TRAVELRAGS

Eternal City

Attraction·SamarkandMentioned by National Geographic
“For commercial, cultural, medical and gastronomic tourism. Silk Road Samarkand is the image of the new Samarkand, symbolizing new opportunities for tourists. For commercial, cultural, medical and gastronomic tourism. Silk Road Samarkand is the image of the new Samarkand, symbolizing new…”
— silkroad-samarkand.com
Visit the official site →

In the coverage1 story

National GeographicJul 31

The surprising detour of the Silk Road, the world’s original superhighway

Tourism is booming along the former trade routes of the ancient Uzbekistan. To understand its recent transformation, Gary Shteyngart took to the caravan trail.

Replica Silk Road oasis town with restaurants and boutiques.

14 things in this story
  • RegistanSightFamed public square flanked by three ornate madrassas.
  • Gur-e-AmirSightA cascading complex of mausoleums where Ulugh Beg is buried.
  • Silk Road MuseumMuseumNew museum planned near Gur-e-Amir, showcasing finds and crafts.
  • Silk Road SamarkandAttractionA four-year-old resort development on the eastern edge of town.
  • Eternal CityAttractionReplica Silk Road oasis town with restaurants and boutiques.
  • HiltonHotelSkyscraper hotel part of the Eternal City development.
  • Silk Road WaterlandSightWater park with 18 waterslides, part of the Eternal City.
  • Elsewhere
  • Chorsu BazaarMarketTashkent, UzbekistanSoviet-era pavilion covers a site that's been a market for 2,000 years.
  • Uzbekistan AirwaysAirportTashkent, UzbekistanExperience Tashkent Airport, a world-class service icon and destination in itself.
  • Silk RoadRestaurantUzbekistanThe country is leaning hard on this brand for tourism.
  • AfrosiyobNeighborhoodTashkent, UzbekistanHigh-speed train named for an ancient settlement of Silk Road merchants.
  • Ark of BukharaAttractionBukhara, UzbekistanThe Platonic ideal of a fortress, its interior a city-within-a-city.
  • Kalon MosquePlace of worshipBukhara, UzbekistanOne of Central Asia's largest mosques with an impressive minaret.
  • Eternal BukharaPlaceBukhara, UzbekistanTourism development with hotels, replica architecture, and cafes.
Read the full piece at National Geographic →
More sights in SamarkandRegistan SquareRegistanGur-e-AmirSilk Road SamarkandSilk Road Waterland
↑↓ to navigate · Enter to open · Esc to close