After 6 weeks in Central Asia, we return to Germany. The journey went by in a flash and gave us a wonderful experience. Even if it was 6 strenuous weeks, they were full of unique impressions. Each of the countries we visited had its own characteristics. Tajikistan is characterized by high mountains, deep gorges, and […]
Uzbekistan
By High-Speed Train from Samarkand to Tashkent
Our stay in Central Asia comes to an end. We take the high-speed train to Tashkent and spend the night there. The next day we fly back to Germany very early in the morning. Since 2013, the high-speed train manages the 344 km long route from Samarkand to Tashkent within 2 hours and 8 minutes. […]
Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siyob Bazaar
Bibi-Khanym Mosque Amir Timur shaped the cityscape of Samarkand like no other, so it is not surprising that he had the Bibi-Khanym Mosque built. With the order for the construction of the mosque in 1399, Timur wanted to award a sign of his power in Samarkand. During the following years, Timur was mostly away on […]
Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand
The Afrasiab Museum lies on the terrain of the ancient settlement Afrasiyab, founded approximately 2750 years ago. It bears the name of Afrasiab. He was the mythical king of Turan, the country of origin of the Turks in Central Asia. The troops of Genghis Khan destroyed the town in the first half of the 13th […]
Once the best paper in the world
Not only scientific pioneering achievements, as in the area of astronomy, were accomplished in Samarkand. The paper production was also renowned worldwide. In 751 Chinese soldiers penetrated towards west. Abu Muslim defeated them and returned home with 20,000 prisoners of war. To save their lives, they revealed the Chinese secret of paper production and educated […]