Onward to Bukhara, Uzbekistan

We left Khiva this morning for a six-hour drive to Bukhara, a city of about 300,000 and a major centre of the Silk Road. The drive was fine because the roads were good. We checked into our guest house in the old town and soon set out with our leader to get oriented. (We’ll have a formal walking tour with a guide tomorrow morning.)

Bukhara’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for being one of the best places in Central Asia for a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan. You can read more about it here:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/602/

A stand out is the minaret. When it was built in 1127, the Kalon Minaret was probably the tallest building in Central Asia – 47 metres - and has stood for almost nine centuries. Genghis Khan was so dumbfounded by it that he ordered it spared while his troops ransacked the rest of the city.

There’s a deep artisan heritage here as well. We saw metal working, embroidery, puppetry and painting. It’s vibrant and colourful.

Given it’s already late September, we were somewhat surprised at how busy it is with tourists. There’s no doubt that Europeans are discovering The Stans, and Uzbekistan in particular. So fortunate to be here now before it gets overrun with tourists.Read more