Easy hikes and walks in Uzbekistan

Samarkand begins with the image you know: three incredibly large, beautiful mosques look at each other around the corner. OK, they are not mosques, but madrasas (Koran schools) (with a mosque). The one on the left is the first: in 1417-20, the ruler, universal scholar and grandson of Timur, Ulugh Beg, built the first in a sensational three years, 200 years later its counterpart was completed, and another 24 years later the third.

In the evening, the square with the madrasas is colorfully illuminated; many people follow this play of light from the steps.

Samarkand begins at the Registan, the square whose image one knows: three incredibly large, beautiful mosques look at each other across the corner. OK, they are not mosques, but madrasas (Koran schools) (with a mosque). In 1417-20, the ruler, universal scholar and Timur's grandson Ulugh Beg built the first in a sensational three years, 200 years later its counterpart was finished and another 24 years later the third, most beautiful, gold-plated and filigree inside. In the evening, the square with the madrasas is colorfully illuminated; many people follow this light show from the steps.

Samarkand begins at the Registan, the square whose image one knows: three incredibly large, beautiful mosques look at each other from across the corner. OK, they are not mosques, but madrasahs (Koranic schools) (with one mosque). In 1417-20, the ruler, universal scholar and Timur's grandson Ulugh Beg, built the first one in a sensational three years, 200 years later its counterpart was completed, and another 24 years for the third one, the most beautiful, gold-plated and filigree on the inside. In the evening, the square with the madrasahs is colorfully illuminated; many people follow this light show from the steps.

Opposite the Medrese Bibi Chanim, the Bibi-Chanum Mausoleum stands out against the blue evening sky, and this one is also beautiful! and different again: the dome enchants with a silver-light-grey mood, Chinese motifs, and fine muqarnas.

A lively, large bazaar, only on the outskirts for tourists, mainly for locals. You can get (almost) everything here! By the way, the best Halwa (Turkish delight) is right in front ;-)

From the Registan, to the north, the Bibi Khanym Madrasah and Mosque dominates the scene: such a gigantic height is rarely seen! The entrance portal (Pishtak) of the Bibi Khanym Mosque reaches about 35m high (that's two townhouses stacked on top of each other!), the (dilapidated) main dome even reaches 40–41m! One can hardly grasp these dimensions; everything else is practically invisible. Nothing was big enough for Amir Timur; during construction, he had things torn down and rebuilt bigger, more gigantic, more beautiful. Opposite it, the Bibi Khanym Mausoleum stands out against the sky,

Shah-i Zinda is a wonder: a collection of tombs from the 12th and 13th centuries, all from the surroundings of Amir Timur, fabulously beautiful; a blue-shimmering "street" of smaller and larger "mosques". An oriental dream. By the way, the earliest mausoleum was that of Muhammad's companion and preacher Ibn Abdal-Mutakib (from the 11th century). And the proximity to his grave is like a gateway to paradise, if you believe and built your own mausoleum next to it - if you could afford it. Do not visit in the evening: firstly, there are too many people then, and secondly, the evening light is the wrong light.