Few places are as mythical and as evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand, standing in the heart of Uzbekistan. The magnificent monuments and mosques scattered throughout the city have inspired poets and artists for hundreds of years – and continue to do so. Today, Timur’s (Tamerlane) constructions are surrounded by a Soviet-style city, but […]
The desert castles of ancient Khorezm, Uzbekistan
The valleys of Khorezm have seen their fair share of brutal and barbaric history. Once, mighty fortresses dotted the landscape, fighting for control of what used to be very fertile lands. While driving through the harsh desert of Khorezm it is very difficult to imagine that this was one of the richest areas in Uzbekistan, […]
The Silk Road desert splendour of Khiva, Uzbekistan
The massive walls of Khiva inspired and terrified Silk Road travellers throughout the centuries. Laying on a fertile oasis next to the Amu-Darya river and surrounded by the deadly desert, this medieval city attracted the riches of the Silk Road caravans as well as envy from neighbouring khans and desert robbers. Having being in such […]
Travelling back in time in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Bukhara’s abundant mosques, minarets and madrassas make it one of the holiest places along the Silk Road. Bukhara is one of the few cities in Uzbekistan, beside Samarkand and Khiva, that survived Russification under the Tsars and the Soviet rule, and kept the feel of a true Silk Road city. With two or three days, […]
5 most beautiful dzongs and temples of Bhutan
Buddhism and spirituality are an integral part of Bhutan’s identity. So, it is no surprise that the most magnificent woodwork and stonework can be found in religious architecture. There are dzongs (fortresses), goembas (monasteries) and lhakhangs (temples) dotted throughout the Himalayan landscape – on top of hills, in hidden valleys, and perched on cliffs – […]
