My native town
I live in the
centre of Samarkand.
Samarkand is on
of the most ancient cities of the world. Samarkand
stood at the cross-roads of caravan routes and played an important role in the
economic ties of the countries of the East.
Let me tell some
words about the history of my native town: Samarkand had a difficult and, at times,
contradictory history. In the 4th century B.C. it was conquered by
Alexander the Great and his Greek troops. At the beginning of the 13th
century the city experienced the invasion of the barbaric hordes of Genghis
Khan whose savage hordes annihilated its population, pillaged its treasure and
reduced the city to a heap of ruins. In the late 14tn century A.D.
the Central Asian ruler Amir Timur designed to make Samarkand the capital of
his great empire adorned with buildings unsurpassed splendour,
elegance and luxury. Skilful architects and masons, artists and artisans were
brought here from the conquered lands and the construction was launched on a
scale that had never been known before. Very considerable construction work was
also carried on under Ulugbek, Timur’s
grandson, who was born an eminent ruler and scholar; the author of astronomic
tables known throughout the world. Visitors who come to his city admire the
artistic talent and skill of the ancient architects who created such amazing
structures as the Shakhi-Zinda ensemble, the Bibikhanim mosque, the Gur-Emir
mausoleum, the Ishrat-Khana mausoleum and Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tillya-Kari madrasahs in Registan square.
The creations of
the people’s genius and skills have deservedly become part of the treasury of
world architecture. Samarkand today is a
regional administrative centre of Uzbekistan. The population of Samarkand is more than
550 000. It is a multinational city and its population is comprised of
people of 110 nationalities. The city occupies an area of 15 000 hectares.
It sprawls in the picturesque valley of the Zerafshan River.
The main waterways
in the city are the Zerafshan River
and the Darghom, Siab and Shaudor canals. It is a major scientific and industrial
centre of Uzbekistan.
It has a university and six other institutions of higher learning, eight
research centres, many plants and factories,
libraries, museums and theatres. The 21th
century saw a new modern city built close to the ancient one. The new city has wide
avenues, green parks, fountains, hotels and colorful Eastern bazaars.
There were many
bazaars in ancient Samarkand
and one of them, Siab bazaar has been preserved up to
this day.
Tourists are often attracted to the articles made with golden
embroidery, silk, clothes and chasing sold at the bazaar. A trip to Samarkand will leave you
feeling immersed and yet equally amazed with the exotic aura of the city.
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