“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone…”
 |
| (Camel train in the desert) |
Day 08: 18 August 2917 (Friday)
Route: Samarkand – Shahrisabz
Distance: 85 km
Hotel: Shahrisabz Yulduzi Hotel, Uzbekistan
After we checked out, we visited other attractions in Samarkand, the Registan Complex, Gur-i Emir Complex and Mirzo Ulugbeg Observatory.
 |
| (An ardent traveler on wheels) |
Registan Complex is the wonder of Central Asia, the most magnificent city scape in Central Asia. The Registan is one of the most amazing examples of Islamic architecture anywhere. It was originally a public square framed by three religious schools: Madrasah of Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor Madrasah and Tilya-Kori Madrasah.
 |
| (The majistic Registan Complex) |
 |
| (The three Madrasah: Ulugh Beg, Tilla Kari and Sher Dor) |
 |
| (The Music Festival rehearsal) |
There was a rehearsal for the up-coming Music festival at the complex. Visitors were not allowed to enter so we took pictures from the viewing deck and watched the music and dance rehearsal for a while.
 |
| (Timurlane Mausoleum in Gur-i Emir Complex) |
 |
| (A short walk to the complex) |
Tashkent Street used to be the main road for caravans linking Samarkand with Tashkent oasis, Fergana Valley and China. The main pedestrian street linking the famous Registan Square to the big market is called Tashkent Street with many souvenir and local handicrafts shops for the tourist travellers.
|
|
| (The grand Gur-i Emir Complex) |
 |
| (A chapel with the ribbed blue tiles) |
 |
| (The graves of Timurlane and his close family) |
 |
| (Quranic verses decorating the mausoleum) |
The Gūr-i Amīr is a mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Timurlane. It occupies an important place in the history of Persian-Mongolian Architecture as the precursor and model for later great Mughal architecture tombs, including Gardens of Babur in Kabul, Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Timur's Persianised descendants, the ruling Mughal dynasty of North India. The Mausoleum has been heavily restored.
 |
| (Taking a rest from the hot sun) |
 |
| (Counting our Uzbek money) |
The Ulugh Beg Observatory is built by the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg. It is considered by scholars to have been one of the finest observatories in the Islamic world. Some of the famous Islamic astronomers who worked at the observatory include Al-Kashi, Ali Qushji, and Ulugh Beg himself. The observatory was destroyed in 1449 and rediscovered in 1908.
 |
| (One of the greatest Muslim scientists) |
 |
| (The statue cleaner spoiled my picture) |
 |
| (An enormous observatory) |
 |
| (The ancient sextants still in situ) |
 |
| (Mirzo Ulugbeg Museum) |
 |
| (We were here during winter 1999) |
After the visits in Tashkent we traveled the unbeaten road to Shahrisabz, 85 km away passing through the trunk road and villages with mud bricks houses. We arrived at Shahrisabz late afternoon and went direct to Shahrisabz Restaurant for lunch.
 |
| (A stop for lunch of local dishes) |
 |
| (Electric shuttles in the complex) |
Shahrisabz is a UNESCO site, a city in southern Uzbekistan. Once a major city of Central Asia, it is primarily known today as the birthplace of 14th-century Turco-Mongol conqueror Timurlane. Timurlane took 40 years to build his majestic palace. The whole afternoon we visited the many attractions in the Shahrisabz Complex:
 |
| (The blue dome of Kok Gumbar Mosque) |
 |
| (The courtyard of the mosque and Madrasah) |
 |
| (Various designs of ceramic mosaics at the mihrab) |
Kok-Gumbaz Mosque was built in Dorut-Tillavat Memorial complex just opposite to Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum. It is the largest Friday mosque in Shahrisabz. The inscription on the portal announces that the mosque was constructed by Ulugbek on behalf of his father Shakhruh. The building of the mosque is crowned by a huge dome covered with blue ceramic tiles. It gave the name to the mosque Kok Gumbaz that means Blue Dome. Around the tholobate of the dome there is the inscription with white glazed tiles: “Sovereignty belongs to Allah, wealth belongs to Allah”.
 |
| (Dorus Siadat Monument) |
 |
| (Another mausoleum in the complex) |
Dorus Siadat is situated in the south-eastern part of Shahrisabz. There is a monumental building covered with a conique dome, the mausoleum of Jahonguir, who was an elder son of Timurlane who died when he was only 22 in 1376 in Samarkand. The second son of Timurlane, Omar Shaykh, was also buried there in 1394. This huge complex received the name Dorus Siadat which means ‘the habitation of power’.
 |
| (Timurlane grandiose Ak Saray Summer Palace) |
 |
| (The great conquerer, Timurlane) |
Ak Saray Palace was Timur's Summer Palace. The White Palace was planned as the most grandiose of all Timur's constructions. Above the entry of the Ak-Saray are big letters saying: "If you challenge our power – look at our buildings!"
 |
| (Miniature Uzbek dolls on display) |
Tonight we had dinner of local cuisines in a house in the village. We stayed overnight at Shahrisabz Yulduzi Hotel, Uzbekistan.
No comments:
Post a Comment