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UZBEKISTAN
45/405 Shota Rustaveli Street
100100
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
PAKISTAN
Office No F-1, Safdar Mansion
Fazel-e-Haq Road, Blue Area
Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: tashkent@sitara.com islamabad@sitara.com
Phone (Uzbekistan): (99871) 2814148, (99871) 2814149, (99871) 2553504
Phone (Pakistan): (9251) 2805583, (9251) 2805288
Fax: (99871) 1206500
Send request
Sogdiana & Bactriana
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Itinerary:Uzbekistan - Tajikistan
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Duration:13 days / 12 nights
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Price:on request
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Tour program
Itinerary of «Sogdiana & Bactriana»Day 01: Arrive Tashkent
Meeting on arrival, assistance and transfer to hotelOvernight
Day 02: Tashkent/Bukhara – Flt
Morning flight to Bukhara and on arrival transfer to hotel
Later sightseeing tour of Bukhara – visit Lyabikhauz – the pond, madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga serai, Mogaki Attari mosque, the covered bazaar of Tilpak ferushan (cap sellers), madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. Later walk to Poi Kalon minaret and mosque and Miri Arab living madrassah
Overnight
Day 03: Bukhara
Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara
morning tour with a visit of Ark Fortress, Bala Khauz mosque, Ismail Samanid mausoleum, Chasma Ayub(Job’s spring) and the local bazaar
afternoon we shall make a short excursion to Paikand – the archaeological site marking
one the flourishing cities of the Oxus countries
Overnight
Day 04: Bukhara/Shakre Sabz – 253 kms
morning depart for Shakre Sabz – the birthplace of Tamerlane enroute short stop in Karshi bazaar one of the interesting market place on the southern fringes of Kizilkum desert.
Later continue to Shakre sabz to enter was known as Kesh and on arrival transfer to hotel
afternoon we shall visit the Ak Saray Tamerlane’s Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque.
Overnight
Day 05: Shakre Sabz/Termez – 290 kms
This is an interesting day as we travel through the geological wonders of Uzbekistan with beautiful landscape of the Hissar mountain ranges. While travelling through Baisun mountainous country we are in the Sogdian mountain resorts. The beautiful landscape adds up to our pursuit for history into the border lands of Bactria and Sogdiana.
On arrival in Termez soon after check-in we shall visit the site of Kampir Tepe, the
Buddhist monastery ruins of Fayz Tepe and Kara Tepe and time permitting we shall visit
The Archaeological Museum of Termez
Overnight
Day 06: Termez/Dushanbe – 251 kms
morning visit the shrine of Hakim al Tirimzi, Jurmala tower(stupa ruins) later enroute short stop at Dalverzin Tepe and important Kushan city which flourished 2nd – 7th AD. We can see a good collection of recovered objects from this site one of the important being a vase with golden jewellery. Also fragmentary remains of Buddhist statues in stucco and clay were recovered from the monastic establishment of the site.
Later continue to the border point and after the border formalities we shall proceed to Dushanbe.
On arrival transfer to hotel
Rest of the day free at leisure
Overnight
Day 07: Dushanbe
Full day sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – morning visit the Antiquities Museum of Dushanbe, the Gurminj Museum of musical instruments, the Agha Khan Cultural Center, and 15th century Yakub-i-Charki mosque and the bazaar
Afternoon excursion to Hissar – we shall visit the old fortress, the nearby Kuhna Madrassah and the museum
Return in the late afternoon
Overnight
Day 08: Dushanbe/Shakre Tuz – 245 kms
Morning depart for southern part of Tajikistan – we shall make short stop at Qurghan Tepe off the road and shall then follow upto Ajina Tepe to see the site of excavation of a Buddhist monastery from where the large Buddha was excavated
Later continue to Shakre Tuz and on arrival transfer to hotel
in the afternoon we shall make short excursions to Khoja Mashad tombs and 44 Springs.
Overnight
Day 09: Shakre Tuz/Dushanbe
Morning excursion to Takht-i-Sangin to visit the Temple of Oxus
Afternoon return to Dushanbe
Overnight
Day 10: Dushanbe/Penjikent/Samarkand – 285 kms
early morning departure for Samarkand with visit of Penjikent enroute at Penjikent we shall visit the archaeological site over looking the Zarafshan valley and Rudaki Museum
later we shall proceed to Uzbekistan border and continue to Samarkand
on arrival transfer to hotel
Overnight
Day 11: Samarkand
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand visit – Registan Square to see the three beautiful Madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum Mosque, the Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis and History Museum
Afternoon visit Afrosiab Museum and site, Ulugbek`s Observatory and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane
Overnight
Day 12: Samarkand/Tashkent – 340 kms
Morning depart for Tashkent and on arrival transfer to hotel
Afternoon sightseeing tour of the city – see the History Museum and Fine Arts Museum apart the old city
Overnight
Day 13: Tashkent/Exit - Flight -
Details
Details of itinerary & mapDay 01: Arrive Tashkent
Meeting on arrival, assistance and transfer to hotelOvernight
Day 02: Tashkent/Bukhara – Flt
Morning flight to Bukhara and on arrival transfer to hotel
Later sightseeing tour of Bukhara – visit Lyabikhauz – the pond, madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga serai, Mogaki Attari mosque, the covered bazaar of Tilpak ferushan (cap sellers), madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. Later walk to Poi Kalon minaret and mosque and Miri Arab living madrassah
Overnight
Day 03: Bukhara
Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara
morning tour with a visit of Ark Fortress, Bala Khauz mosque, Ismail Samanid mausoleum, Chasma Ayub(Job’s spring) and the local bazaar
afternoon we shall make a short excursion to Paikand – the archaeological site marking
one the flourishing cities of the Oxus countries
Overnight
Bukhara:
The history of Bukhara is more in the antiquity when we expand the present circumference of the city. We find that the city lies on the western most extension of Sogdian cities. The site of Varaksha marks the last of the ancient ruler’s seat
before it fell to the Arabs in 8th century AD. Today we see the ruins of Romitan along with Paikand once boasted of rich cities of the Oxiana. Soon after the fall of these desert cities Arab influence started to penetrate eastwards into mainland of Sogdiana. We should not forget that these oasis were also serving as great cities under the Achaemenian empire and consequently falling into dominions of Alexander the Great. Then for a short duration later Greeks (Bactrian Greeks) took sway of these regions but it was the Sassanid's who had a long impression on the land. It was interesting to see Bukhara dominated by powerful Sogdians by now converted to Islam under the Samanid dynasty. The greatest of destruction this region could ever suffer was at the hands of Mongols under Genghiz Khan. This devastating impact of our history could only soother when we see emergence of small khanates the kinships of the Genghiz Khan’s greater house.
Day 04: Bukhara/Shakre Sabz – 253 kms
morning depart for Shakre Sabz – the birthplace of Tamerlane enroute short stop in Karshi bazaar one of the interesting market place on the southern fringes of Kizilkum desert.
Later continue to Shakre sabz to enter was known as Kesh and on arrival transfer to hotel
afternoon we shall visit the Ak Saray Tamerlane’s Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque.
Overnight
Day 05: Shakre Sabz/Termez – 290 kms
This is an interesting day as we travel through the geological wonders of Uzbekistan with beautiful landscape of the Hissar mountain ranges. While travelling through Baisun mountainous country we are in the Sogdian mountain resorts. The beautiful landscape adds up to our pursuit for history into the border lands of Bactria and Sogdiana.
On arrival in Termez soon after check-in we shall visit the site of Kampir Tepe, the
Buddhist monastery ruins of Fayz Tepe and Kara Tepe and time permitting we shall visit
The Archaeological Museum of Termez
Overnight
Borderlands of Bactriana and Sogdiana: The region of Termez served as the nerve center of entry into the mainland Bactria, though river Oxus(Amudarya) making the natural boundary line was often crossed over by the invading sovereigns from Bactria. The control across the river gave the local rulers more power to assert hegemony over the smaller kingdoms of the region. The importance of the control across the river could be seen in the ruins of Kampir Tepe where a citadel stood overlooking the river passage. The Greek armies had to fought over the Persian and Sogdian army for the control of this strategic crossing point.
The conversion of Kushan rulers to Buddhism had yet to play a pivotal role in changing the history of the land as they supplanted the divided Bactrian Greeks to become the new masters of Bactria. There wise political manoeuvring by the Kushan rulers gave them a upper hand in the control of trade routes like the Great Silk Road and the Spice route from India. This became the springboard of their vast empire extended upto the northern territories of India. Their rule continued uninterrupted for centuries when the hordes of White Huns carried destruction around 450 AD reducing the local cultures to ruins by putting fires to the villages and destroying the monasteries which flourished for centuries.
The later Kushans did try to resurrect but they were soon wiped by the Sassanid power seen as a revisit of Persian power in the region till the last period of 7th AD. as the continuous incursions of Arabs had signalled a new era into the history of these regions.
Day 06: Termez/Dushanbe – 251 kms
morning visit the shrine of Hakim al Tirimzi, Jurmala tower(stupa ruins) later enroute short stop at Dalverzin Tepe and important Kushan city which flourished 2nd – 7th AD. We can see a good collection of recovered objects from this site one of the important being a vase with golden jewellery. Also fragmentary remains of Buddhist statues in stucco and clay were recovered from the monastic establishment of the site.
Later continue to the border point and after the border formalities we shall proceed to Dushanbe.
On arrival transfer to hotel
Rest of the day free at leisure
Overnight
Day 07: Dushanbe
Full day sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – morning visit the Antiquities Museum of Dushanbe, the Gurminj Museum of musical instruments, the Agha Khan Cultural Center, and 15th century Yakub-i-Charki mosque and the bazaar
Afternoon excursion to Hissar – we shall visit the old fortress, the nearby Kuhna Madrassah and the museum
Return in the late afternoon
Overnight
Museum of Antiquities: This is an interesting museum which is very well laid out by a French team of scholars and makes it unique museum in Central Asia which has a rich collection of Greco Bactrian and Buddhist material. The expositions are very thematically laid out. The collections come the rich sites on the Oxus river from the Temple of Oxus, the famous inclining Buddha from Ajina Tepe makes this find now being the largest image after the destruction of Buddhas of Bamiyan valley in Afghanistan. There is an excellent collection of murals from Penjikent and utility objects from Sarazm site. A nice numismatic collection of Greco-Bactrian and Kushan periods. The strong room of the museum contains a good collection of Scythian artwork in gold – buckles, buttons etc. There is also a small collection of bone & ivory art from handles of the swords and belts from the temple of Oxus.
Among the Buddhist art is a large collection of clay and stucco heads and statues in standing from various monastic sites of the Kushan periods.
Day 08: Dushanbe/Shakre Tuz – 245 kms
Morning depart for southern part of Tajikistan – we shall make short stop at Qurghan Tepe off the road and shall then follow upto Ajina Tepe to see the site of excavation of a Buddhist monastery from where the large Buddha was excavated
Later continue to Shakre Tuz and on arrival transfer to hotel
in the afternoon we shall make short excursions to Khoja Mashad tombs and 44 Springs.
Overnight
Day 09: Shakre Tuz/Dushanbe
Morning excursion to Takht-i-Sangin to visit the Temple of Oxus
Afternoon return to Dushanbe
Overnight
Temple of Oxus (Takht-i-Sangin): This is an important site at the confluence of Vaksh and Amudarya(Oxus river). The site dates from the Achaemenid period 6th BC and continued till 3rd/4th AD. This was part of the Alexandria on the Oxus and is said to have been visited by Alexander the Great having prayed to the goddess of Oxus. The site has been victim of irregular excavators and is reckoned as the place marking the famous Oxus Treasure which fell into the hands of site robbers selling to the best buyers and finally made its way into Victoria & Albert museum.
It had a citadel with temple area in Greek construction style with Ionian columns and Iwan. We shall visit the site in detail however most of the artefacts and remains have been shifted to the museums and a good number of things are seen in the Museum of Antiquities
The site situated at a spectacular view with Oxus river in the foreground and Afghanistan hills sharing the historical event with this temple.
Day 10: Dushanbe/Penjikent/Samarkand – 285 kms
early morning departure for Samarkand with visit of Penjikent enroute at Penjikent we shall visit the archaeological site over looking the Zarafshan valley and Rudaki Museum
later we shall proceed to Uzbekistan border and continue to Samarkand
on arrival transfer to hotel
Overnight
Heart land of Sogdiana: As we leave Dushanbe we enter the heartland of Sogdiana, Zarafshan valley. Alexander the Great must have taken the similar route to enter lower Zarafshan entering the Syrdarya(Jaxartes) region where he accomplished his campaign against the Sogdian hill tribes and founded Alexandria Eschate marking his eastern most extension in this part. Zarafshan valley also marks the last of the strongholds against the invading Arabs in 8th AD. The last ruler Dewastisch perished in the defence of his kingdom. This ended the Sogdian rule or control over the land and almost diminished their importance. The hardy population took refuge in the high and inaccessible mountains of the valley. Yagnob valley marks the last of the Sogdian speakers and an effort is being done to protect this old language.
Penjikent site situated at an impressive view point overlooking the fertile Zarafshan valley with river flowing through. The site revealed an interesting aspect of life in the town as it was the town of merchants of different origins, Indians, Chinese, Romans and Persians living in secular harmony. The richness of the town is depicted on the mural scrapings showing scenes of daily life and luxuries of the time. We can see some scrapings in Rudaki Museum.
Day 11: Samarkand
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand visit – Registan Square to see the three beautiful Madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum Mosque, the Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis and History Museum
Afternoon visit Afrosiab Museum and site, Ulugbek`s Observatory and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane
Overnight
Samarkand the Maracanda of the west: One of the principal town of Sogdiana, Samarkand served as the capital town. Present day Afrosiab site marks the ancient town whose history goes back to 7th Century BC and marks the oldest inhabited cities of the world. It was part of the Achaemenian domain and was taken over by Alexander the Great in 329 BC and had spend some time to chase out the Sogdian general Spitamene.
After spending some time Alexander the Great went southwards campaigning against the other local rulers.
It was Great Silk Road activity that had given rise and importance to Samarkand known for its orchards. The commercial activity had enriched the local population which excelled in luxuries of life. The houses were adorned with the best of decorations and some of the nobility had their house decorated with murals which can be seen in the well preserved wall decorations housed in Afrosiab Museum
Day 12: Samarkand/Tashkent – 340 kms
Morning depart for Tashkent and on arrival transfer to hotel
Afternoon sightseeing tour of the city – see the History Museum and Fine Arts Museum apart the old city
Overnight
Day 13: Tashkent/Exit - Flight
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Price available on request.
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