Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Samarkand
A
B
C
D
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
39
#
ú
2
Mustaqillik
maydoni
#
ì
-
49
44
(4.5km)
#
ú
54
#
35
#
ÿ
66
#
ì
6
66
45
ò
53
3
#
ú
52
ð
6
66
#
æ
ó
8
â
14
666
#
ú
37
41
#
ú
66
66
46
#
ð
50
ô
#
û
51
#
ð
666
66
66
4
Karimbek
(1.1km)
34
58
á
Statue of
Amir Timur
#
æ
18
Navoi
Park
66
#
ÿ
#
20
#
#
#
ÿ
ÿ
ÿ
ÿ
#
59
33
#
24
26
#
æ
5
666
66
43
#
ú
#
æ
1
5
ÿ
#
29
6
6
A
B
C
D
6
Central Asia's economic and cultural epicen-
tre. His grandson Ulugbek ruled until 1449
and made it an intellectual centre as well.
When the Uzbek Shaybanids came in
the 16th century and moved their capital
to Bukhara, Samarkand went into decline.
For several decades in the 18th century, af-
ter a series of earthquakes, it was essentially
uninhabited. The emir of Bukhara forcibly
repopulated the town towards the end of the
century, but it was only truly resuscitated
by the Russians, who forced its surrender
in May 1868 and linked it to the Russian
Empire by the Trans-Caspian railway 20
years later.
1
¨Sights
You can enter the courtyards of some of
the main sights outside working hours for
free or by 'tipping' the guard on duty; the
Registan and Bibi-Khanym are spectacular
in the early morning light; Gur-e-Amir is
sublime by night.
