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Uzbekistan: the name conjures images of far-away mosques and blue-tiled domes, camels and caravanserai, mosaics and medressas. It’s true that Uzbekistan is the kind of destination that many people don’t reach, but the country has chugged into the new millennium with an excellent high-speed train network that makes traveling here much easier than many travelers…
The section of the ancient Silk Road that runs through China is an epic journey through desert dunes to the end of the Great Wall, a length of pink mud that ends abruptly in the magnificent beige towers of the Jiayuguan Fort. This is not a voyage that many travellers experience; it’s often, and understandably,…
Unveiling the Magnificent Buddhist Caves of China The Silk Road is renowned as one of the world’s earliest trade routes, facilitating the exchange of goods between China and Europe, via Central Asia. Notably, Buddhism began spreading into China from India along this route as early as the first century AD. This exchange brought forth the…
Unveiling the Majestic Silk Road Sights of Uzbekistan Desert citadels, crumbling mud fortresses, mosaic-adorned medressas, and bustling market bazaars define Uzbekistan, the heart of the historical Silk Road. As maritime and air trade dominated, the Silk Road’s significance waned, causing Central Asia’s cultures to fade under decades of Soviet rule, becoming almost forgotten by travelers….
Exploring Azerbaijan’s Silk Route Heritage The beauty of Azerbaijan’s Silk Route is revealed through its historic towns, artisanal crafts, and the vibrancy of its culture. Here are some key highlights that showcase the legacy of this ancient trade network. Revitalization of Historic Districts Kelaghayi: Kelaghayi are Azerbaijan’s hand-stamped silk scarfs, added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural…
Paula Hotti explains how a train journey through Uzbekistan offers a wonderful way to discover the ancient Silk Road. As I sit in the refreshingly cool Urgench railway station, ready to start my Silk Road train journey in Uzbekistan, a woman holding a sweeping brush approaches. Despite the language barrier, her purpose is clear: to…
For at least two millennia, Uzbekistan has been the setting for some of Asia’s most important road trips, following the network of Silk Roads that once formed the major highway between east and west. Today the roads to Samarkand may be made of tarmac and not gold, but there are still some superbly evocative and…
About your trip It’s pretty difficult in this day and age to discover somewhere truly untarnished by the brush of tourism. Central Asia and the ‘Stans’, however, stand as one of the last frontiers of discovery travel. That’s why we’ve chosen our two favorite nations in the region, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan – a combination rarely…