Visit the glories of Tamerlane in Uzbekistan

This is the last of three articles from the Planet Group’s media familiarization tour of Uzbekistan which returned a week ago, and looks at the fantastic Islamic heritage that awaits visitors to this Central Asian country just three hours flying time from the UAE on Uzbekistan Airways.

The airlines of the Former Soviet Union country have certainly made major advances since independence and Uzbekistan Airways flying modern wide-bodied Airbus and Boeing aircraft to the capital city Tashkent. Premium services offer the usual comforts and an introduction to local cuisine.

Five-star hotels

There is not a lot of choice of five-star hotels – the InterCon and Sheraton in Tashkent are the only two in the country, and Uzbekistan is keen to court GCC hotel investors to improve standards. But this is a strong agricultural nation and excellent organic fruit and vegetables are a high point in restaurants.

The biggest attraction is surely the Islamic architecture from the era of the great 14th century conquerer of Central Asia Tamerlane, and what remains of the northern branch of the Old Silk Road. Even in Roman times silk from China was transported along this route, and was literally worth its weight in gold creating huge wealth for the cities along the road.

Visit Bukhara, where modern sheikhs from the UAE still enjoy hunting Great Bustard birds, and you can walk though the souks that once lined the Old Silk Road, although the actual silk trade vanished in the 16th century with Portuguese ships providing cheaper alternative transport.

This history is interesting but the Islamic architecture that this age of prosperity paid for is the greatest attraction. Bukhara has the largest number of monuments, and impressive mosques and institutions of higher education or madrassahs.

But you need to go to Samarkand to see the golden mausoleum of the great Tamerlane himself and the spectacular Registan Square bounded on three sides by madrassahs, with the chance to see how medieval students and professors actually lived.

Architectural wonders

Another must-see is the complex of Hazrati Imam in Tashkent with its famous 7th century copy of the Holy Koran and beautifully restored mosque and madrassah.

If the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan reminds you of Iran then this is no coincidence as these schools are from the same era and probably the same masters.

It is a very impressive heritage both for religious and non-observers to behold, and at the moment Uzbekistan is relatively unspoiled by mass tourism, very safe for visitors and offers good value for money.