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The silent beauty of the minarets adds a remarkable spectacle to the ancient cities' Ensembles. The word minaret (or minora) means light (of height), in the sense of being a lighthouse. Commonplace in Muslim countries, these huge pillars were designed originally for the Muezzin to call the faithful for prayers. Usually Minarets were adjacent to mosques and madrassahs or they formed part of the Ensemble. Typically, the minaret has a round wide, brick base at ground level with a steep, internal, spiral staircase leading to an arched lantern placed at the top of the tower. Construction of the minaret had to bear in mind wind force, seismic forces and soil characteristics.
The name, Ulugbek (often mentioned by tourguides), stirs up a keen interest in those travelling along the Great Silk Road. Mohammed Taragai, the grandson of the great Emir, Temur, was called Ulugbek, meaning "the great khan". He governed Samarkand for 40 years from 1409. His exceptional leadership earned him the title of "the scientist on the throne" because he achieved great progress in culture and scientific understanding. Mathematicians, theologians, physicians and astronomers alike were honoured and recognised during this glorious time as a direct result of Ulugbek's support for science.
Bukhara - the heart of the Great Silk Road - has preserved its heritage with its ancient architectural monuments or "mirrors of the past." The Samanid Mausoleum of Ismael Samani is especially significant. This architectural masterpiece was built in the 9th and early 10th centuries. Every design element used in this structure is based on squares and diagonals, forming geometric lines. The unique architectural design with its 4-arch dome, decorative circles and rosettes on the decorative columns, is characteristic of Sogdian architecture.
About 15 km south-west of Tashkent you will find the Zangi-Ota Ensemble, a little known memorial that ranks among the holiest sites in the Province. Dating back to the Middle Ages (late 14th century), the original feature is a tomb for Zangi-Ota, a popular sheikh and the holy patron of herdsmen.
The international links between east and west along the Great Silk Road go way back in history. This ancient caravan route helped to develop both trade and cultural exchanges and a significant part of this story includes the transmission of Buddhist teachings along this route. Buddhism was brought to Uzbekistan from India at the beginning of the 1st century A.D. via the silk roads enroute to China, Korea and Japan. Many ancient temples and archaeological discoveries demonstrate the spread of Buddhism in this region. Buddhist monuments are found in the southern part of Uzbekistan and eastern Turkestan.
Trade along the Great Silk Road commenced as far back as the 2nd century BC. Amongst the variety of commerce - which included wool, leather, cotton and fruits, metal and glassware, jewellery, precious stones and incenses - were the oriental carpets and handicrafts by the Uzbek masters. These textiles were in great demand across the known world.
Magnificent architectural monuments are still being preserved in Bukhara - a city located on the Great Silk Road. Each with its own story… Near the welcoming gardens of the houses where, in summer, the silence rings because of the scorching heat, near the craftsmen`s workshops and blocks of new buildings one can see ancient palaces, mausoleums and madrassahs. Guides can talk much about the architectural monuments in Bukhara, describing them in detail, classifying them according to their architectural style. But in Bukhara there is something special, something different from the usual monuments - this is the Chor-Minor Madrassah.
For many years now, Uzbekistan has been top on the travel agenda for adventurous people interested in exotic destinations. As we have seen, the rich cultural, architectural and natural wonders of this land will only ever succeed in satisfying this wanderlust and no tour of this land is complete without a camel ride.
You will become better acquainted with the traditions, culture and daily life of the Uzbek people by meeting them in their homes. Usually Uzbeks have large families and several generations live together, which is why they have large houses on large lots of land. In fact, your travels through Uzbekistan will not be complete if you have not visited an Uzbek family, sat in a shady garden, tasted home-cooked food, and relaxed with a sweet fragrant wine.
The highway leading from Urgench north to Karakalpakstan, runs along one of the trails which camel-driven caravans used to take a few millennia ago, traveling through the wilderness of the plateau Ustyurt to Caspian steppes and further to the Volga river. Here, on the Ustyurt plateau there have survived remains of old caravanserais, which once served night's lodging for tired merchants and cameleers.
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