cooperation.
... People in Uzbekistan are very hospitable, generous and kind.
... Uzbekistan is different from both Asian and European countries - it is unique.
