Timur was patron of arts, literature and architecture, he loved intellectual debates and made his capital Samarkand the most important center of arts and Islamic scholarship of his time. Even though he was illiterate, he spoke 3 languages, among them Turkic and Persian. He was a military genius, an extraordinary tactician, exceptionally smart – […]
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Why You Must See Samarkand
The Central Asian Rally takes you over the heart of the ancient cultures of Central Asia. This area surrounds the curious traveler with present and living history. Cities contemporaries to Babylon and Rome still stand and prosper. When Europe plunged into the darkest Middle Ages, ancient cities around the Silk Road were hubs for arts and enlightenment. And perhaps the most […]
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Afghanistan: The Other Stan
The black sheep of the Central Asia, Afghanistan is often left off the map when the region is talked about in a travel context. The country is more poignantly known for its ongoing war and militant Islamism dominated by the Taliban, however, there is more to this off-the-beaten track country than what makes it into […]
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UNESCO Sites in Central Asia
Central Asia is the cross-roads of civilisation. Back in its heyday, it was the buzzing hub of the Silk Road, with the blue-tiled city of Samarkand as its trading and cultural centre. While many view Central Asia today as being in the middle of nowhere and as a cluster of former Soviet states, it’s […]
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Top 7 Markets in Central Asia
With a legacy such as the Silk Road, it goes without saying that Central Asia is famed for its markets. It’s inevitable that there will be some romantic notion accompanying a bazaar in Samarkand and other iconic Silk Road cities, but which are Central Asia’s best markets? Here are the best markets in Central Asia. […]
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The Central Asia Rally – The Lowdown on 2014
June is the time of year when the crazy people come out to play, and by crazy we mean the guys who are currently racing through Central Asia on this year’s rally.
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Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – Are They on Your Bucket List?
As the Travel Scientists get ready to hit the starting line for the Central Asia Rally, it looks like others might be joining them in this obscure part of the world in the not-too-distant future.
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