If you’re planning a trip to Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva should definitely be the top 3 must-visit ancient cities on your list. A question in your mind may be whether it’s worth visiting all 3 cities and what different experiences you can expect from each Silk Road city.
I won’t say that each one offers you a completely different experience, although there are some interesting differences. In short, Samarkand shows off the massive and gorgeous, Bukhara is all about inclusion and the evolution of multiple cultures, and Khiva is a well-planned and functional modern town. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find in each of the three cities.
Samarkand – Everything is massive and gorgeous
If you’re interested in visiting Uzbekistan, you should already be familiar with Registon Maydoni as THE representative icon of Samarkand. Everything is huge, massive, and gorgeous from corner to corner. It’s made up of three main buildings: Ulugh Beg Madrasi, Sherdor Madrasasi, and Tillokori Madrasasi.
While these madorasi look similar from the outside, they’re actually not – we spent 1-2 hours looking round each one, enjoying the detail in each building that differs from the others.
This is the entrance arch of Sherdor Madrasasi. The symmetric patterns in blue and yellow, which are rather common colors in Uzbekistan, are very beautiful.
In contrast, the interior of the Tillokori Madrasasi dome shines in gold and blue. The madrasasi contains a space where original parts of the buildings’ decorations are displayed. I’d strongly recommend stopping by there. You’ll see that “Uzbek Blue” has existed since ancient times!
Shohi Zinda Ansambli is something you won’t find in either Bhukara or Khiva. It’s a compound with many middle-to-small-scale tombs lining both sides of a street. Stepping into each tomb, we could see various beautifully decorated patterns, while the exterior decorations feature the consistent use of Uzbek blue in their patterns.
In all honesty, after visiting those key highlights, we couldn’t deny the feeling that they have undergone significant renovation. So, Ishratxona Maqbarasi, which is in a suburb and under excavation, gave us a real sense of the rise and fall that this city went through. Even though its decorated wall is missing some beautiful turquoise stones, it still looks magnificent and beautiful.
Bukhara – Inclusion and the evolution multiple cultures
Bukhara is one of the cities I enjoyed roaming in streets. I liked it so much due to the way both a modern-day and ancient ambiance co-exist.
Owing to its history featuring the coming and going of lots of different groups, people would have been used to accepting different cultures and incorporated them. Indeed, this can be seen in the two most famous buildings in the town. Islamic art forbids the depiction of any kind of creature, human or animal, but the artist for Nodir Devon Begi Madrasasi seems to have been unconstrained and pursued the beauty that he/she believed. The only thing shown here is the four-towered structure of Chor-Minor, which highlights the liberal spirit that the artists in this town had.
Another reason why I liked the town is the way beauty is. Beauty in minimalism. Rich but simple. Sophisticated and elegant, but not glitzy or gaudy. The people knew how to make it “just right” – not too much, not too less. For example, Ismoil Samoniy Maqbasasi (above) reached to the extreme simplicity. It’s monotone color, but never looks boring or out-dated. It’s amazing to see how the architect created this level of richness only by a single material of brick with the geometry patterns.
The spirit of “minimalism” can also be seen in the madrasasi, with Kalon Masjidi and Kalon Minorai being examples. The basic layout is similar to that found in mosques or madrasasi in other historical towns, but having looked up close at the details, I realized that the simplicity and sophistication exist at an ultimate level.
Another favorite place was Abudulazizxon Madrasasi. This shows the Persian-style decoration that adorns the front gate. This use of multiple colors could result in a glitzy or gaudy look, yet it manages to retain its style and feels modest. It’s so beautiful.
Khiva – jewelry box of the Silk Road, a modern and well-planned ancient town
Lastly, Khiva! Being the most recent of the three ancient cities, Khiva’s prosperity came much later than the other two towns, which also means it’s well preserved. This certainly gives it an authentic ambience to the town. More than that, the Uzbek turquoise blue is most beautiful.
Khiva is indeed a small and compact town and every highlight is within walking distance. You will enjoy roaming its small streets, stumbling upon a mosque or madrasasi that becomes your favorite, hopping into cafes and galleries, and more!
Most importantly, this town has the most amazing Uzbek turquoise blue patterns. My favorite place was Tash-Khauli Palace (Tash-Khovli Palace). Built for and used by a king, Allakkuli-Khan, it mostly comprises rooms for his four wives and 150+ seraglio.
I was continually amazed by the sophisticated blue patterns that you see in room after room. There are also many other places decorated in the Uzbek blue. You’ll find your own favorite!