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100100
Tashkent, Uzbekistan

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Fazel-e-Haq Road, Blue Area
Islamabad, Pakistan

E-mail: tashkent@sitara.com islamabad@sitara.com

Phone (Uzbekistan): (99871) 2814148, (99871) 2814149, (99871) 2553504
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Sufism of Central Asia

  • Itinerary:
    Taajikistan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan
  • Duration:
    17 days / 16 nights
  • Price:
    on request
  • Tour program
    Itinerary of «Sufism of Central Asia»
    Day 01: Arrive Dushanbe – Flt
    Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.
    Lunch at local restaurant
    Afternoon sightseeing tour of Dushanbe visit – Museum of Antiquities, the Museum of Ethnology, the local bazaar and Gurminj Musical museum
    Dinner at local restaurant
    Overnight

    Day 02: Dushanbe/Kulob – 203 kms
    Morning depart for Kulob – this is one of the major district of the region was an important town with years of trade relations with ancient Afghanistan.
    But the town is more famous for the mausoleum of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, the poet and scholar of the 14th century AD. He was born in Hamadan, Iran in 1314 AD and being from a very learned family he got his early education in the hands of famous teachers in many subjects. Being a gifted person, Mir Syed Ali Hamadani was intelligent and read Quran quickly. His lineage goes back to Caliph Ali through direct linkage to Hazrat Zainulabedin. His teachers were Hazrat Alauddin a well known scholar of his time besides got spiritual education from Shaikh Abul Barakat and later from Shaikh Mahmood Mizdiqani under whom he under went the rigors of spiritual training. His spiritual brightness entrusted him as the heir of Shaikh Abul Miamin Najmuddin Mukhammad bin Muhammad Azani of the Kubraviya order of the Sufis. He came to Kashmir with a large number of followers and changed the beliefs and thinking of the Kashmiris with his wisdom and knowledge. So much so that the ruler of Kashmir became his follower and gave patronage to his efforts in bringing harmony and education among the Kashmiris. Not only it was the spiritual education but also he brought arts and crafts of Iran and Central Asia to Kashmir. By virtue of his education today we see the patterns and famous Kashmiri shawls and other works are all accredited to him. He died in 1385 AD after a short illness in Afghanistan while travelling back to Khatlan and was buried in Kulob.
    On arrival in Kulob, transfer to hotel.
    Later in the evening we shall make the first visit to the mausoleum complex of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani.
    Overnight

    Day 03: Kulob
    We shall spend the full day in the valley with several visits to the mausoleum and to the outskirts of the town
    Today we shall be invited by a local family for a dinner at their place
    Overnight

    Day 04: Kulob/Dushanbe
    Morning visit of the shrine and later in the afternoon depart for Dushanbe
    On arrival transfer to hotel.
    Overnight

    Day 05: Dushanbe
    Morning visit Museum of Antiquities – see some rare Greco-Bactrian objects, statues, the
    Sogdian objects and wall paintings, the Buddhist period statues – see the largest reclining Buddha. The Muslim period examples of manuscripts, calligraphy and ceramic ware.
    Later we shall visit Museum of ethnology – see the exhibits of ceramics, wood carving, embroidery and musical instruments will give you a good idea how the Kashmiri arts and craft have been effected by the Central Asia works. We shall then visit Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments where we can see live performance of traditional instruments.
    Afternoon we shall make an excursion to Hissar – see the old fortress – it stands to the site which could have been the stronghold of many invaders as it controls a strategic position overlooking the valley. We shall also 16th century madrassahs with a small museum as well.
    Return in the late afternoon
    Overnight

    Day 06: Dushanbe/Termez – 256 kms
    Today we shall enter Uzbekistan after a short drive of 78 kms – after the border formalities proceed to Termez. On arrival transfer to hotel.
    later we shall visit tomb of Hakim-al-Teremzi, Sultan Saodat tombs, the Kirkyz fort (Forty Maidens) fort and the Buddhist monastery of Fayz Tepe
    Overnight

    Termez has always enjoyed a very strategic position on the highway that leads into Afghanistan and subsequently to India. From the time immemorial migrations and invasions have taken place from this region into the Indian sub-continent. Whether it was the Aryan migrations or the invasions of Alexander the Great or devastations of Chengiz Khan’s army, Termez was always at the focal point of history. The first Mughal Babur regrouped his followers and picked up all his allied forces here before attacking Kabul Kingdom which subsequently led to his entry into the Indian Sub continent establishing the dynasty that lasted till the advent of British on the scene. The city of Termez and its environs are spread out with many monuments and mausoleums of its time.
    Hakim-al Teremzi – was born in the 9th century in house of learned family. By virtue of this he got the best of education. His father being the scholar of Hadith effected him greatly and he himself travelled to Mecca. He had inquisitive approach to knowledge and this pursuit gave him education in many subjects. He was often criticized by his opponents blaming him for heretic beliefs. It was after his pilgrimage to Mecca that he got himself involved in intense practice of praying and self discipline. He gained knowledge in repentance and self discipline ‘malamat and nafs’. Al-Teremzi is described as the first Sufi to have some acquaintance to metaphysical and cosmological knowledge of the Greeks.

    Day 07: Termez/Shakre Sabz/Samarkand – 410 kms
    Early morning depart for Samarkand enroute we shall visit Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. In Shakre Sabz we shall visit Ak Saray Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque
    Later proceed to Samarkand and on arrival transfer to hotel.
    Overnight

    Day 08: Samarkand
    Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand – we shall visit the famous Registan Square to see three beautiful madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum tomb and the Friday mosque.
    Afterwards visit Shahi Zinda necropolis the Royal Graveyard where many of Tamerlane’s family are buried.
    Afternoon visit Afrosiab Museum and site of ancient Samarkand, later visit Ulugbek’s
    Observatory and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. Later we shall also visit Khoja Akhrar wali complex – a saint of Nakshbandiya order
    Overnight

    Day 09: Samarkand/Bukhara – 268 kms
    Morning depart for Bukhara via ‘Shahrah’ the royal road was the traditional route to Bukhara whereas many traditional villages and towns still exist with ancient names. Our first stop will be at Al-Bukhari complex – this is the shrine of Shaikh al-Bukhari the compiler of Hadith and the extended complex. Later we shall see one of the oldest mosque dating back to early arrival days of the Arabs in the region around 8th/9th AD. Later continue to Bukhara with a stop enroute at the Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer palace of the last emir of Bukhara
    On arrival transfer to hotel.
    Overnight

    Ismail al-Bukhari was born in Bukhara in 810 AD and came from a learned family where his father himself was a well known hadith scholar. While in the young age his father died but later he was raised by his mother and excelled in narrating hadith at a very young age. He travelled to Mecca for pilgrimage at the age of 16 and further attained the knowledge in Islamic jurisprudence and exchanged knowledge on hadith. On his return after sixteen years he wrote on Islamic jurisprudence. He settled in Nishabour where he met Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj where he gained more knowledge on Hadith and Fiqah and was known as the collector of Sahih Muslim.
    Later due political problems he left and settled in Khartak village near Samarkand and died there, where his grave lies.

    Day 10: Bukhara
    Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara – visit to include Lyabikhauz, madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, madrassah Aziz Khan and Ulugbek, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque also visit Miri Arab madrassah
    afternoon we continue sightseeing visiting Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, Ismail Samanid mausoleum, Chasma Ayub and the local bazaar
    Overnight

    Day 11: Bukhara
    We shall spend the day visiting the Seven Pirs of Bukhara–the famous Sufi Saints of Bukhara.
    Bukhara has always been known as Bukhara Sharif or the Holy Bukhara was due to the Saints who lived from time to time in and around Bukhara. People all over from Central Asia have been visiting Bukhara to seek blessings of the sacred saints.
    Our Sufi pilgrimage of Bukhara begins visit of the shrines of the Saints who lived in the
    Following order:
    Abul Khaliq Gijduvani – this shrine is located some 50 kms from Bukhara in the village of Gijduvan
    Khoja Arif Revgari – this shrine is located in Shafir Khon in the outskirts of Bukhara
    Khoja Anjeer Faghnabi – this shrine is located in Vobkent in the same vicinity
    Khoja Romitani Azizon – this shrine is located in Romitan
    Boba-i-Samosi – this shrine is located in Romitan
    Syed Mir Kulol – this shrine is located in Kagan the outskirts of Bukhara
    Bakhauddin Nakshbandi – this is a prominent shrine located in Kagan not very far from his spiritual mentor Syed Mir Kulol

    Day 12: Bukhara/Khiva – 450 kms
    Morning depart for Khiva via Kizilkum desert with short stops
    Arrival in the late afternoon
    Transfer to hotel.
    Short walk to the walled city
    Overnight

    Day 13: Khiva
    Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva – this is walking tour of the walled city known as the open air museum of Central Asia. We shall visit Ichan Kala, Kalta minor, Kunya Ark, madrassah Rakhimkhon, the work shops for the development of local handicrafts under UNDP.
    Later continue to visit the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud who was a wrestler and a Sufi mystic of his time. Later visit Islam Khodja minaret and museum, Friday mosque with numerous pillars, Tashauli harem and the Caravan Sarai
    Later free walk in the walled city
    Overnight

    Day 14: Khiva/Tashauz – 78 kms
    Tashauz/Ashgabat – Flt
    Morning depart for Tashauz across into Turkmenistan – after the border formalities we are taken to the town. Later we shall proceed to Kunya Urgench for another 90 kms to visit the capital of Khorezm state which was one of the most powerful and extended upto Otrar in Kazakhstan. In 13th century AD the powerful armies of Chengiz Khan devastated the city killing every living soul in the city.
    We will see pre and post Mongol period monuments – Turabek Khanym mausoleum, Il-Arsalan’s tomb, Sultan Tekesh mausoleum, Kutleg Temir minaret, the old Caravan Sarai and the grave yard.
    Later we shall proceed to visit the shrine of Famous Sufi Saint Najmeddin Kubra, the founder of Kubravi order. He was one of the spiritual mentor of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani’s teachers.
    Later return to Tashauz and transfer to airport for flight to Ashgabat
    Arrival and transfer to hotel.
    Overnight

    Day 15: Ashgabat/Mary/Ashgabat - Flt
    We shall make visit to Mary and further to Merve by taking the flights in/out
    On arrival in Mary we shall proceed to Merve – the site of ancient Margiana dates back to 6th Century BC when it was included in Achaemenian empire. It was an important oasis on the Great Silk Road and rose to prominence after the invasion by the Arabs. It was often referred as uroos-ul-bilad(mother of cities) in the Arabic literature. However the grandeur of this huge town under Khorezmian rule came to a devastating end when the Mongol armies destroyed the city killing over a million soul and it is said the destruction was so great that for many years no one would dare to live there on return Mary we shall see the archaeological museum before returning by flight back to Ashgabat
    Overnight

    Day 16: Ashgabat
    Full day sightseeing tour of Ashgabat – we shall visit the archaeological site of Nisa – the Parthian winter capital dates back to 1st BC. Later visit the State Museum of History – see all the galleries of the museum with intensive exhibits of arts and crafts and archaeological sections.
    Later we shall visit the Carpet Museum with its unique tribal collections
    In the afternoon visit the local bazaar
    Overnight

    Day 17: Ashgabat/Depart – Flt
    Transfer to airport for your homeward flight – assistance on departure
  • Details
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  • Prices
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      Price available on request.

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