Uzbekistan Flag
Leaving Tashkent for Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Our high speed train to Samarkand
Arrival at the Samarkand Railroad Station
Beautiful Registan Square with its three madrasahs (education centers) 15 - 17th centuries.
This was the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand during the Timurid dynasty. Registan means "stand place" or "desert" in Persian. Samarkand was the capital of Uzbekistan until the Soviets moved it to Tashkent
TilyaKori Madrash in the center of Registan Square
SherDor Madrasah on the right in Registan Square
Ulugh Beg Madrasah on the left in Registan Square
Right pillar on the Ulugh Beg Madrasah is tilted (I forgot why.....)
Inside the Tillya-Kori Madrasah
Traditionally dressed wedding couple
Islam Karimov was the (autocratic) leader of Uzbekistan from 1989 until his death in 2016.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque - In the 15th century it was one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world.
Stone Koran stand in the middle of the courtyard of the mosque
We visited paper making mill & workshop. Samarkand paper was known for its quality, durability and longevity. Persian and Arabic manuscripts of the 9th & 10th centuries were written on Samarkand paper. First the bark is stripped off the mulberry tree which is abundant in Uzbekistan.
The bark fiber is boiled until it is soft and can be pounded into paper pulp then added to water.
Pulp is then taken out with a sieve, put under a press, then dried where paper is cut to size
Last step is polishing stage to create smooth long lasting paper
Difference in quality paper that lasts and regular paper
Clothing made from the Samarkand paper
Museum complex of Mirzo Ulugbek - Astronomer & mathematician, grandson of Tamerlane
Fakhri sextant built by Ulugh Beg - 118 feet radius - used to measure altitudes of the stars.
Shah-i-Zinda Memorial Complex
Upper section of the mausoleum
In the evening we attended a show about the history of the country
Then we attend a beautiful laser light show at Registan Square - this was great!
We heard a story about the
Driviing thru the country alongside the Zavarashon mountains to the town of Shahrisabz
Locals vendors at our pit stop
Remains of the "White Palace" built by Tamerlane
Mausoleum
Inside the mosque
Mausoleum of the prophet Daniel
Tomb is 18 meters long!
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