Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country with a turbulent history. In recent history, it was part of the former Soviet republics. But centuries ago, it was an important part of the infamous Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe.
Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan to the north and Afghanistan to the south. It lies inland and is known for its historic mosques and tombs, including the Registan, considered a landmark of 15th-century Islamic architecture. It is located in the legendary city of Samarkand, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. You’ll also find the tomb of Timur, or Timur, one of the most murderous rulers of the 14th century.
Camels used to be the main form of transportation in Uzbekistan. But in the 1860s, after the Russian Empire annexed it, a vast rail network was built and is still in use today. It can be seen that from the lush green areas in the east to the dry and sandy deserts in the west, the Silk Road Express is still the most popular and efficient way to travel.
The trains are often crowded and can get very hot, but Uzbeks are used to it, wallowing in the heat and enjoying freshly prepared piping hot meals and endless cups of hot tea. Stops include the capital Tashkent, which mixes modern and Soviet architecture and design, and Bukhara, once home to a large Jewish community.
Uzbekistan’s stunning landscape includes the Gisar Mountains, which are considered the western foothills of the Himalayas. It features rugged but stunning landscapes and some of the deepest caves in the world, including the so-called Timur Cave, where Timur, or Tamerlane, is said to have hidden an entire army before conquering all of Central Asia.
Finally, in the north of the country is the area known as the Aralkum Desert. It’s a large area of eroded sand, but what’s even more interesting is that it was once home to the Aral Sea, the fourth largest lake in the world. Over the past 50 years, the Amu Darya, its source, has been diverted to irrigate cotton and has thus slowly dried up. Today, scientists put a huge effort into planting plants and other vegetation in the desert to prevent further erosion.
Thanks to ancient train travel, it is possible to go back in time and experience the mysticism of the Silk Roads, celebrating a heritage that the people of Uzbekistan can still feel today.
Directed by: Michael Höft
