Bukhara
Southeast of Samani Park are two massive medressas, one named for the great Shaybanid ruler Abdulla Khan (currently empty) and the other for his mother…
Must-see attractions in Central Asia
Dushanbe
This grand modern building, dubbed locally as the White House, is the official seat of the president of Tajikistan. Although closed to the public, its…
Samarkand
The Regional Studies Museum occupies an old Jewish merchant’s house, and has a lavish wing devoted to Jewish history, with old photos of Samarkand’s once…
Kazakhstan
Aral's small history museum has a few desiccation photos, some imaginative oil paintings and around 15 jars preserving different Aral Sea fish species –…
Dushanbe
This small lake in the middle of the Varzob Valley is a half-hour drive (30km) north of Dushanbe. The whole river valley is dotted with chaikhanas and…
Kyrgyzstan
On the crest of a small hill north of the highway outside of Chaek, this mausoleum is dedicated to local hero Baizak Baatyr, renowned for his success in…
Jumgal Regional History Museum
Kyrgyzstan
One hall dedicated to famous former Jymgal resident Kojomkol, reported to have weighed in at 208kg and more than 2m tall, is interesting for a look at…
Almaty
This stone column is surmounted with a replica Golden Man standing on a winged snow leopard. Around its base are statues of a Kazakh family; behind is a…
Kyrgyzstan
Built in 1924, this stylised clay yurt and the wooden pavilion that protect it commemorate one of Kojomkul's friends, and the large inscribed stone (said…
Tajikistan
Modern-day poet Loik Sherali was born in Mazari Sharif near Penjikent in 1941. He earned the title 'People's Poet of Tajikistan' and when he died in 2000…
Kazakhstan
For a taste of the bazaar atmosphere for which Taraz used to be celebrated, have a wander round busy Shakhristan Market, across the road from the now…
Allakuli Khan Bazaar & Caravanserai
Khiva
North of the Allakuli Khan Medressa is the Allakuli Khan Bazaar & Caravanserai. The entrance to both is through tall wooden gates beside the medressa. The…
Fergana Valley
With a new facade, twin minarets and a taharkhana (wash house), the 19th-century Devanboy Mosque now plays the role of Andijon's Friday mosque. The…
Kyrgyzstan
Though little is known about the history of this mausoleum and accompanying prayer hall, the Arabic inscriptions and stylised architecture lead locals to…
Tajikistan
The Sogdian site of Bunjikath, near Shakhristan, was the 8th-century capital of the kingdom of Ushrushana. It is noteworthy for a famous Sogdian mural…
Dushanbe
Tajikistan’s Persian past is invoked in the facade of the Writers’ Union Building. Adorned with sculpted-stone figures of Sadruddin Ayni, Omar Khayam,…
Bukhara
In Bukhara's backstreets between Hoja Nurabad and Islamov, across from the Ark on Hoja Nurabad, the interior of the 16th-century Hoja Zayniddin Mosque has…
Khiva
This small mausoleum dates to 1310 when Khiva was under the Golden Horde of the Mongol empire. You might find people praying in front of the 19th-century…
Tajikistan
This 16th-century place of worship was built by an Uzbeki khan. A portion of the understated mosque was destroyed in a flood in 1836; another portion has…
Uzbekistan
The oldest, most remarkable and most difficult-to-pronounce fort in Ellik Kala is circular Koy Krylgan Qala, which archaeologists believe doubled as a…
Sheikh Hovendi Tahur Mausoleum
Tashkent
This little-visited mausoleum was built for a 14th-century Sufi saint and gives its name to the surrounding Sheikhantur complex. It's tricky to find, east…
Ethnography Museum Korpus No 1
Kazakhstan
The Ethnography Museum is in two buildings facing opposite corners of Park Zhastar. This branch exhibits the traditional culture of the Kazakhs of east…
Almaty
Central Almaty’s biggest recreational park is a somewhat untidy place whose boating lakes, funfair rides, pony rides, a waterpark, rather sad zoo, cinema,…
Almaty
Almaty’s multitowered, gold-domed, white-marble central mosque, built in 1999, is one of the largest in the country, with space for 3000 worshippers in…
Khiva
The small, low-slung building to the left of the entrance outside the main Kuhna Ark fortress is the Zindon (Khans’ Jail), with a simple display of chains…
Tajikistan
Facing the eastern knoll of the Khaakha Fortress, this snippet of a museum represents the private collection of the director, Odinmammad Mirzayev, who may…
Kyrgyzstan
This tiny two-room museum holds a collection of Kojomkul's clothing, tools, and a number of media clippings about him. Hours are more suggestion than fact…
Tajik State Pedagogical University
Dushanbe
Established in 1931, this is one of Tajikistan's top higher education institutions. For visitors, its pale blue, neoclassical facade makes a useful…
Shymkent
The central bazaar is now somewhat diminished after the conversion of its outlying sprawl into parks and the removal of many traders to markets on the…
Tajikistan
This small museum at Ancient Penjikent chronicles the excavations at the site and displays some copies of the best frescoes (some of them 15m long)…
Kazakhstan
This clearing, 6km south of Burabay, is where the warrior hero reputedly once assembled his forces during his Zhungar campaigns. A tall, eagle-topped…
Bukhara
At the intersection of Jubar and Naqshbandi is the large 16th-century Gaukushan Medressa, with chipped majolica on its unrestored facade. It's normally…
Kyrgyzstan
Just off the Naryn–Torugart highway around 10km south of the city (look for the snow leopard statue opposite the turnoff), this small waterfall is a…
Samarkand
The lovely Hoja-Nisbatdor Mosque, a 15 minutes' walk south of the Registan, has a large aivan embraced by walls inlaid with beautifully restored ghanch …
Tajikistan
This small, brick-fronted museum has a modest natural history collection and some ancient artefacts from Silk Road days. Most of the exhibits relate to…
Tashkent
This little-visited, pyramid-roofed mausoleum is for devoted fans of Central Asian architecture. It's tricky to find, east of the Tashkent Islamic…
Khiva
The twin-turreted West Gate (Ota-Darvoza, literally ‘Father Gate') is the main entrance to the Ichon-Qala and the place to buy your admission ticket. The…
Tashkent
This preposterously large hall is usually locked tight but occasionally hosts state-sponsored events for honoured guests. You may recognise the tigers on…
Tajikistan
This purpose-built bazaar, just along from the roundabout with the giant apricot, makes a good landmark as shared taxis pull up outside. It also offers an…
Fergana Valley
The sparse Museum of Regional Studies covers the Fergana region and is of marginal interest. Visitors can inspect the WWII uniforms and a 3D map of the…
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