Exploring the Streets of Samarkand
Getting to Samarkand
As Uzbekistan begins to open its borders to the rest of the world, it has also begun to reveal all of its Medieval Islamic wonders. For most travelers looking to travel to this nation situated on the beating heart of the begone Silk Road, the rich blue tiles of Samarkand is sure to be the image that made you first look into booking your flight to Uzbekistan.
For those already traveling through Uzbekistan and looking to make the pilgrimage to bask in the golden halls and elaborate mosaics of Samarkand, travel is made easy. From Tashkent to Samarkand is a mere 2 hours train ride, costing about 35 USD for an economy class ticket. From Bukhara, the trip is only an hour and a half by train and 30 USD for an economy ticket. If you need more information on Uzbek trains click here or here!
Those looking to get to Samarkand from the Penjikent border crossing should take either a taxi for 20,000 som or a marshrutka for 5,000 som. You can find the latest information on the border the crossing here!
You can read more about traveling through Central Asia here!
Stepping into Registan
The three madrasahs, or Islamic universities, in Registan together create that perfect postcard shot which made you dream of traveling to Uzbekistan in the first place. The construction of the first of these madrasahs stretches back all the way to 1417. Since then it has had its periods of prosperity as well as decline. At its lowest point, it is said that animals frequented the great halls of Registan more often than people.
Today, the grand madrasahs and square have returned to their former glory. Instead of being the stomping ground of Islamic scholars and caravans, tourists both from Uzbekistan and abroad can be seen posing in front of the golden interiors and turquoise mosaics.
You can read more about Registan here and the entrance fee here!
Opening the Gates to Tourism
As Uzbekistan finally opened its borders to hoards of curious foreign tourists, it has also been slowly embracing all the aspects that go along with capitalizing on their own national treasures. Historically, Registan was not only an Islamic education hub along the Silk Road, but it was also a center for commerce and trade. While it may have shifted from practical goods to t-shirts with the words “Uzbekistan” printed across the top, the mosaic courtyards still maintain a certain bazaar spirit. You may even be lucky enough to catch a traditional dance in one of the ancient madrassahs.
For the time being, there is a good mix of both foreign and local tourists posing in front of the awe-inspiring mosques and universities. Even though these majestic medieval squares are slowly bending to the needs of the tourists, they still maintain a certain sense of authenticity. While you may be busy trying to snap a picture of the golden interior of the mosque, local Muslims can still be seen praying in the same place their ancestors did generations ago.
You can read more about Uzbek dances and culture here!
Madrassahs and Mausoleums
When compared with the other Silk Road gems in Uzbekistan such as Khiva and Bukhara, Samarkand is by far the most well-known and surpasses the others in terms of being “touristy”. While you can find slews of centuries-old mosques, madrassahs, and mausoleums sprinkled throughout the city, they are usually separated by vast parks donning elaborate water features, statues, and locals taking their wedding photos. The walk from Registan to the nearby Bibi-Khanym Mosque, for example, will have you walking past storefront after storefront selling tacky souvenirs.
With so many breathtaking mosques and squares throughout Samarkand, budget travelers may find it hard to cough up entrance fee after entrance fee to see, more or less, the same mosaic patterns. While each individual site differs in its particular function, the stories which surrounds each tomb elevates the sacred grounds to a state of mythical proportions. Without context, however, you may find yourself shelling out heaps of money for a scene which you have photographed a dozen times before.
Looking or traveling to Bukhara? You can read more here!
Exploring Siyod Bazaar
While Registan may be the beating heart of traditional architecture in Samarkand, Siyod Bazaar is where the city truly comes alive. It is in this market, located only a few minutes walk away from Bibi-Khanym Mosque, that people are gossiping, eating, and trading in the same fashion as their ancestors would have. In this enormous market, you can find anything from spices, clothing, electronics, home goods, restaurants, and food. The most famous and enthralling of all of the Uzbek delicacies is, of course, Samarkand bread.
With so many tourists roaming around Samarkand, there are few places where you can feel truly immersed in local culture. Siyod Bazaar offers an escape from the wide avenues and selfie-stick wielding tour groups. Like a massive hive, the entire market is constantly moving as one entity. Amongst the stalls and heaps of fruits, the locals offer a more candid look at their lives apart from the winding alleyways and splendor of the mosques. While the regal ruins offer a glimpse into what Uzbekistan was, the bazaar shows a way of life that has stood the test of time.
You can read more about Siyod Bazaar here!
The Backstreets of Samarkand
The city of Samarkand has been bent and molded into a city suited for one purpose: tourism. The wide avenues, statues, and parks stand at the ready for the coming wave of tourists which will soon come crashing down on this Central Asian country. As the winding suburban labyrinth of the old city is torn down to make way for grid-like urban planning, Samarkand loses a bit of its subtle charm which as one time made it special.
After strolling past Registan and the many newly built city squares, you will find yourself at, yet another, breathtaking mausoleum. Gur-e-Amir was built for Timur, one of the great conquers of Central Asia. While the architecture, more or less, imitates the very same of Registan and the many other mosques and Madrashas in Samarkand, the surrounding neighborhoods offer a more intimate look at the city. It is among these narrow alleyways that the dome of Gur-e-Amir is perfectly framed with families coming, going, gossiping, and playing in the shadow of the looming mausoleum. It is moments like these where one truly falls in love with a city. As grand as Registan is, the restored mosaics can never dream of replicating the subtle human quality which makes the world’s most wondrous monuments steal the hearts of poets and travelers alike.
