Samarkand

SAMARKAND is one of the world’s great legendary cities - and one of the few that manage to live-up to the legend when you get there. Established by Timur-Lan ("Tamerlane") as his capital, it rapidly became the wealthiest city in Central Asia.

For most visitors, the Registan Square is the first place to visit - an astounding ensemble of mosques and madrassahs at the very heart of the city.

Timur's Mausoleum is a regal resting-place for the last of the great Mongol rulers - his tomb has a special curse for anyone daring to disturb his final rest! bibi-khanum

nuts to you The bazaar in Samarkand is fairly compact, but full of colour and character!
Other things in Samarkand to see and do include: Ulug-Beg's C15th Observatory - from which Timur's grandson made his calculations of the length of the year, to within 15 mins of the figure reached with atomic clocks at the end of the C20th! ; Shah-i-Zinda, the royal necropolis complex, where the tombs of Timur's generals, advisors, wives and relations lie close to the remains of Husan Ibn-Abbas, the Prophet's cousin, whom Timur received as an honoured guest and advisor at his Court.

Outside Samarkand, there is a good excursion trip to Shakhrisabz.

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