UBS LLC TOUR Company

18/11/2017

PALACE AK-SARAY
In Shakhrisabz in the era of the Temurids, several monumental buildings were erected. The most majestic of these was the “Ak-Saray” Palace. Its romantic ruins are visible from a far and produce an unforgettable impression. Amir Temur planned to turn Shakhrisabz into a second capital, no less luxurious than Samarkand. The construction of the palace was started in 1380 and was conducted for more than a quarter of a century. It is known that architects and maters from Khorezm, conquered not long before, took part in the construction of the palace. There are several legends connected with the history of this grand building. According to one of them, gold was added to the clay for the first bricks of the royal building.
The scale of construction was truly royal. The Great Sovereign did not regret money. He certainly wanted his buildings to be the largest and best in the sublunary world. It was not for nothing that the inscription on the colossal portal of the palace read: "If you doubt our strength and power, look at our buildings." According to descriptions of contemporaries and on materials of archaeological research, scientists recreated the layout and artistic appearance of Temur's palace. Although Ak-Saray is translated from Uzbek as "White Palace", however in the name of the palace it means "noble, aristocratic". Striking, first of all, the scale of the building. Only the front yard, whose plan was restored, occupied 250 meters in length and 125 meters in width. And the height of the main portal, crowned with arched teeth, reached 70 meters - the size of a twenty-story building. Corner towers in height were not less than 80 meters, and the entrance arch had a span of more than 22 meters.
As Rui Gonzalez de Ducha, Ambassador of the King of Castile at the court of Temur, testified, the main entrance to the palace led through very tall and wide doors "decorated with gold, azure and tiles of very beautiful work. In the middle of the door was a lion depicted in the sun - the emblem of the king of Samarkand ... ". This door led to a ceremonial reception hall. Luxury trim of the palace was complemented by tiled flooring plates, the remains of which were found during archaeological excavations.
The palace served for recreation and entertainment, as well as for the administration of state affairs. On the axis of the courtyard was located a dome-covered room for meetings of the sofa - the State Council. It had on both sides small meeting rooms of advisers - Tawadjibek and sofabacks. Among the palace buildings there was also a harem, richly decorated and lavishly trimmed. In front of him was a shady garden with ponds, lined with patterned tiles. One of the reservoirs was intended for sacred fishes. Water flowed along the lead trough from the nearest mountains.
The decor of Ak-Sarai, sparkling shell covering the walls and vaults of the palace, still admires. Large geometric ornaments on its facades are made mainly of blue and blue glazed bricks. Against the background of polished bricks they twinkle and give the whole structure a special color and majesty. The niche of the portal is decorated with exquisite carved mosaics and majolica and inscriptions from the Koran, executed in hand-writing. The walls of the palace, the palace square were also decorated with a tiled mosaic with a combination of blue, green, yellow and red colors. And the colossal corner tower was encircled with the exhortation uttered by the handwriting of "Kufi": "The Sultan is the shadow of Allah". Among the decorative cladding there is an inscription with the name of master Muhammad Yusuf Tabrizi and the date of performance of works - 798 (1395).
At the end of the XVI century, Shahrisabz rebelled against the Sheibanid domination. And after the siege of the rebellious city Bukharian ruler Abdullahan II ordered to destroy Ak-Saray as well as other constructions of the Temurids. In the 1860s, the ruins of Amir Temur's palace turned out to be inside the Urd, the residence of the Shahrisabz bey. The Ak-Sarai portal decorated the front yard of the Urd with the throne room and the treasury. On the territory of the former royal gardens and ponds was a black courtyard "tashkari" with rooms for nukers, servants and guard. At the eastern entrance to the Ak-Saray Pushkarny Dvor - Tupkhon - was placed. Until now, only the enormous foundations of the portal arch of the palace have survived, but these remnants of the former grandeur still serve as a symbol of the power of the state of Amir Temur.

18/11/2017

Ak-Saray Palace was the Summer Residence of Great Emperor Timur (Tamerlane). It was built in the city where the emperor was born - Shakhrisabz. At its time i...

18/11/2017

"Tilla-kosh" - an elegant Uzbek crown, will decorate and emphasize the outfit of a luxurious bride. Tillakos is decorated with stones and bugles, which gives it a rich shine and luxury.
The Uzbek foreworn decoration of the Tilla-kosh, which was worn on the day of the wedding, was often worn till the birth of the first child. Particular interest is the name of the decoration - "Tilla-kosh". There is still no consensus on its origin. A number of historians says that the name of the decoration "Tilla-kosh" means "golden eyebrows", since its lower part was performed in the form of eyebrows. Other researchers believe that the shape of the Tilla-kosh came from the desire to repeat the wings of the bird in the metal. Also the word "kosh" in its sound is close to the word "kush" (bird). A heavy gold or silver "brace" was decorated with pendants with fine engraving, enamel, glass beads and natural stones. The thick fringe of the pendants jingled at the slightest movement. The first Tilla-kosh did not have a high crown with rich ornaments - it was originally an "eyebrow" with short pendants, and among the "eyebrows" was a large gem - which was called lal. The decoration was supplemented by the temporal pendants of the “zulphizar” and the head scarf or complex turban. Over time, there was a luxurious "superstructure", turning Tilla-kosh into a “kokoshnik” (an ancient Russian headpiece of married women, mostly festive on a firm base in the form of a comb) - they were worn with a handkerchief or a few headscarves. Especially popular Tilla-kosh were in the 90-s of the 19th century, but by the time the Soviet power came to Uzbekistan, almost completely out of fashion.
But still in the people there are many different jewelry products, embodying the properties and decorations, and magic protection, and amulet. Their forms, patterns, symbolism reflect ancient beliefs and ideas about nature, the inseparable connection of the spiritual and material world. Returning to the Tilla-kosh, we note that this national decoration continues to be one of the most refined and favorite adornments of Uzbek women.

17/11/2017

Immm!!! Delicious PILAF of Uzbekistan😋

17/11/2017

Shahi-Zinda – is a necropolis, one of the most mysterious and unique architectural monuments in the north-eastern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It consists of rows of refine sparkling blue colors tombs. Harmoniously combined in a lively and moving composition, various mausoleums are grouped along the narrow medieval streets.
The Shahi-Zinda Ensemble includes mausoleums and other ritual buildings of 9-14th and 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning "The living king") is connected with the legend that Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was buried there. As if he came to Samarkand with the Arab invasion in the 7th century to preach Islam. Popular legends speak that he was beheaded for his faith. But he took his head and went into the deep well (Garden of Paradise), where he's still living now.
The grave of Kusam ibn Abbas attracts to Samarkand many adherents of religious or spiritual tourism, because even in the Middle Ages, a pilgrimage to the grave of "The Living King" was equated to Mecca hajj. According to a legend, water source at the grave possess healing power.
All mausoleums complex Shakhi Zinda form a single composition. Each of them is a square building with a dome, the entrance to which is highlighted by a portico. Is rich in architectural decoration of buildings, which are used irrigation bricks, majolica tiles, carved mosaic.
The last construction is the main entrance to the crypt Shakhi Zinda, which completes the whole ensemble. The inscription on the main entrance reads: "This magnificent building created Abdulazizhanom-son Ulugbek-Guragana, son of Shah Rukh, son of Amir Timur-Guragana in 838 year (1434/35 AD). After rising to 36 steps, you will find yourself on an open gallery. Here the left and right are crypts - the mausoleum of Tamerlane's relatives. The gallery ends with a round courtyard with a vaulted arch. Under it, on the right there is an ancient carved door, which leads to the main shrine of ensemble Shakhi Zinda - Mausoleum of Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. There is a legend about him as the Shakhi Zinda, the Living King.

16/11/2017

The fortress of the ARC which is situated in Bukhara city (IV BC - XIX century) - in the Middle Ages was a whole city with the emir's palace, mint, mosques, government institutions, warehouses, shops, a prison and a square for public gatherings.

The fortress is located on a bulk hill about 20 meters high. Its area is 4.2 hectares. According to the plan, the Arch is a closed polygon. It is surrounded on all sides by a fortified wall, the construction time of which refers to the last two or three centuries. It was rebuilt many times and repaired.

The entrance to the Arch is a ramp, or a gradual climbing path that leads through an indoor long corridor to the Jami Mosque.

On the left side of the corridor there are rooms for water and sand. Some of the premises were converted into cells for prisoners. All the buildings in the Arch belong to the 17-20th centuries, that is, to the rule of the Uzbek dynasties. At that time, the Arch served as the seat of the rulers of the city, and later - the khans, emirs, bureaucratic aristocracy and military leaders. At the beginning of the 20th century, up to 3 thousand people lived in the Arch.

From Jami mosque, a narrow street led past the courtyard of the first minister (kush-begi) to a small dome - Chars, where the entrance to the courtyard of greetings opens. Here the emir received his officials and visitors. To the right of Chars were the Emir stables. On the stables there were nagorahora, which served as a place for guard and orchestra. In the lower part of it there is a gravestone attributed to the founder of Arch - Siyavush.

On the left side of Chars there is a large paved courtyard - kurynyshana. Here, there were ceremonies for the reception of ambassadors and the coronation of emirs. On three sides the yard was surrounded by a wooden aivan. At the entrance stood a mosaic portal (1605). On the eastern side of the courtyard under the wooden canopy was a marble throne made of carved Nurata stone.

The entire eastern half of the Arch is now destroyed. This is an archaeological reserve. But here there are two buildings. In the northern part - Childukhtaran associated with the legend of forty girls, tortured and thrown into the well by Nasrullah Khan. On the southern slope there is an unknown building.

From the panorama of the city and its environs. At present, the Regional Museum of Local Lore is located in the Arch.

16/11/2017

Uzbek national clothes are very bright, beautiful and cozy. Uzbek clothes are a part of rich cultural traditions and life style of Uzbek people. In urban places it is uncommon to meet people in traditional Uzbek clothes, now it is worn on traditional festivities and holidays. But in rural places it is still a part of everyday and holiday garments.

15/11/2017

One of the most demanded and favourite tour to Uzbekistan by travellers is Camel Trip. Camel Trip in Uzbekistan lets you feel yourself being dropped back for several hundred years ago, riding a camel caravan under the hot sun. In the deserts of Uzbekistan you will have the mysterious and unforgettable experience of trekking the ocean of pure sand with camel shadows on it in the sunset

15/11/2017

This is true: “In the East, in the East, what a life without a chaykhana! "- as the group "Yalla” has been singing for years! After all, indeed, the chaykhana (teahouse) is one of the synonyms of Central Asia, it is the soul and peaceful breath of the East, it is an inseparable part of colorful bazaars and an intimate corner of quiet streets.
The word "chaykhana" ("chaykhona", "choykhona") comes from two constituent words - choy (tea), here and without translation it is clear, and the words "khona" "room", t.e. literally "the tea room".
Chaykhana – for many centuries enjoys year-round demand - in winter people warm themselves with hot tea, and during the hot summer they escape from the heat by the same - hot tea. Unfortunately, today in the mahallas it is rarely possible to meet a real, ancient chaykhana - they were replaced by new-fashioned cafes and restaurants, architecture, service, samovars on charcoal have long been replaced by electric kettles. But the color remained - it's a trestle near the irrigation ditch or a pond with cool water, covered with kurpachas, hot tea, singing quail (bedana) and the atmosphere of leisurely oriental hospitality. You must certainly have a meal in Uzbek chaykhana during your visit.

14/11/2017

The Aral Sea is a formerly undrained Salt Lake in Central Asia, located on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s, the level of the sea began to decline rapidly because of the diversion of water for irrigation purposes from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.
Several port cities, such as Aralsk, suddenly found themselves far from the sea, and many ships were abandoned. You’ll find about a dozen ships of different sizes. Many of the ships here have been partly dismantled for scrap metal, and others are slowly rusting away.
You won’t find as many ships here as the Muynak ship graveyard on the other side of the Aral sea in Uzbekistan and it is worth stopping for a visit.

11/11/2017