On our second day in Uzbekistan (also the second day in Samarkand), we got a taxi from Samarkand to visit Shahrisabz. It’s only 67km away and at that time hiring a taxi seemed to be the best idea.
We left after lunch, and the ride was quite pleasant! I didn’t see many tourists in Samarkand, but the advantage to that is each backpacker becomes quite ‘generous’ to each other. Well, we needed each other.
The ride was quite pleasant, and well worth it! The road was mostly in hills. Unfortunately I forgot how much it was. Uzbekistan did surprise me!
When we arrived in Shahrisabz, it was quite surprising as it felt like a proper town (unlike the old town in Samarkand). And I saw women as cleaners! That’s totally strange comparing to other Muslim countries I’ve been to. So in many aspects I felt Uzbekistan was quite ‘soviet’ although that’s quite an abstract idea to me.
And you would sort of walk through a bazar. I wonder what sort of artificial drinks these are, and why fish was sold? Where did they catch these fish?
And after a walk of confusion, you’d reach this complex on why you came to Shahrisabz.
This must be Kok Gumbaz Mosque/ Dorut Tilovat Complex. It’s a lot smaller than the mosques and madrasahs in Samarkand. But we still went to see what it was all about.
And there was another mausoleum called Dorus-Saodat. And behind it there was a crypt where Timur was supposed to be buried.
Tomb of Timur
Behind the Hazrat-i Imam Emsemble is a bunker with a door leading to an underground chamber, discovered by archaeologists in 1943. The room is nearly filled with a single stone casket, on which inscriptions indicate that it was intended for Timur. However, the conqueror was buried in Samarkand, not at Shahrisabz, and mysteriously, his tomb in Shahrisabz contained two unidentified corpses. (Wikipedia)
So….. that was it. The attraction was really similar to what I felt I had already seen in Samarkand. But this place still has its uniqueness being the hometown of Timur.
See! The identity is pretty clear! It’s Timur!
Behind Timur’s statue is Ak-saray. It was supposed to be a palace and these two buildings are gate-towers.
Timur’s Summer Palace, the “White Palace” was planned as the most grandiose of all Timur’s constructions. It was started in 1380 by artisans deported by Timur from the recently conquered Khwarezm. Unfortunately, only traces of its gigantic 65 m gate-towers survive, with blue, white and gold mosaics. Above the entry of the Ak-Saray are big letters saying: “If you challenge our power – look at our buildings!” (Wikipedia)
It’d be pretty cool to climb up the tower to see Shakhrisabz. But it was closed for renovation when we went. Well, this happens. I wouldn’t want to climb it unless it’s safe and ready.
As an alternative, we did something unexpected. We went for a ferris wheel in Uzbekistan! We found an amusement park next to this historical building, very interesting.
See I told you Uzbekistan surprised me!
The ticket was cheap and the view was awesome! I was sort of glad that I didn’t have to climb the towers to see a good view. And plus this is how you’d get Ak-Saray in your picture!
This city is small, and there really isn’t much to see. But the ride from Samarkand to here was beautiful, and very memorable. The ferris wheel was fun. So I don’t regret coming here at all!
(But if you are very into history, maybe you’d like to spend more time in Samarkand!)
Traveling Mega
