Friends, we find ourselves once again in the enchanting city of Samarkand. Its architectural monuments can be rightfully called the main attractions of Uzbekistan. Among the most famous landmarks of the city, I would highlight the Registan Ensemble, one of the most popular places in ancient Samarkand among tourists.
How to Get There
Samarkand is a relatively small city, and many of its attractions can be easily reached on foot from the central part. There is no metro in the city, but getting to Registan is convenient by taxi or public transport, and it is quite inexpensive.
Visitors to the complex have two options: some come here just to look at the square from behind the fence. In this case, the sightseeing is free, and the low fence allows taking several overview photos of the architectural monuments of Registan.
To enter the territory, you will need to buy a ticket; in November 2023, it cost 50,000 Uzbekistani soms. I paid an additional 30,000 soms for photography with a professional camera. Both cash and international credit cards are accepted at the ticket office.
A Bit of History
Registan is a general name for ceremonial squares in Central Asian cities. The most famous of them is called Registan in Samarkand. According to information from books, the name itself also came from Samarkand's Registan. In translation, this word means "place of sand" or "sandy field."
The attraction is an open area surrounded by high madrasas on three sides. In the distant past, the central market of Samarkand and the homes of wealthy townspeople were located in the area of Registan.
The formation of the square in its modern form began in the first half of the 15th century when Ulugh Beg's madrasa appeared here; this building is located in the western part of the complex. According to legend, the astronomer and mathematician Ulugh Beg himself taught here; he was the ruler of Samarkand and the grandson of Amir Timur. During the scientist's lifetime, there was an observation platform for astronomical observations here.
The other two madrasas, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori, were built in the 17th century. The names of the buildings translate as "having lions" and "gilded," respectively. The first name is associated with the fact that there is an image of a tiger attacking a deer on the portal of Sher-Dor madrasa. The second name is a reference to the large amount of gilding used in the construction of Tilya-Kori madrasa.
Over the long history of the complex, its buildings underwent several restorations and reconstructions. For example, in 1932, work was carried out to straighten the minaret of Ulugh Beg's madrasa after an earthquake. The Russian engineer Shukhov, whom I mentioned in the article about the Bukhara water tower, was involved in these works.
Today, the territory of all three madrasas is open to visitors. There are souvenir shops and exhibitions here, telling the history of these places. I was invited to climb one of the minarets, but unfortunately, there was no time for that, as I had to look at several other attractions of the city.
The next article of mine on Samarkand will be dedicated to the semi-ruined mausoleum of Ishratkhona. It is one of the non-touristic landmarks of the city.
Have a nice trip!
