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About Uzbekistan

About Country Cheat Sheet

Formal Name:

Republic of Uzbekistan

Location of Kazakhstan:

Capital:

Tashkent

Demonym:

Uzbekistanis

Area:

447,400Sq Km

Population:

34,036,800

Ethnic Groups:

Tatar

Languages:

Uzbeki Arabic

Religion:

Other

Currency:

Uzbek som (UZS, som)

Best Time To Visit:

Sep-Nov

Calling Code:

998

Drives On:

right

Visa on Arrival:

Major Cities:

Administrative and Territorial Structure:

Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakistan, 12 regions, 226 cities and districts.

Land Boundaries:

Total: 6.221 km, Border Countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2.203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1.099 km, Tajikistan 1.161 km, Turkmenistan 1.621 km

Details

Uzbekistan Geography & Nature

Uzbekistan is a dry and doubly landlocked country in Central Asia. Uzbekistan Geography comprises of an area of 447,400 of the country. This makes Uzbekistan 56th largest country in the world and 4th largest among the CIS countries in terms of area. Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan to the north, Aral Sea to the northwest, Turkmenistan to the southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast and Kyrgyzstan to the Northeast. Uzbekistan has also borders with Afghanistan to the south. Uzbekistan’s vast area is desert and mountains and has less than 10% of its area engaged in irrigation in the river valleys and oases.

Talking of Uzbekistan Nature the country has diverse and healthy natural environment but pollution of air and water is there in the country.

Uzbekistan Climate & Weather

The Climate in Uzbekistan is dry and Uzbekistan Climate is classified as continental. This is felt in both summers and winters in Uzbekistan. The summer is hot here with average temperature of 40° C. Winter is also quite cold in Uzbekistan with average temperature around -2° C but may well below up to -40 °C as well. July and August are the hottest month while January is the coldest month in Uzbekistan.

So, clearly Uzbekistan Weather can be extreme. But this is only for a little period and in certain parts of the country. Otherwise weather is generally good. One can travel to Uzbekistan when Uzbekistan has best weather conditions. This is during spring and autumn from April to May and September to early November.

History of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan territory has the longest history of human habitation. This is said that from Old Stone Age humans lived in here what is now known as Uzbekistan. The country sitting between two large rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya is one of the oldest nations with human habitation in the world. This made Uzbekistan History ages old which is full of great individuals, the invasions from rulers outside, the rebels from Uzbek people and standing on its own after all of this. Only in recent times Uzbekistan got independence in 1991 from long rule of Soviet Union.

Beautiful people in the history of Uzbekistan created beautiful cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and few more. Today the historical architects can be experienced in the old buildings of the country. Uzbekistan played a huge role in trade on Silk Road for centuries. People used the place as connecting point of Asia and the west. Great craft works created here were traded in the west and east through Silk Road. Uzbekistan still plays a key role when new silk route is being created.

Uzbekistan Culture & Traditions

Since Uzbekistan is ages old, so millions of people lived here both who came and settled here and also those who attacked the land and lived for substantial amount of time. This made Uzbekistan Culture full of influence of various nations settled on the land of modern Uzbekistan. Currently, Uzbek culture is a wide mix of ethnic groups where Uzbeks are in majority.

Uzbekistan tradition is very rich. Uzbek people are truly welcoming by nature. This comes from the traditions of Uzbek families where elders were respected and it has been followed for generations. They generally have a large families living together. Inviting and welcoming guests is an inherent part of Uzbek culture. In Uzbek traditions art and craft also passed from generation to generation. Uzbek craftsmen created unique design on several products like home utensils, special utensils, home decoration and fabrics. Thus rich culture of Uzbekistan is a profound mix of people with great values and their ability to create unique piece of arts. You can still observe the greatness of their architecture in the monuments of Uzbekistan where everything like colourful tiles, rich ornamentation, carpet weaving, colourful embroideries etc. exude the richness of Uzbek tradition.

Uzbekistan Food & Cuisine

Uzbekistan food is a way of life for Uzbek people. They love to cook, eat and invite guests to cook food for them. They still love to follow cooking style followed by their ancestors while cooking food to serve their guests. Any one visiting Uzbekistan has to try variety of Uzbek food. Hot soups (shurpa) keep an important place in the Uzbek meals. Soups are dense, spicy, with lots of vegetables and greens as a rule. Bread and noodles are also two major parts of Uzbek food. Palov or Plov made with rice, meat pieces, grated carrots and onion is the main course in Uzbekistan.

Meat dishes are important part of Uzbek cuisine. These dishes are seasoned with Uzbek spices. Some of these dishes are pilaf, cutlets, shashlik, manti, kebab, lagman, samsa and all sorts of pies with meat, rice, pumpkin and other fillings. Uzbek people serve meat is with vegetable salads. Mutton is also very popular in Uzbekistan and it is a part of various Uzbek dishes as well.

Languages of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan uses Turkic language of the Qarluq family also known as Uzbek language. Uzbek as a language has a short history and is different from other Turkic dialects.

Interesting Facts About Uzbekistan:

1. Uzbekistan’s Muruntan gold mine is one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world.
2. In Uzbekistan, handshakes are only acceptable if it is between two men and you don't shake the left hand.
3. The way to greet an Uzbek woman is by bowing to her with your right hand placed over your heart.
4. It is Uzbek tradition that the most respected guest be seated farthest from the house’s entrance.
5. The Uzbeks believe that turning bread upside down will bring you bad fortune.
6. According to an ancient tradition, a member of the family who is set to go on a journey has to take a bite from a small piece of Uzbek bread. The remaining bread is then kept buried or hidden until the traveler returns home.
7. Elders are respected in Uzbek culture. At the dusterhon, younger guests will not make themselves more comfortable than their elders. The younger person should always greet the older first.
8. Religion: Uzbekistan has almost 88% Muslims, and hardly 5% of them practice it. There is tolerance for all other religions.
9. Parents, when they grow old, live with the youngest son of the family. Rest of the kids will get married and move out to a new place.
10. Uzbekistan had great scientists and scholars hundreds of years ago.
i) Ibn Sina, a polymath, his famous works are The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine which were used as a text-book in european universities as late as 1650.
ii) Al Khwarizmi was a mathematician, astronomer and geographer. The term Algorithm and Algebra are derived from his name which shows his important contributions to mathematics.
iii) Al Biruni was a historian, chronologist and linguist. He was known as the first anthropologist and father of geodesy for his contributions to geography. There is also a crater in the moon named after him.
11. Uzbekistan produces the world's biggest melons.
12. More than 25% of Uzbekistan GDP consists of remittances from almost 4 million Uzbek citizens living and working outside of the country.

Tourism

Uzbekistan Tourism

Uzbekistan is a country with potential tourism as it linked the eastern and western civilization. In modern-day Uzbekistan, there are over two millions artifacts, evidence of the social, cultural, historical life of the people who have lived in this region. The country has long been attracting visitors with its archaeological, architectural and natural treasures. One of the major forms of product which have contributed to its tourism is cultural tourism where Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva have been the major spots of tourism. There are also major tourist activities which range from rock climbing to exploration of historical and archaeological sites.

Tashkent Tourism

Tashkent is the hub of Central Asia and the capital city of Uzbekistan. It’s a newly built capital with one part of it still having some remains of the Soviet and the other is sleep old Uzbek town. The country is filled with fascinating things to see and explore over several days. At first, the country may not charm many visitors but you will be surprised to see that the country offers the best museums, restaurants and a fun hip nightlife.

Different Types of Tourism in Uzbekistan

1. Historical Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is rich in its historical tourism and Samarkand is one of its pearls and of the East as well. There are great interesting and fascinating monuments of architecture and culture in this region. Samarkand with its Registan, Gur-Emir and Shah-i-Zinda, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Ark citadel, Samanid Mausoleum, Bukhara with its Po-i-Kalyan Complex and Lyabi Khauz Ensemble along with its mosques, minarets, madrasahs walls and gates are sites of tourism.

2. Cultural Tourism in Uzbekistan

A large number of tourists have been visiting the country because of its cultural-based interest. There are a large number of cultural and religious that devotees come to visit places such as Sheihantaur, Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo and Mausoleum of Zangiata in Tashkent or Bakhauddin Ensemble in Bukhara, Saif ed-Din Bokharzi Mausoleum, Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum and many others monuments in Bukhara are related to Sufism. The country's culture and religion are filled with Islamic roots.

3. Nature Tourism in Uzbekistan

The natural resource in Uzbekistan is incredibly diverse and unique due to its landforms. As the country lies right in the heart of Central Asia, it is located between the rivers of Syrdarya and Amudarya. The country’s land is mostly flat with the largest plain being the Kyzylkum Desert. There are fewer mountains and more deserts. There’s also nature reserve at this desert which includes many rare animals.

4. Sports and Adventure Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is full of opportunities for adventure tourism with exciting walking trips and risk climbing. As the country is full of steppes and deserts, it’s an ideal place for jeep safari where you can camp by the desert and everyday ride through many kilometres of rock and sand. There’s also skiing activities in the foothills of Chimgan Mountains during the winter time.

5. Honeymoon Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a very safe country and a good destination for a honeymoon. There are a number of good places to explore for couples which can be memorable and something different from most countries. At places like Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand, you can stay at the hotels which will take to you back to the Arabian night fairy tale land. There are also a lot of romantic outdoors you can find just outside these cities.

6. MICE Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a developing country in terms of business tourism, and over the years it has been a favourable destination for MICE. There are a number of hotels, business centre and restaurants which are on the international level for holding meetings, conferences etc. And, there’s also a lot to discover in the country as every year there are always a large number of conferences, exhibitions that take place in the country.

7. Health and Wellness Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has a pleasant climate with an abundance of fresh air, warmth, nature etc. All these factors make the country favourable suitable for someone who is looking to heal and improve their health and spirituality. With so many reservoirs, they become the healing property along with modern technology, the spa and wellness facilities are available in much health-improving resort with wonderful surrounding and in close proximity to nature.

8. Culinary Tourism in Uzbekistan

It’s a popular belief in Uzbekistan, to know the customs and culture of the people; you need to try their national dishes. Uzbekistan’s food and the cuisine reflect the diversity and traditions of the country as it has old-centuries recipes. Tea is always served to guest in every house and the way of making food is different from restaurants and shops. The main dish of Uzbekistan is Pilav which is also part of any festival.

9. Nightlife Tourism in Uzbekistan

The country of Uzbekistan offers an extraordinary and elating nightlife. There are a number of bars, restaurants, clubs, discos techs etc which you can have an incredible time. In Bukhara, there’s a different scene of nightlife with a couple of nice wine shops found in ancient structure shops. Samarkand is another great city to experience nightlife as it has some nice bistros and blue bars that stay open until midnight.

10. Winter Tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is an attractive place for mountain skiing. Just a few kilometres away from Tashkent city, there are the mountain slopes of Chimghan where a blanket of snow covers the area and meet the skiing standards for such activity. There are also beautiful resorts around the area of Ugham and national Wild Park.

Travel Guide

Uzbekistan Tour and Travel Guide

Uzbekistan is a potential holiday destination which stands out from most of the countries in central Asia. It’s become so popular for what history has left behind it, and most people are intrigued by the ancient Silk Road or even explore three of the routes important cities such as Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand which were the top trading places. Today, these three cities are the most visited places in the country for their minarets, hypnotic mosaics and voluptuous domes. The country altogether is home to many architectures and ancient cities infused by the history of Silk Road.

Tashkent Tour and Travel Guide

Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan which was destroyed in 1966 by an earthquake. With the Soviet ruling the country, it restored and built the city back to place. As a result of which a charming city was alive with many Russian architectures and 12-century mosques are a witness along with some building and statues. The Wall city of Khiva is a beautiful and extravagant site which is now a living museum of the country that is well protected by UNESCO till today.

1. Penny Wise Uzbekistan

Items	Price in Uzbek Som	Price in Dollars ($)
Meal for 2, in inexpensive Restaurant	25000	10.4
Meal for 2, in mid range Restaurant, Three-course	72000	30
Combo Meal at Big Burger	25000	10.4
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) also called Sharbat	4500	1.9
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	8000	3.3
Cappuccino (regular)	6000	2.5
Coke/Pepsi (0.5 liter bottle)	3000	1.25
Coke/Pepsi (1.0 liter bottle)	5000	2.1
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1500	0.63
Bottle of local Wine (Mid-Range)	6000	2.5
Pack of Cigarettes (Kent)	4000	1.66
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	1000	0.42
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)	1000	0.42
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	1500	0.63

* Prices are our approximation and may vary slightly.
* Prices are market prices of articles and may vary at restaurants and hotels.

2. Accommodation in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan offers a number of accommodations houses for staying at a reasonable price. There are a number of hotels available in the city which ranges from luxury one to budget hotels. If you want to travel on a budget there are apartment rentals and hostel which are reasonable and easy to find all over the country.

3. Transportation in Uzbekistan

If you want to tour the big cities, you can hire car services in the country but there are very few of them. You can also get a shared taxi to travel places or even if you want to explore the outskirts of the city, the taxis will have their destination marked on a board so that you will not get lost when you board the cab. There are rails linking many of the cities with two rail stations in Tashkent.

4. Shopping in Uzbekistan

Most of the shopping area is in the capital city, Tashkent where you will find a number of small shop and boutiques selling carpets, clothes, textile etc. There are also traditional bazaars and malls in the city for branded items. In areas of Khiva and Bukhara, there are traditional items available in their markets. Know more about Shopping places in Uzbekistan.

5. Best Time to Visit Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is at its best in the spring and autumn season, i.e. April to May and September to November. It’s warm during these seasons and dry, but the heat is not scorching as it is during summer time. Around November, it can start getting cold but it will not reach any freezing point yet.

6. Uzbekistan Travel Tips

• Visa-fee starts from 55-150 USD.
• Visa is issued for up to one month.
• Get a travel insurance.
• The currency is Uzbek SUM.
• Keep cash safe and hidden.
• It shares a boundary with 5 countries.
• Alcohol is allowed.
• Learn some Russian.
• Try eating Plov
• Hotels, guest houses are available in abundant.

7. Uzbekistan Flight Connections (Flight to Tashkent)

The main international airport in Tashkent International Airport, as it is well connected to Europe, Asia and Middle East countries. Samarkand is the second biggest airport in the country. If you are flying from India, Uzbekistan airways are the carrier which will land directly into the airport with ease. Sometimes, it has connecting routes as well.

Destination: Tashkent-Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Pickup & Drop: Delhi International Airport, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport Amritsar
Mode of Travel (Flight Details): Fixed Departure for Tashkent

Flight Connections: There are direct flights to Tashkent on Uzbekistan Airways from Delhi as well as Amritsar.

8. Uzbekistan Tour FAQs

If you have any query about Uzbekistan Tourism, Tourist Destinations in Uzbekistan, Visa Process, and other related tour information then checkout here Frequently Asked Questions of Uzbekistan.

Visa Information

Uzbekistan Visa Policy & Information

• Visa: Normal visa process takes 10 working days. For urgent visa minimum 5 working days are required.
• The process is though acquiring Letter of Invitation from Uzbekistan after which Uzbek visas are stamped on passports at the Uzbekistan embassy in Delhi.

Visit here for more details about Uzbekistan Visa!