After spending a relaxing 11 days in the bustling city of Dushanbe, we jumped into a shared taxi and set off for Samarkand. Although the journey was supposed to take around 7 and a half hours, it ended up being 11 hours long due to numerous police checkpoints along the way. We finally arrived at our destination around 6:00 p.m. and checked into our guesthouse.
Ever since we planned this trip, we couldn’t stop thinking about the ancient and stunning city of Samarkand. Fellow travelers along the Central Asian trail spoke about the city with awe. Known for its rich architectural heritage, Samarkand truly lived up to its reputation.
In the 14th century, a fierce ruler named Timur Tamerlane came to power in Uzbekistan. Like Genghis Khan, Timur was infamous for his ruthless conquests. However, unlike the Mongolian leader, Timur didn’t bring any sense of justice with him—only violence and destruction. Nevertheless, he left behind more than just a legacy of warfare; he built the magnificent city of Samarkand with the wealth he amassed from his plundering expeditions. Today, Samarkand stands as a testament to the prosperity of that era and the incredible skills of the architects who designed it.
We started our first day early, eager to explore the ancient town. Samarkand is home to many famous sites, but none more grand than the Registan—a massive complex in the heart of the old town that can be seen from miles away. Entering the Registan, we were greeted by three enormous mausoleums, each with its own unique design and intricate mosaic tile work. The tall, leaning minarets added to the breathtaking morning view.
After exploring the Registan, we thought we had seen the best of Samarkand, but every site was so impressive that we could easily spend four days here without getting bored. Next, we visited Bibi-Khanym, once the tallest mosque in the world, along with the tombs across the street bearing the same name.
As we left the tombs, another architectural marvel caught our eye—Hazrat-Hizer Mosque, perched on a hill above a busy street corner. Like other mosques in the old town, the interior of Hazrat-Hizer dazzled with intricate brushstrokes and immaculate tile patterns. The views from the mosque’s outer courtyard were spectacular, offering a perfect panoramic view of Samarkand’s pristine and well-preserved buildings.
After two days of exploring, we decided to take a break at a hammam to relax. However, our hammam experience was far from what we expected. Unlike Turkish baths or Kazakh bathhouses, this local hammam was a place for those without home showers to bathe. Entering the men’s area barefoot (since we forgot our sandals), we were greeted by a crowded space where men were shaving and scrubbing areas we never thought we’d see cleaned in public. We didn’t stay long.
Following the hammam, we wandered through an old cemetery and ended up at the Avenue Of Mausoleums. This picturesque site featured nearly 20 mausoleums lined up with a beautiful cobblestone walkway between them. As we walked quietly down the ancient alley, we marveled at the towering ancient structures and wondered how such colossal and opulent buildings were constructed with basic technology.
We spent hours at the Avenue, watching as the setting sun enhanced the colors on each mausoleum’s facade. On our last night in Samarkand, after four incredible days, we had one final site to visit—the Gur-E-Amir Mausoleum. According to the Lonely Planet Guide, this mausoleum is best seen at night. As the sun set, a guard turned on the floodlights, revealing why the guide suggested a nighttime visit. The mosque’s dome lit up, shining emerald blue against the night sky, while the outer tiles glowed like Christmas lights. The interior was equally stunning, with golden Arabic letters illuminated in the artificial light. Gur-E-Amir is the only place in Samarkand that lights up like this at night, giving it a unique and enchanting presence.
Overall, our four nights in Samarkand were magical, filled with visits to mosques, mausoleums, hammams, and tombs, each with its unique charm. The city’s architecture is so impressive that it rivals even the Pyramids of Giza. Samarkand truly is a city of wonder that everyone should try to visit.