News / Новости

Uzbekistan: Tourist Sights of Uzbekistan Khorezm region

08/02/2017 14:13

Ulli Hovli is a great place for day excursions for individuals and groups. The rural community is one of the few traditional Turkmen villages in Khorezm, Uzbekistan. The unique traditional buildings and the activities offered make the site quite attractive.

Ulli Hovli is an old Turkmen fortification located 24 km north-east of Khiva. It is surrounded by high walls and has been renovated tastefully by its tenant, Rajobov Davlatnazar. Most rooms in the side wings are open towards the yard.

Some are equipped with comfortable tea beds (tapchans) and are decorated with old household and farm items such as saddles, mugs and millstones. Three tandir (loam ovens) give clients a chance to observe the process of bread baking.

In the courtyard, three yurts have been erected for dining. In one of the side tracts, modern toilet facilities have been built. The owner keeps three camels and two horses. Folklore shows as well as cock and ram fights can be organized on site. A horse drawn cart is available for trips through the village. You can get a glance of the typical big Turkmen dogs kept there. Next to Ulli Hovli, the owner established a teahouse with many in and outdoor sitting facilities. The refreshing breeze along the canal makes your stay very pleasant on hot summer days.

 

The Urgench Art Gallery

The museum is located in Uzbekistan Street 21, opposite the main bazaar of Urgench.

  A few shady sitting facilities in the garden invite people to take a rest. Some of the twelve beautifully carved wooden columns of the porch are more than 100 years old. The solid wooden doors and the portal, which is decorated with blue majolica, give the building its special appearance.

The Art Gallery has been established in 1983 and holds many exhibits of classic and modern Khorezm and Uzbek art. 347 oil paintings, 253 graphics and 40 sculptures reflect the everyday life and the landscape of Khorezm or feature scenes from legends of the region.

            

The work of renown painters, such as Chingiz Ahmarov, Rahim Ahmedov, Nemat Kuzybaev, Yusuf Yelizarov, Valentin Fadeev, Evgeniy Melnikov, Alisher Mirzaev, Akmal Nur, Vladimir Burkmakin and Khorezm artists such as Bahtiyor Ruzmetov, Atahan Allabergenov, Tura Kuryayov, Davron Yuldashev can be found there.

Chodra Hovli, the Khan's Summer Residence

 

Chodra Hovli is located 11 km east of Khiva along the Yangiariq road.
The four storeyed, tower like, adobe building is 30 m high. It was erected in the 14^th century and reconstructed in 1871 by Muhammad Rakhim Khan II as a summer residence. Its design is quite unusual. It has a relatively small base of 16m x 8m. In the basement, there are two storerooms and the stables. The other floors were used as residential area and consist of small rooms, which are open towards the garden. The khan used to rest here and even stayed overnight to escape the heat of the summer. Chodra Hovli is surrounded by a huge, lush green fruit and vegetable garden that is still in use. The irregular stairs are a bit uncomfortable to climb, but the view from the upper floor is rewarding.

 

It is planned to turn the building in front of the summer residence into a restaurant.

Behind Chodra Hovli, there is an extensive network of water bodies used for fish farming. These lakes are classified by Birdlife International as IBA (Important Bird Area) and are a highlight for bird lovers.

 

               

 

Kharrot, Touristic Complex at Lake Eshon Rovot

 

In 2015, a new recreation area was established 6.4 km south of Khiva. The site is located across the Drujba drainage canal, in the Karakum Desert at the shore of Lake Eshon Rovot.

The complex consists of an indoor and a rooftop restaurant from where you can overlook the lake and enjoy the breeze. You also have the opportunity to dine in one of the two traditional yurts or on the tapchan near the boat landing. In the attached hotel up to 12 guests can be accommodated in six comfortable, air conditioned double rooms.

The activity offer includes fishing, boating or water scooter driving on the lake, nature walks along the lakeshore or in the adjacent sand dunes as well as a visit to the animal park on the property.

The recreation area is ideal for day excursions from Khiva or weekend outings for the whole family. The nature lover will be able to experience the unique flora and fauna of the desert and the wetland around Lake Eshon Rovot.

 

 

 

 

Qora Kol Touristic Complex

The touristic complex is located 7km south of Khiva in the Karakum Desert, at the shore of Lake Qora Kol. After crossing the drainage canal, turn right and you will see the fancy entrance gate in the middle of the dunes welcoming you to the recreation area.

 Having passed the gate of the fortification-like loam wall of the site, a camel greets you at the entrance. The fancy touristic complex consists of a tall 34m high minaret, a reception building, a stylish restaurant, three traditional dining yurts, and 12 modern yurt shaped hotel rooms each with an attached bathroom. You can hire a motorboat or a water scooter for an outing on the lake.

From the top of the minaret you have a spectacular view of the desert and the lake. You even can spot the skyline of Khiva. Watching the sunset from up there is stunning.

 

 

 

 

Qalajiq Qal'a and the Salt Water Lake Touristic Complex

Qalajiq Qal'a is located in the Bogo't area on the shore of a small saline lake. It is one of the oldest fortresses in Uzbekistan, Khorezm region, dating back to the fourth cent. BC, originally built to protect the fertile arable land from invasions of nomadic tribes. Despite its high walls (14m high and 2.5m in width), the fortress was conquered by the Arabs and by Genghis Khan. The entire complex originally consisted of a madrassa, a mosque, a mausoleum, a caravanserai and living quarters. From the top of the fortress, you can overlook the Karakum Desert, the farmland with its irrigation systems and the recreation centre at the lake.

The very salty water of the lake and the surrounding sand dunes are famous for their healing properties. During the hot season, people come here to seek relief from backache, rheumatism, muscle tensions, stress symptoms and other diseases. After a bath in the saline water, patients are buried into hot sand, sometimes up to their neck. After a successful medical application, the entire family relaxes in the catering facilities along the lake. It is possible to prepare your own meal on one of the loam ovens, rented out by local service providers, including cooking utensils and sitting facilities.

 

Alternatively you can order a meal from one of the teahouses. Besides the historic, medical and culinary offer, guests can go horseback riding around the lake or hire a horse cart for a short trip. You also have the option to spend the night in the new hotel at the lake or in one of the colorful yurt accommodation facilities. Each yurt section has its own bathroom.

 

 

 

Sulaymon Qal'a and a Visit to Artists in Hazorasp

One of the oldest fortresses of ancient Khorezm is Sulaymon Qal'a, located in the town of Hazorasp, 65km east of Khiva along the road to Bukhara. The history of Hazorasp can be traced back to the 6^th century BC. The fortress was built in the 17^th century and restored in the 19^th century. During that time, the prince of the Khiva Khanate resided in Hazorasp. The old city wall is still partially intact.

 Until today, the historic city is used as a residential area with 130 houses located inside its walls. The Qal'a is bordered by a lake, called Oydin Kol (bright lake) that is fed by a fresh water spring. When the fortress was attacked by enemies, the khan could escape through an underwater tunnel.

 From the top of the fortress, the scientists of the khan used to make astronomical observations. Being located at a small lake and the fact that people still live inside the fortress walls distinguishes it from many other ancient fortifications, making it a special site.

Another interesting place worth visiting in Hazorasp is the Shohpir complex. It consists of a mausoleum, a cemetery and a mosque that are still in use.

  Further, its unique arts and crafts are interesting to visitors. Tandir makers, potters, a well-known sculptor and a painter have their workshops close to Sulaymon Qal'a. Guests are welcome to watch the artists at work. The local teahouses serve good food.