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And the main city square is centred around this mosque which is adjacent to a medressa. Both look similar actually. What distinguishes a mosque is a minaret.
Inside it, austere, and beautiful even in its simplicity. How did they create this effect without 3D modelling visuals. They were very experts in geometry and architecture indeed.
This is the Talon minaret, supposedly highest in Central Asia. Legend says that when Genghis Khan razed the city, he stood under it, looked up and his helmet fell. He found it too tall that his head had to look so high up heavenwards. He spared this and for many centuries to come, this stands the test of time and is also a place of execution. Gory.
From afar, it does not look like much but from nearby, one can’t help but be filled with wonder. It has such an exquisite craftmanship of bare bricks without decoration.
Just nearby is the old bazaar. The only sad thing about Central Asia now is that aside from their visual grandeur, the hustle and bustle has long gone. The world has moved on and they have lost their centre of the empire status and they are now more like backwaters. So the bazaars here feel very sad with not much activity. It is nowhere 1% of the Istanbul Grand Bazaar for example.
Just like in Samarkand, there are no chain hotels. And we stayed in a lightly restored old mansion. There is just pure charm here. It’s like stepping back in time.
We had a really nice breakfast spread
Uzbek food is delicious, especially comparing it with Kazakhstan.
The national dish is the Plov ( cousin of pilaf, briyani, and fried rice). It is a complex flavour of meat, dried fruits, nuts, and many spices.
Kebabs too just like across Central Asia
And this is one of my favourite dish in this trip – the Lagman (cousin of lamian). They come in dry and semi dry versions too but this soupy version was best I had in this trip. Fresh and light and comforting for a winter day.
Inside it, austere, and beautiful even in its simplicity. How did they create this effect without 3D modelling visuals. They were very experts in geometry and architecture indeed.
This is the Talon minaret, supposedly highest in Central Asia. Legend says that when Genghis Khan razed the city, he stood under it, looked up and his helmet fell. He found it too tall that his head had to look so high up heavenwards. He spared this and for many centuries to come, this stands the test of time and is also a place of execution. Gory.
From afar, it does not look like much but from nearby, one can’t help but be filled with wonder. It has such an exquisite craftmanship of bare bricks without decoration.
Just nearby is the old bazaar. The only sad thing about Central Asia now is that aside from their visual grandeur, the hustle and bustle has long gone. The world has moved on and they have lost their centre of the empire status and they are now more like backwaters. So the bazaars here feel very sad with not much activity. It is nowhere 1% of the Istanbul Grand Bazaar for example.
Just like in Samarkand, there are no chain hotels. And we stayed in a lightly restored old mansion. There is just pure charm here. It’s like stepping back in time.
We had a really nice breakfast spread
Uzbek food is delicious, especially comparing it with Kazakhstan.
The national dish is the Plov ( cousin of pilaf, briyani, and fried rice). It is a complex flavour of meat, dried fruits, nuts, and many spices.
Kebabs too just like across Central Asia
And this is one of my favourite dish in this trip – the Lagman (cousin of lamian). They come in dry and semi dry versions too but this soupy version was best I had in this trip. Fresh and light and comforting for a winter day.
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