Uzbekistan’s cities : Uzbekistan

Khiva is situated north of Uzbekistan, in the ancient cultural oasis – Khorezm, the name of which means “Earth of Sun” and was first remarked in the I millennium BC, in holy book of Zoroastrians Avesta as «Hvairizem». Khorezm state was founded on the bank of the great river Amu-Darya and it is of the same age as Urartu and Babylon. Khiva was a favorite place of many travelers and caravans as it was always supplied with water.

Bukhara, one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia, is located on the left coast of Zerafshan river. Such epithets as “Noble Bukhara”, “Star of Muslims world” and “Paradise of the East” were given to this city by several philosophers of different epochs.  And that is true! Bukhara has been a center of science and art, handicraft and trade for a long time. The city had a profitable geographical location on the cross of trade roads. Branches of the Great Silk Road connecting China and India, Persia and Europe, lied through the Bukhara. It markets were overladen with several spices, jewelry, knifes made from precious metals, many-colored silk and cotton fabrics, carpets and etc.

Samarkand is one of the most ancient and most beautiful cities of the world, really a unique treasury of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the East. During all its rich history Samarkand was known under different names; the city was called Sogdiana, Marakanda, Afrosiab.
The age of Samarkand in its cultural bottom layers goes back to the 1st millennium B.C. The ruins of Sogdiana, the chief town of the ancient country Sogd, are stored in these layers.

Nurata city is located in Navoi province in the foothills of Nurata Mountains. The city name originated from the name of one of the spurs of Gissar-Alai mountain ridge, going down to the Kyzylkum desert. The highest top of the Nurata mountain chain is mount Hayatbashi , 2169 meters high.

Kokand city is located in the east of Uzbekistan and at the southwestern edge of the Fergana Valley, 404 meters over the sea level. The first information about Kokand was contained in records of Chinese dignitary Chjan Tzyan. He arrived with diplomatic mission to the state of Davan, which was located on the territory of a present Fergana valley, in 138 B.C. In his report to Chinese emperor Chjan Tzyan described a city of Kanguy, which could be an ancient predecessor of Kokand.  As other many cities of Uzbekistan, Kokand played a role of important junction on the Great Silk Road and such position caused its cultural and economic development.  Kokand was known as “Kawakend” (“Pleasant city”) in X century. City was destroyed by Chingiz khan’s hordes in XIII century.

Termez is situated on the right bank of the famous Amudarya River, at a height of 302 meters above sea level. Termez is one of the ancient towns in the world which is more than 2500 years old. It is the southernmost town of Uzbekistan and lies in the zone of sharply continental climate where summer is hot and long, winter is warm and short-term. The average temperature in Termez is +16 +18 oC in July and – 2, 8 – 3, 6 oC in January.

Like the other Central Asian cities, Termez has also rich historical background.

Shahrisabz is one of the ancient towns of the world, the coeval of Rome and Athens, Samarkand and Jerusalem. Thanks to its favorable geographical position Shahrisabz was one of the important trading points of the Great Silk Road. The town is the native land of the talented statesman and the brave commander Amir Timur who established a mighty centralized state in the XIVth century.