Journey Through Uzbekistan - Travel Documentary

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Uzbekistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries, and is a diverse and fascinating travel destination. At the heart of the historic Silk Road, this land has long evoked the imagination of traders, explorers, and adventurers. And today offers travelers an intriguing blend of traditions, culture, food, architecture, and friendly, welcoming people.

In this video, I take you back to one of my favorite journeys, all the way back in 2013, when I had the chance to visit this beautiful and mysterious Central Asian country.

From the striking Silk Road monuments of ancient Bukhara, to the narrow alleyways of charming Khiva. From the traditional workshops in the small villages of the fertile Fergana Valley, to the modern streets of capital city Tashkent. And from the stunning architecture of Samarkand’s mosques and mausoleums, to some fantastic train journeys through the desert landscapes of the country.

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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:

We begin our journey Samarkand, one of the great cities along the ancient Silk Road. The majestic Registan Square is at the heart of today’s city, and includes three madrasas (Islamic schools), which served as learning and trading centers. While the delicate Shah-i-Zinda contains some of the richest tilework in the region in its beautiful Avenue of the Mausoleum. We visit a few other landmark structures, before exploring the bustling bazaar, where we get a glimpse of daily life in the city.

We continue our way to Khiva, often overlooked due to its distance from central Uzbekistan. The historic heart of this small town, with its mud-walled streets, is so well preserved it’s often called an open-air museum.

Our next destination is the Fergana Valley, the ‘fruit and vegetable basket’ of the country. The colorful bazaars and farmers markets are a prime attraction for tourists, but we also visit several traditional workshops. These include the Yodgorlik Silk factory, where most of the silk production is still done by hand, and the town of Rishton, where an estimated 1,000 artists and workers create some of Uzbekistan’s finest ceramics and pottery.

For a look at modern Uzbekistan, we head to Tashkent, the nation’s capital, and one of Central Asia’s business and transportation hubs. This sprawling city is full of contrasts, providing visitors with an intriguing mix of ancient monuments, Soviet and Russian architecture, and contemporary squares and buildings. Probably my favorite places to visit in Tashkent, however, are the vibrant Chorsu bazaar, and the Plov Center, a popular restaurant serving Central Asia’s most famous dish.

We finish our travels in Bukhara, to admire its beautifully preserved historic center. This city has long been a center for culture, trade, and religion, and is full of remarkable monuments. As we wander the streets and alleys of the old town, we also come across artists creating finely detailed paintings and handicrafts.

Timestamps / video chapters:

0:00 Introduction
1:26 Samarkand
5:40 Khiva
7:30 Message from sponsor
9:42 Fergana Valley
14:39 Getting around (transportation)
16:03 Tashkent
20:03 Bukhara
22:44 End