Samarkand Sights - Places to visit in Samarkand

Must-see sights in Samarkand

Over the centuries, Uzbekistan’s cities played a major role in the life of the Great Silk Road, the ancient, transcontinental thoroughfare. But, one city stands out as being "the Heart of Great Silk Road"; that city is Samarkand.

"The Radiate Point of Globe", "The Jewel of Islamic Architecture", "The Mirror of the World" are oriental titles bestowed upon Samarkand from earliest times. A contemporary of Rome, Athens, and Babylon, this city has already celebrated its 2750th anniversary, who`s golden age occurred during the Temurid dynasty as this very city was chosen by Amir Timur, the greatest warlord and ruler of the Central Asia after Genghis Khan, as the capital of his powerful Empire, Movarounnahr. Amir Timur carried out a vast program of town-planning during his rule. Here in Samarkand the great ruler gathered skillful architects and craftsmen whose works of art have outlasted the years. His grandson Ulugbek continued these construction traditions. Today the monuments of Samarkand are majestic and wonderful. In this town one can feel the breath of history itself. It can be traced in the ancient ruins as well as in the madrasahs, mausoleums, and minarets, which have been decorating the city until now.

The legendary Samarkand square of Registan ranks amongst the key architectural sights in Central Asia. Since ancient times, this square has been the trade and public center of Samarkand. Three grandiose madrasahs - Ulugbek madrasah, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kori madrasahs - proudly dominate the square.

Gur-Emir Mausoleum – is another gem of ancient Samarkand. The remains of the Great sovereign, his two sons and two grandsons, including a prominent scientist and thinker of the East, Mirzo Ulugbek, rest in this mausoleum. From a distance the dome of Gur Emir mausoleum looks like a blue tulip, with gently folded turquoise petals. The architectural décor of the monuments is grand, opulent and worthy of being the setting for any Scheherazade fairy tale.

Registan Square, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble, Ulugbek’s Observatory, this is not the complete list of all those monuments that fascinate the visitors of the ancient city.

Samarkand is full of beautiful and breathtaking places to visit. So many, in fact, that it may actually be difficult to decide where to go! Now you don’t have to. Instead, just follow this list of the most stunning landmarks, attractions and must-see sights in Samarkand you shouldn’t miss.

Top Sights of Samarkand