Shakhrisabz
Shakhrisabz - the former capital of the once-existing state of Sogd, which was part of the Achaemenid Empire, though at that time the city was called Kesh. Also, Shahrisabz is the birthplace of Tamerlan (Amir Timur), the great conqueror of Central Asia. The real name “Shakhrisabz” is translated from Persian as “green city”, which fully reflects the modern look of the area. Here on the streets and squares there are green areas, plantings and a large number of trees, both young and old, with massive trunks.
Today Shakhrisabz is of great interest for tourists from many countries, attracting guests with its rich heritage of ancient architecture and numerous attractions. The ancient great city of Shakhrisabz, along with many regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and it is sacredly protected by the organization.
Today, the economy of Shakhrisabz is based mainly on the agriculture and cotton processing, and the city is an active producer of canning and wine products.
A cozy and rather small town is located right at the foot of the Gissar and Zaravshan mountain ranges. According to the research of archaeologists, the history of Shakhrisabz counts 2700 years, and it begins with the ancient settlements of farmers in the third century BC. From the Chinese annals of the second century BC, it is known that the city of Suse existed on these lands. The ruler of this ancient city was the first to establish trade relations with China.
Shahrisabz more than once became the object of conquest. Persian kings Darius and Cyrus committed their trips to the city, while Commander Alexander the Great organized opposition to Arab troops here. In this regard, for a long time Hellenistic culture influenced Shakhrisabz and ancient Greek cults were spread in the city. The most famous of these were the cults of Athens, Hercules and Dionysus. Then, for two centuries, Shakhrisabz was part of the Kushan kingdom.
Ancient monuments and sights are concentrated in the old part of Shakhrisabz. One of the main architectural masterpieces of the city is Ak-Saray Palace, the construction of which lasted for 25 years. The magnificent palace with impeccable masonry and decoration in oriental style was the personal residence of Tamerlane. Also, very interesting complex Dorus-Saodat. Initially, the building was erected by Amir Timur as a tomb for his son Jahongir. The Lord even ordered to make a sarcophagus of white marble and cut the lines from the Quran on its cover, but Jahongir was never buried in the sarcophagus. The ashes of the commander were moved to Gur-Emir mausoleum in Samarkand.
Other attractions that Shakhrisabz’s guests will be interested in are Dorut-Tilavat complex, Kok-Gumbaz mosque, Kazy-Guzar mosque, Shamsiddin Kulal and Gumbazi Seyidan mausoleums, Malak-Azhdar khonako and 15th-century city baths.