18 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Uzbekistan - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Uzbekistan

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Muynak District, Uzbekistan

Moynaq

Once a bustling fishing port, this semi-ghost town is now more than 90 miles away from the shore.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Ulugh Beg Observatory

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

Xiva, Uzbekistan

Walls of Itchan Kala

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Kalyan Minaret

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Kokand, Uzbekistan

Khan's Palace

Final palace complex of the last of 29 Kokand rulers.

Beruni, Uzbekistan

Elliq-Qala

These "50 Fortresses" have been unearthed in the ancient oasis of Khwarezm.

Kantubek, Uzbekistan

Vozrozhdeniye Island

Former island in the Aral Sea used to be a top-secret Russian bio-weapons facility.

See All 18 Things to Do in Uzbekistan See All 18 Places

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Central Asian Plov Center

Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Silk Road Cities of Central Asia

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Stories About Uzbekistan

Qurt at the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Make the Ancient Road Snack of Central Asian Nomads

Qurt is salty, long-lasting, and packed with protein.

by Susie Armitage

Two fishing vessels nestled in the sands near the former seaport city of Moynaq, Uzbekistan.

Why It's So Hard to Study the Toxic Dust Blowing From Earth's Youngest Desert

It all comes down to something scientists call "ground truth."

by Jonathan Carey

Koryo Saram meal, photographed in Ushtobe, Kazakhstan.

How Survivors of Stalinism Created a New Korean-Fusion Cuisine

When the Koryo Saram were forcibly relocated, they forged new identities.

September 10, 2018

Two vendors at the Bukhara bazaar sell melons.

Tracing the Overlooked Legacy of the Silk Road's Fruits and Nuts

A new archaeobotanical study is helping shift the historical record.

August 16, 2018

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