85 guides · page 8

Culture & History

The people, crafts, faith and history behind what you'll see on the ground.

Khiva's holiest building: the tomb of a wrestler, poet and furrier who became the city's patron saint, plus tiles, etiquette and when to visit.

September 19, 2026 · 4 min read

How the Chust pichoq is made, how to reach the Fergana Valley town, what to check before you buy, and the rules for flying home with a knife.

September 18, 2026 · 6 min read

What Uzbekistan actually weaves, how to spot a machine-made rug, realistic prices, the best workshops, and the export paperwork you need.

September 11, 2026 · 12 min read

Bukhara’s Jewish quarter: who the Bukharan Jews were, why almost all left, and how to visit the synagogue, cemetery and mahalla respectfully.

August 4, 2026 · 8 min read

Shashmaqam, the dutar and doira, and the Bukhara, Khorezm and Ferghana dance schools – plus where to hear live Uzbek music beyond the dinner shows.

August 4, 2026 · 11 min read

Ibn Sina was born near Bukhara around 980. His story, Samanid Bukhara’s golden age, and what you can still see: the mausoleum, the Ark and Afshana.

August 3, 2026 · 10 min read

Bahauddin Naqshband and the Naqshbandi Sufi order: who he was, what silent dhikr means, and how to visit his shrine near Bukhara respectfully.

August 3, 2026 · 10 min read

What travellers see at an Uzbek wedding (morning plov, fatiha tui, the bride’s farewell, kelin salom) and how to behave if you are invited.

August 3, 2026 · 9 min read

Who Timur (Tamerlane) really was: his rise, the campaigns, what he built in Samarkand and Shahrisabz, and where to see his legacy in Uzbekistan.

August 2, 2026 · 8 min read

Timur’s grandson measured the sky: Ulugh Beg’s star catalogue, his 40m sextant, the madrasahs, his murder in 1449, and where to see it today.

August 2, 2026 · 10 min read