#Madrasah of Ulugbek

[sagarikagolder]

Uzbekistan Diaries 5

[bonchjela]

Yesterday, I dreamt of Uzbekistan. I didn't see any of these magnificent architecture, but it was magical enough to feel and know I was there. I could remember every detail, but I think it's meant to be private this time. So... Ulugh Beg Madrasa (Islamic school) stands in the historic centre of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with other monuments, it forms the monumental ensemble of Registan, the old heart of the city. It was built between 1417 and 1421 by the then-Timurid governor of Samarkand, Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson, and prominent astronomer, who was later emperor between 1447 and 1449. My favourite is the last pic. It's one of the entrances. How amazingly meticulous is that work of art?! Uzbekistan is really a magical place. Please visit before tour groups from those big countries come. #2019 #registan #samarkand #uzbekistan #centralasia #madrasah #traveladdict #wishlist #bucketlist #travelingtheworld #world #bestplacestogo #beautifuldestinations #dreamplaces #speechlessplaces #girlswhowander #glt #gltLove #girlslovetravel #unesco #neverstopexploring #wanderlust #travelUzbekistan #lelsinsamarkand #lelsinuzbekistan (at Ulugbek, Samarqand, Uzbekistan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcAki-hk2S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[travellerconcept]

The Sand of Kyzyl Kum Desert

The tour The Sand of Kyzyl Kum Desert reveals the special charm of Uzbekistan, it begins with a visit to Bukhara, filled with the splendor of ancient streets and ancient monuments, we will visit the city of Gizhduvan the famous center of Bukhara ceramics, enjoy the beautiful Nurata and spend the night in the Kyzyl Kum desert in the yurt camp on the shores of Lake Aydar Kul. Then we will pass through the city of Samarkand, with its beautiful squares and magnificent monuments, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. And finish our tour in the city of Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Cities:

Bukhara - Gizhduvan - Nurata - Samarkand - Tashkent

Length of the trip:

5 days / 4 nights

https://travellerconcept.com

info@travellerconcept.com

Day 1: Arrival to Bukhara

Arrival to Bukhara evening flight from Moscow. Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Dinner.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2: Bukhara

Today we will spend the whole day in beautiful Bukhara and enjoy its wonder. The Ark fortress, the Samanid mausoleum, the old Lyabi House will open their doors of history to us and allow us to look into the old days. We will go through the old streets of the city, talk to the local people. We will have lunch in the house of the famous embroidery master Rakhmon Toshev, after lunch Nasiba, the daughter of the master, will tell us about the secrets of the traditional embroidery Suzane. After lunch, we will continue our tour of the city of Bukhara. Trade domes, like sails filled with the wind of the past, are located at the crossroads of old roads. Up today, these architectural complexes play a large role in the life process of the old city, up today, just like a hundred years ago, merchants placed their goods on display in the cozy little cells of shops for passing by buyers, truly a beautiful sight.

Dinner at the local restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel

Day 3: Bukhara –Gijduvan - Nurata

This morning we leave Bukhara for Nurata. It will be a long but very interesting trip. On the way to Nurata we will stop in Gizhduvan town. This is a small town well known from time immemorial because of the local potters who made products from clay. After the tour in the workshop, we will drive up to Nurata. On the way to Nurata, we will stop at the local tea house Kirk Chinor for lunch.

After lunch, continue to Nurata. Arriving in Nurata we visit, the sacred place with the pond there is sacred trout. Above the sacred place stands a small hill, on a hill a fortress built by the order of Alexander the Great. After sightseeing, heading to Lake Aydarkul.

Arrival to the Yurt camp. Camel riding (optional).

Dinner.

Overnight in Yurts.

Day 4: Nurata - Samarkand

Morning departure to Samarkand (4 hours on the way). Arrival to Samarkand. Lunch at a local teahouse. After lunch, sightseeing of Samarkand. We will go to the Registan Square. Three magnificent madrassas were once special educational institutions in which young people received sacred knowledge. At the beginning of the 15th century, the wise ruler of Samarkand, the grandson of the great Amir Timur, the great astronomer, philosopher and mathematician Mirzo Ulugbek, who dreamed of turning Samarkand into the center of science of the Muslim world, conceived the construction of the first madrassa, and brought his desire to life.

In 200 years at the beginning of the 17th century, Yalantgush Bakhodur builds his first madrasah opposite the madrasa of Mirzo Ulugbek. In 20 years, according to his own order, Tillo Kori Madrasa was built, as a final part of the beautiful architectural complex. From Registan Square we will go along the shopping street to the Bibi Khanum Mosque, built in the 15th century, by order of Amir Timur. At the Siab Bazaar which is located next to the mosque, we can find everything your heart desires, vegetables and fruits, souvenirs and shawls, as well as well-known Samarkand flatbreads. After that we will go to the mausoleum of the great Amir Timur.

Hotel accommodation.

Dinner at the national house. Today, a local family invites us to the house for dinner. The head of the house Ilkhom will not only reveal the secrets of national cuisine, but also give us the opportunity to participate in the preparation of a national dish, and then taste it. Ilkhom is always very happy to guests and gladly tells his interesting stories.

Overnight in the hotel

Day 5: Samarkand - Tashkent

Morning departure to Tashkent. Arrival to Tashkent. Lunch at the local restaurant. Sightseeing tour of the old city of Tashkent. We will visit the old part of the city, the place where is located the largest and most ancient bazaar Chorsu in Tashkent. Next we will head to Hazrat Imam Square. The old Barakkhan madrasah hides a centuries-old history, when young students learned the secrets of Islam here, today the madrasa is the center of craftsmen of Tashkent, wood carvers, metal embossing, national embroidery and much more. This is a sacred place, in one of the old libraries of which is the museum of the holy Quran, written in the 8th century.

Airport transfer. Departure

End of the tour

[rusticastravels]

Registan

A must-see in Samarkand (and in Central Asia) is Registan which was a public square bounded by 3 madrasahs decorated with beautiful majolica tiles and mosaics was once the commercial centre in medieval Samarkand.  The three grand edifices are among world’s oldest preserved madrasahs (Islamic schools). 

The Sher-Dor Madrasah’s entrance portal is unique to Islam (which prohibits depiction of live animals) has tigers (meant to be lions), deer and Mongolian-faces, Zorostrian-inspired suns. 

This is featured on a 200 som bill (around 0.021 USD, 0.019 Euro).

Entering the madrasahs, it opens up into a lovely courtyard, common with madrasahs.

Most notable is inside the Tilla-Kara Madrasah’s (the middle one) mosque which is intricately decorated in blue and gold to symbolize Samarkand’s wealth.

The ceiling above looks domed but the roof is actually flat.

Ulugbek Madrasah is the oldest madrasah (built in 1420) was built by Ulugbek, the grandson of Timur.  Besides being a sultan, Ulugbek was also an astronomer and mathematician who taught in this madrasah.

At night, Registan looks incredible all lit up.

For more pictures, click https://photos.app.goo.gl/JULsooCnANrEpqQA6

[uzbekistan-now]

Russian tourists prefer Uzbekistan for traveling The Bulletin of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) has published articles about traveling to the CIS countries during the New Year holidays, including Uzbekistan.

According to Uzbekistan.travel, the bulletin informs about the new prices of the leading tour operators of Russia to the CIS countries, opportunities for tourists for a comfortable stay in Uzbekistan, the introduction of the tax-free system in all tourist centers of the country.

It is noted that Uzbekistan has become one of the leaders in New Year’s demand among post-Soviet countries this year. According to the observation of specialists from leading travel companies, the demand for tours to Uzbekistan is associated with a rich and interesting excursion program in this country.

In the article “VAT will be returned to tourists in Uzbekistan and duty-free shops will be opened”, the authors tell that Uzbekistan plans to introduce a Tax-Free system in all tourist centers, which implies the return of VAT to foreign tourists for purchases made in the country. “This is carried out to stimulate inbound tourism and the development of internal trade in the country”, the publication says. – VAT refunds on purchases will be available to foreign citizens in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Duty-free shops are also planned to be opened in these cities. The launch of the tax-free system was planned from July 1, 2020, and was supposed to be launched by 2022, but due to the pandemic and the closure of borders, it was temporarily suspended”.

The authors of the publication “What you need to see and try in Samarkand” acquaint Russian tourists with the gastronomic and architectural masterpieces of one of the ancient cities of Asia – Samarkand. Organizing an excursion into the history of the capital of Amir Temur, the publication describes the flourishing period of the city in the era of Temurids, the flourishing of enlightenment and science during the reign of Ulugbek, the grandson of Temur, who, with unprecedented accuracy, was able to calculate the length of the sidereal year – 365 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds, and the error was less than a minute. Ulugbek also determined the inclination of the Earth's axis.

Walking along the central Registan square, the author talks about the unprecedented luxury of the majestic Sherdor and Ulugbek madrasahs, Tilla-Qori included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. There are also shops of local artisans nearby. For those wishing to buy designer clothes and all kinds of products, the author advises visiting the Samarkand Crafts Center, located in a restored 19th-century caravanserai.

For the legendary Samarkand silk paper, the publication recommends visiting the village of Konigil in Samarkand region. Here silk paper is prepared using a special technology, which is passed on by local craftsmen from generation to generation.

[samarkandtours]

When you take a look at city from above you immediately notice the light-blue dome of Kok-Gumbaz mosque-madrasah as if floating in the air over it. The building is located in the western part of the city and is named so because of its light-blue tiled dome (Kok-Gumbaz means “the Light-Blue Dome”). This 16th-century structure was erected by the order of Abdulatif Sultan – the son of the well-known scientist, astronomer and philosopher – Ulugbek, the grandson of Tamerlan.

The folk legend says that Abdulatif after he had quarreled with his father left home and found a job digging an aryk for an old peasant who needed it for irrigation of his land. He was supposed to receive 100 tenges for this job. His father found out about it and took away the hard earned money from the peasant and pooled it with his own in order to build the madrasah. Even three centuries after that in the end of the 19th century the madrasah still continued to train students. The main building the Kok-Gumbaz was made of square bricks. The main large square hall is extended by four deep niches on all sides. The niche with a mikhrab are richly decorated with molding. The walls are gracefully painted. The entrance portal and the dome are tiled with majolica in incrustation fashion.

https://samarkandtours.com/tajikistan/istaravshan/kok-gumbaz/

[uztravelsilkroad]

Dear Friends! Today we take you to #Bukhara - a noble city of the Silk Road. #uzbekistan #uztravel #silkroad #bukhara Bukhara, which is situated on The Silk Road, is more than 2500 years old. #Bukhara is the most complete example of a medieval city in #CentralAsia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely intact. Monuments of particular interest include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of 10th-century Muslim architecture, and a large number of 17th-century madrasas. #Bukhara was long an important economic and cultural center in Central Asia. The ancient Persian city served as a major center of Islamic culture for many centuries and became a major cultural center of the Caliphate in the 8th century. With the exception of a few important vestiges from before the #Mongol invasions of #GenghisKhan in 1220 and #Tamerlane in 1370, the old town bears witness to the urbanism and architecture of the Sheibani period, from the early 16th century onwards. The citadel, rebuilt in the 16th century, has marked the civic center of the town since its earliest days to the present. Important monuments that survive from early times include the famous Ismail Samani tomb, impressive in its sober elegance and the best surviving example of 10th century architecture in the whole Muslim world. From the 11th century #Karakhanid period comes the outstanding #PoiKalon minaret, a masterpiece of decoration in brick, along with most of the Magoki Attori mosque and the Chashma Ayub shrine. The Ulugbek madrasah is a surviving contribution from Temurids. With the advent of the Sheibanids came some of the most celebrated buildings of Bukhara: the #Poikalon, the #LyabiKhauz ensemble, the Kosh Medresseh and the Gaukushon medresseh in the Hodja-Kalon ensemble. Later buildings from this phase of #Bukhara´s history include monumental medressehs at important crossroads: Toki Sarafon (Dome of the Moneychangers), Toki Telpak Furushan (Dome of the Headdress Sellers), Toki Zargaron (Dome of Jewellers), and Tim Abdullah Khan. In the early 17th century fine buildings were added, including a new great mosque, Magoki Kurpa (1637), and the imposing Abdullaziz-Khan medresseh (1652). However (at Bukhara) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAMuWlyAUPD/?igshid=vm7ld92y3iue

[natgeotraveluk]

People around the world are sending us and @outofedenwalk their photos of the Silk Road. Share yours using #NGSilkRoad // @emmathomsontravels shares a glimpse of Tillya-Kari Madrasah as she climbs the wonky minaret of neighbouring Ulugbek Madrasah on Registan Square, Samarkand. #WildFrontiers #SilkRoad #NGTUK #NGTUKnomad #travelgram #travelphotography #instatravel (at Samarkand)

[bonchjela]

The details!!! If this is not beautiful, I don't know what is! #ulugbek #registan #samarkand #uzbekistan #centralasia #madrasah #traveladdict #wishlist #bucketlist #lpfanphoto #travelingtheworld #atlas #world #bestplacestogo #beautifuldestinations #dreamplaces #speechlessplaces #girlswhowander #glt #gltLove #girlslovetravel #neverstopexploring #wanderlust #lelsinsamarkand (at Ulug'bek madrasasi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBfGfrBe5l/?igshid=197jg6e3ppnb2

[bonchjela]

Colourful. #ulugbek #registan #samarkand #uzbekistan #centralasia #madrasah #traveladdict #wishlist #bucketlist #lpfanphoto #travelingtheworld #atlas #world #bestplacestogo #beautifuldestinations #dreamplaces #speechlessplaces #girlswhowander #glt #gltLove #girlslovetravel #neverstopexploring #wanderlust #travelUzbekistan #lelsinsamarkand #lelsinuzbekistan (at Ulug'bek madrasasi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzlKaYtBNyo/?igshid=19mqxeq6sa60j

[bonchjela]

💙🌐🧿✳️🔵🔷🔘 . #ulugbek #registan #samarkand #uzbekistan #centralasia #madrasah #traveladdict #wishlist #bucketlist #lpfanphoto #travelingtheworld #atlas #world #bestplacestogo #beautifuldestinations #dreamplaces #speechlessplaces #girlswhowander #glt #gltLove #girlslovetravel #neverstopexploring #wanderlust #travelUzbekistan #lelsinsamarkand #lelsinuzbekistan (at Ulug'bek madrasasi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVfi5nBsAo/?igshid=mh459emxdgw0

[samarkandtours]

Barakh-khan Madrasah was built in the XVI century by Suyunidzh-khan, an Ulugbek’s grandson. It is a known fact that became a location of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Central Asia. It is also the place where the rich library of oriental manuscripts is found. A special premise of the Barakh-khan Madrasah library is used to keep the world-known Koran of Caliph Osman. It is the primary source of holy Islam book written in the mid-VII century. The ancient manuscript of very huge size, containing 353 parchment pages with the Koran original text, was kept for centuries in the caliphs’ treasury (consecutively in cities of Medina, Damascus and Bagdad). From Damascus, during Timur’s ministry, the Osman’s (Ottoman) Koran found its way to Uzbekistan, then (as late as in the ХIХ century) it was sent to Saint Petersburg where it was kept before the revolution. After it the Koran was brought to Central Asia via Ufa.

A legend has it that Caliph Osman was killed when he was reading this book, and from that time its pages made of deerskin keep his blood stains, since that the Osman’s Koran became a holy relic, kept at court of the subsequent caliphs first in Medina, then in Damascus and Bagdad. Different religious movements and sects, originated further inside the caliphate, at best, could deny selected parts in the scripture, claiming that they were distorted by careless scribes by mistake, or even with malicious intent of the caliph, who, for example, has not been honored up to date by the Shias, the supporters of inheritable power of Ali’s family. But they were not able to oppose other holy texts to the Ottoman Koran.

https://samarkandtours.com/uzbekistan/tashkent/barak-khan-madrasah/

[samarkandtours]

Ulugbek Madrasah was found in 1417, as the inscription on the bronze plate of door runs says. There is a name of master in the portal tympanum, which was building this monument – Ismail ibn Takhir ibn Makhmud Ispfargoni. It is possible he was a grandson of one of the masters, who had been captured by Timur in Iran and left their names on the portal of Gur-Amir complex in Samarkand.

Bukhara Madrasah is the first Madrasah, built by Ulugbek. It is comparatively small, but has great forms. This is a building with two-ayvan square yard, surrounded by two-storey hudjrs, with darskhana cupola halls and mosque on the cross of entrance hall.

https://samarkandtours.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-ulugbek-madrasah/

[samarkandtours]

Opposite Ulugbek Madrasah there is Abdullazizkhan Madrasah. Abdullazizkhan built it in 1651 – 1652 and it is the last large Madrasah in Bukhara. The building is typical by composition, with four-ayvans yard, but with unordinary divergent fan of hudj groups after side ayvans and cupola buildings on the central axis.

It is very interesting the improvement of living lodgings, which consisted of entrance hall and hudjra, and were equipped with free-places, attic storeys, wall niches for bed clothes, dishes, decorated in conformity with the taste of inhabitants, who rented these apartments during their study.Away from Poi-Kalyan ensemble we can see trade arcades, belonging to the end of 16 century Taki-Telpak Phurushon and Taki Sarraphon.

Head-dresses were sold in Taki-Telpak Phurushon : skull-caps embroidered with beads, brocade and silk, fur-fox hats, turbans. Currency transactions were accomplished under Taki Sarraphon dome, shroffs mediates in international trade affairs.

https://samarkandtours.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-abdulaziz-khan/

[samarkandtours]

Sher-Dor Madrasah was built on the Registan Square, Samarkand in 1619-1636. The name is translated as “Madrassah with Lions”. It is the distorted and exaggerated reflection of the Ulugbek Madrasah, which is located just opposite, on the western side of the Registan Square. The difference in age between them is 200 years. Sher-Dor has larger area and sizes, but it yields to its “elder brother” by the quality of finishing works.

On the outside and inside this Madrasah is decorated with bright ornaments of glazed brick, walls and towers are covered with majolica of various patterns of climber flowers and quotations from Kuran on Arabic. But some part of finishing is irretrievably lost, though scientists, historians and restorers try to recover the initial appearance of Sher-Dor Madrasah.

https://samarkandtours.com/uzbekistan/samarkand/sher-dor-madrasah/

[samarkandtours]

The construction of the Tilla-Kori Madrassah was commenced in 1646 by the order of the Samarkand ruler Yalangtush Bakhadur and was finished only in 1660. It is the final building in the Registan architectural Ensemble. It was built on the site of caravan-saray, which had existed for over two centuries. The name of the Madrassah is derived from the rich golden decoration on the faсade. “Tilla-Kori” is translated as “decorated with gold”. Square-shaped building of the Madrassah fills the whole area between the Ulugbek Madrassah and the Sher-Dor Madrassah. The façade, faced to the square is symmetrical and consists of the high portal and two floors of arched niches, flanked with towers. Khudjras (cells), intended for students, look on the large inner yard.

https://samarkandtours.com/uzbekistan/samarkand/tilla-kori-madrasah/