Nurata

The holly places are still in placed here, which attract travelers from all over the Central Asia. The holly mineral spring “Chashma” has special significance among Muslim holly places.

We can also see the ruins of walls of ancient Nurata citadel, which has been depleted by time. An ancient bazaar sits near by the spring, which is unique with its eastern style. A special interest is taken in Namozgokh mosque (X century) which was reconstructed by Emir Abdullah in 1582. The roof of the mosque is adorned by 25 domes.

Nurata is the only place in Uzbekistan where the system of water wells and underground galleries are still in place. They were constructed for the use of underground water and water was pumped by gravity onto the surface. In Sarmysh gorge, located 40 km away from Nurata, you can see more than 3 thousands ancient petroglyphs (rock drawings) which date back to Bronze Age. The majority bears pictures of animals that inhabited here in ancient times: bulls, mountain goats, Siberian mountain goats -teke, wild rams, wild boars and others.

Camel farms, located in the north of Nurata, can provide for a ride anyone willing to take a look at life in the desert with Silk Road’s habitual style. A greater number of Kazakh families live in Kizilkum. Kazak yurtas (traditional dwellings) sit near by modern huts and preferable for summer use. Despite their drab appearance, they are decorated with colorful blankets and jewelry pieces inside.