Central Asia - History and Architecture

The Silk Road! In 2019, we made a 4,500 km overland trip through Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan), before flying to Nur Sultan - see map. It was an incredible trip, with amazing history, architecture and landscapes. Here's some photos of architectural and/or historical sites from our trip. Key places visited along the route were (Turkmenistan:) Ashgabat, Nisa*, Darvaza, Anau, Merv*, (Uzbekistan:) Bukhara*, Samarkand*, Shakhrisabz*, Termez, (Tajikistan:) Dushanbe, Iskander Kul, Khujand, (Uzbekistan:) Kokand, Margilan, (Kyrgyzstan:) Osh*, Arslan Bob, Chychkan Gorge, Tian Shan mountains*, Kyzyl Oi, Son Kol Lake, Bishkek, (Kazakstan:) Almaty, Nur Sultan. Many thanks to Alejandro and all the local guides for the expert guiding. Incredible! (* = UNESCO World Heritage Site)

National Museum, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
National Museum, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Monument Of Neutrality, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Monument Of Neutrality, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Monument to the Independence, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Monument to the Independence, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Empty Berkarar Shopping Mall, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Empty Berkarar Shopping Mall, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Empty street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Empty street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Nisa, Turkmenistan
Nisa, Turkmenistan
Turkmenbashy Mosque, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Turkmenbashy Mosque, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Russian Orthodox Church, Mary, Turkmenistan
Russian Orthodox Church, Mary, Turkmenistan
Russian Orthodox Church, Mary, Turkmenistan
Russian Orthodox Church, Mary, Turkmenistan
Jumau Mosque, Mary, Turkmenistan
Jumau Mosque, Mary, Turkmenistan
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Merv, Turkmenistan
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Merv, Turkmenistan
Ruins of Erk Kala, Merv, Turkmenistan
Ruins of Erk Kala, Merv, Turkmenistan
Great Kyz Kala, Merv, Turkmenistan
Great Kyz Kala, Merv, Turkmenistan
Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Maghok-i-Attar Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Maghok-i-Attar Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Bolo-Hauz Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Bolo-Hauz Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Jumau Mosque in The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Jumau Mosque in The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Nadir Divanbegi Medressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Nadir Divanbegi Medressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Nadir Divanbegi Medressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Nadir Divanbegi Medressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Ulugbek Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Ulugbek Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Abdul Aziz Khan Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Abdul Aziz Khan Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Mir-i-Arab Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Mir-i-Arab Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Char Minar Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Char Minar Madressa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace, near Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace, near Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Sher Dor (Lion) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Sher Dor (Lion) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Tilla-Kari (Gold-Covered) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Tilla-Kari (Gold-Covered) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Sher Dor (Lion) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Sher Dor (Lion) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Tilla-Kari (Gold-Covered) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Tilla-Kari (Gold-Covered) Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Gur-e-Amir (Timur) Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Gur-e-Amir (Timur) Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Gur-e-Amir (Timur) Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Gur-e-Amir (Timur) Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Ulugbeg's Observatory, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Ulugbeg's Observatory, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Shah-i-Zinda (Mausoleums), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Shah-i-Zinda (Mausoleums), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Shah-i-Zinda (Mausoleums), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Shah-i-Zinda (Mausoleums), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Dorut Tilyovat and Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan
Dorut Tilyovat and Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan
Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Kampir Tepa, Termiz, Uzbekistan
Kampir Tepa, Termiz, Uzbekistan
View towards Oxus River and Afghanistan, Termiz, Uzbekistan
View towards Oxus River and Afghanistan, Termiz, Uzbekistan
Fayaz Tepe, Termiz, Uzbekistan
Fayaz Tepe, Termiz, Uzbekistan
Jarkurgan Minaret, Uzbekistan
Jarkurgan Minaret, Uzbekistan
Reclining Buddha in National Museum of Antiquities, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Reclining Buddha in National Museum of Antiquities, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Kokhi Navruz Palace, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Kokhi Navruz Palace, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
National Palace, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
National Palace, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
View towards Independence Monument, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
View towards Independence Monument, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Sheikh Maslikhiddin Mausoleum, Khujand, Tajikistan
Sheikh Maslikhiddin Mausoleum, Khujand, Tajikistan
Sheikh Maslikhiddin Mausoleum, Khujand, Tajikistan
Sheikh Maslikhiddin Mausoleum, Khujand, Tajikistan
Museum, Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Museum, Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Village mosque, Bashkaingdy, Kyrgyzstan
Village mosque, Bashkaingdy, Kyrgyzstan
Monument of Victory, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Monument of Victory, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Soviet-era Cinema, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Soviet-era Cinema, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Memorial to Tulip Revolution, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Memorial to Tulip Revolution, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Former Parliament Building, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Former Parliament Building, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Monument of Independence, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Monument of Independence, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Memorial of 28 Guards Division (WW2), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Memorial of 28 Guards Division (WW2), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Afghan War Memorial, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Afghan War Memorial, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Government Building, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Government Building, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Bayterek, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Bayterek, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Performing Arts Building, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Performing Arts Building, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Presidential Palace, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Presidential Palace, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Aziret Sultan Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Bayterek, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Bayterek, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Statue outside National Museum, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Statue outside National Museum, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
University, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
University, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
View towards Khan Shatyr, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
View towards Khan Shatyr, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Nur Astana Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Nur Astana Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Nur Astana Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Nur Astana Mosque, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Khan Shatyr shopping mall, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Khan Shatyr shopping mall, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Beit Rachel Synagogue, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Beit Rachel Synagogue, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Russian Orthodox Church, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Russian Orthodox Church, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Russian Orthodox Church, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Russian Orthodox Church, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Modern bridge at Riverfront, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Modern bridge at Riverfront, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Riverfront, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
Riverfront, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan

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