History of Samarkand is about 2500 years old and its architectural landmarks dated back to the times of the Timur Dynasty is of the same importance as architectural masterpieces of ancient Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome.
The Registan ceremonial plaza, the centre of the medieval Samarkand, is the outstanding example of town-planning skills of the Central Asian architects of the 15-17 centuries. Registan, is surrounded on three sides with the magnificent buildings of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and the Tillya-Kari madrassahs. The Registan ensemble is where all the radial streets meet and it is here that ruler's decrees were proclaimed, where justice was done and trading in full swing. To the South of the plaza is the Gur-Emir Mausoleum (15-17 centuries), built as a burial place for the members of the Timur Dynasty. Here lies the body of Timur, ruler of Samarkand, as well as his grandson Ulugbek, an outstanding scientist and astronomer. Ruins of his observatory, with pieces of giant sextant, were unearthed in the outskirts of Samarkand early in the 20 century.
Full information on www.simurgtravel.com.

According to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, foreign citizens and stateless persons can enter the country or travel through its territory on transit only if their entrance visas are available.
     Visas are issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons in the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad on the basis of the Visa Support Letter (permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan).
     Visa Support Letter is issued on the basis of application submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan by the inviting natural or legal entity permanently or temporarily operating in Uzbekistan.
     Processing of visa applications may take up to 7 working days (usual visa support) and 4 working days (urgent visa support) if documents are submitted due order.
In Order to proceed you have to send us following documents for applying visa support:
     - Copy of passport (good quality)
     - Filled in visa application form (you can download it here in WORD format)
     Tourist visa is issued for 30 days (no more).
     In order to apply for the visa, foreign citizens and stateless persons are to submit to the diplomatic or consular mission of Uzbekistan abroad the following documents:
A passport or a stateless person’s document, the expiry date of which must exceed the visa’s period of validity not less than 3 (three month).
     1. 2 (two) copies of the visa application form duly completed.
     2. 2 (two) passport-photographs (3х4 cm.).
     For a transit visa foreign citizens and stateless persons in addition to the abovementioned documents must have visa of the country of final destination and travel documents certifying the date of departure from Uzbekistan. In that case, visa applications are processed within working 3 days.
     In Tashkent International Airport Consular Bureau visas can only be issued to those foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving from the countries that do not have diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In that case the inviting person or organisation located in Uzbekistan must apply in advance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in due order and have to acquire a Visa Confirmation – the Stamp of Visa Division of the Consular Department and to forward it to the invited person. One needs to show the Confirmation while buying a air-ticket, passing through passport control and on its basis the visa is issued on arrival in the Tashkent International Airport Visa Unit of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan.
     The legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan has set the following Consular Visa Fees:
     а) single entry visa:
     - up to 7 days - 40 USD;
     - up to 15 days - 50 USD;
     - up to 30 days - 60 USD;
     Please note: For each additional entry the fee is increased by 10 USD.
     b) Transit Visas Fees:
     - up to 24 hours - 20 USD;
     - up to 48 hours - 25 USD;
     - up to 72 hours - 30 USD;
     - for double entry - 40 USD.
     c) Group Visas (For Tourist Groups of 10 Persons or More Excluding Children Under 16 Years Old):
     - up to 15 days - 15 USD per person;
     - up to 30 days – 25 USD per person.
     All applicants must also pay a service fee as a reimbursement of actual expenses. The service fee depends on the country the visa is issued (regardless the citizenship of an applicant).
     Please note: Different Procedure for Issuing Uzbekistan’s Entrance Visas may apply to the citizens of those countries that have relevant bilateral arrangements and agreements.
     Simplified Visa Regulations for the citizens of some countries
     1. There is a bilateral Visa Free Regulation with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, as well as Kyrgyzstan (up to 60 days).
     2. There is a simplified visa procedure for the citizens of Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Spain Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States. Businessmen of these countries are issued multiple entry visas up to one year and tourists – up to one month, additionally, they do not require to submit to the Foreign Ministry an invitation of legal entity or natural person in Uzbekistan or tour-voucher. Visas are issues within 2 working days, excluding the day the documents are submitted.
     3. There is Visa Free Regulation up to 90 days for the diplomatic passport possessors of Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. The accredited personnel of the diplomatic missions and international organisations may stay on territory of the Sides without visa for the whole period of professional activity.
There is Visa Free Regulation up to 90 days for the service passport possessors.
     4. Uzbekistan and Japan on a mutual basis issue Consular Free Visas.

The Uzbek ethnos - one of the most ancient and picturesque on a planet, and the most numerous in Central Asia. The earths in upper courses of AmuDarya, SirDarya and in foothills of Tjan-Shan always differed on an ethno cultural component from other regions of Central Asia. Local residents already in IV in BC have passed from nomadic to a settled way of life, therefore at the beginning of a civilization the original cultural and social structure which has a little changed since times of Dariy and Alexander till XIX century here was generated. Even an epoch of Great Resettlement of the people and Turk-Mongolian intrusion could not break firm bases of a local life. Only with Islam arrival separate aspects of the Uzbek culture have undergone certain changes, however and it has organically joined local culture more likely, than has subordinated her. Take a Tour to Uzbekistan and you will be very pleased with its traditions and friendship of Uzbek nation.
     Process of formation of the Uzbek ethnos is clearly visible already in XI in when agricultural oases with tjurk and Iran speaking the population have united in the uniform feudal state of Karahanids. People formation as that has come to the end only in XVI in when the nomad tribes of Uzbeks united in the union have intruded in the central areas of Central Asia, headed with dynasty of Sheybanids. Since this moment polyethnic parauzbek ethnos also has received the modern name.
     The Uzbek national clothes remain practically invariable from the beginning of a new era. Men carried and carry shirts of a direct cut, every possible dressing gown, both easy, and quilted on cotton wool ("chapan"). Belts served and serve as the indicator of the social status of the owner - elegant or embroidered, with silver patten metal plates and buckles, handbags and pockets show a prosperity of the carrying. Daily belts, as well as belts of poor men, usually represent a simple long belt or the scarf wrapped up round a belt which quite often has bright enough appearance. The Uzbek men usually carry dressing gowns enough gloomy colors, but here it is possible to see and striped dressing gowns of nearby regions, and richly trimmed dressing gowns with traditional embroideries. Trousers are traditionally sewed wide, the direct cut, hardly narrowed from top to bottom. Women carry dressing gowns, long direct dresses from "khan-atlas", and wide trousers, also a wide cut. And there is a difficult system of demonstration social or a marital status of women. The man's headdress usually makes "Kalpok", "dopi" ("duppi"), "sanama", "chizma", "tahya", "tayha", "chumakli", "large sum" or "kulohi" (a kind tubeteyka), women also carry scarves, felt hats and turbans. Nurseries tubeteykas ("kulohcha", "kalpakcha", "duppi", "kulupush") differ a variety and beauty of fabrics, splendor of brushes and balls, embroideries, spangles and an abundance of amulets. And tubeteykas, created in various areas, differ the form, an ornament and a color score.

Article source: simurgtravel.com - all about tours to Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan - the independent state in the Central Asia. After disintegration of Soviet Union Uzbekistan has chosen the democratic policy and since then successfully embodies during a reform life, having entered in the international economic community, as its full member.
     Uzbekistan - unusual edge, original, with a rich heritage. Here there live surprisingly talented and generous people. People very kind, pure the soul, carefully keeping traditions and customs. Each national holiday became State for all inhabitants of Republic. The people wait for them and with pleasure mark. So, to Navruz, Hayit, students annually with interest prepare for the Constitution day, Independence Day national dances, songs, read verses of the Uzbek poets and own, treat each other with national sweets, arrange exhibitions of hand-made articles. Even lessons of the Uzbek language are unlike usual lessons. They impart love to poetry and prose, acquaint us with national traditions and customs. The youth has grown on verses Agaha, Shermuhamed Munis, Fizuli, Bedil, Abdulla Kahhara's plays, Nazim Hikmet. Certainly, after acquaintance to creativity of these great people it would be desirable most to read rubai, and not in transfer, and in the original.
     In days of independence the powerful impulse for art and creativity development in all its displays has been given. It was promoted by process of revival national, cultural and cultural wealth, and also an exit of Uzbekistan on international scene. In sphere of musical art republican competition "Uzbekiston – Vatanim manim" and international - "Shark taronalari" became the representative forums promoting revealing of talents.
     In the last seventeen years the musical culture of Uzbekistan was enriched with new compositions of composers R.Abdullaev, F.G.Alimova, A.Ergasheva, and others. In them have found the creative beginning intonation refraction of makoma and modern harmonies, folklore and rhythms of a platform, idea of high morals, philosophical reflexions, soft humor, emotional and aesthetic riches.
     But it not everything, than can be proud our free country. We make planes, dredges, power transformers, electric cranes, and the big assortment of the consumer goods. Our production is exported to the different countries of the world. The modern economy of Republic Uzbekistan represents a diversified territorial and production complex. Its basis make the gas industry, color and ferrous metallurgy, cotton cleaning, textile, canning and others. But the main riches of Uzbekistan are the clap. On the value in economy of free Uzbekistan the clap occupies one of leading places. It ranks with bread, metal, and oil. That is why from ancient times people with love name it "white gold". Take a tour to Uzbekistan or Central Asia to get acknowledged with its unusual culture and traditions. Flights to Uzbekistan are comfortable and airport of Tashkent is situated in 15 minutes from any part of the city and it is one of the best airports of the world.
Article source:Tour to Uzbekistan - simurgtravel.com