Mesmerising Uzbekistan

The Uzbekistan capital conjures up a mesmerising mix of museums, minarets and markets, including the characterful Chorsu Bazaar. The State Museum of History is certainly worth a visit – it’s absolutely huge – as is the country’s newly erected religious epicentre, the Hazrat Imam. The marble white Minor Mosque is also a ‘must see’ when travelling to the new part of Tashkent although the medieval architecture of the Old Town lays bare the traditional lifestyles of Central Asia, before the Soviet era.

This southeastern city is situated on the fabled Silk Road leading from China to Europe and is still connected to a cocktail of different cultures. Nowhere is this more in evidence than the Siab Bazaar that creates an authentic Uzbekistan experience without the tourist tat or inflated prices. Head to the centre of Samarkand and the Registan public square is the place to be for people watching while Guri Amir mausoleum, close to the Registan, is a treat for fans of mosaics and ornate artwork.

Travel to the southwest of Uzbekistan, close to the border with Turkmenistan, and the ancient city of Bukhara provides an ideal base from where to learn more about life in Central Asia. This is a far less grand city in comparison to Samarkand but none the less beguiling. Take off on a guided tour around the alleyways where stall holders sell ceramics and khalva sweets, before heading to the minarets of Chor Minor Madrassah to watch the sun set over the four shimmering turquoise domes.