The Bibi-Khanym Mosque was built by Timur's wife Bibi-Khanym to celebrate the return of the ruler after a conquest from India. There are many stories related to the construction that you will encounter on your Uzbekistan Tours. The queen designed the mosque to make it the most flamboyant of all Samarkand Attractions. The legend says the chief architect in charge of the construction fell in love with the queen and delayed the work of completion as long as possible.
This made the queen furious with rage as Timur was about to return soon from India and the building creation was incomplete. The architect put the condition to complete the structure only if the queen allowed him to kiss her. These legends and other stories are popular in Samarkand and on your Samarkand Tours, you will hear many of them from the local people.
The construction of Bibi-Khanym Mosque which began in 1399 by Timur which was almost completed in 1404 when Timur returned from his India Campaign. However due to the various structural defects that showed up in the building various support systems were attached to the building. Abdullah Khan II who was the last Shaybanid Dynasty Khan of Bukhara canceled all restorations in the 16th Century. This was the beginning of the slow deterioration of the mosque.
The restoration of the mosque finally began in the 20th century by the Uzbek government. The three dome buildings and the main portal were renovated which are a major part of Uzbekistan Tours Attractions.
To construct the Bibi-Khanym Mosque architects from Iran and India were brought for the project and it is said that 95 elephants were used to transport the raw materials. It is believed that the mosque was constructed to represent his conquest of the world. On your Samarkand Tours, you will visit this building with a double or triple dome structure to provide it with stability. The vaults of the Masjid-i Bibi Khanum are providing support to the domes from below and traditional Islamic "stalactite" were tinted on them. This mosque is the best part of all Samarkand Attractions.
The work of art as it is, this mosque is the best among various Places To Visit In Samarkand. Among the many Samarkand Sights its difficult to complete visiting all of them if you are planning a day tour. For this purpose, EuroAsia Travels has designed specialized tour packages that are customized to our clients' needs. The various Tourist Attractions In Samarkand and viewing them closely is possible with our tailor-made services. Our Uzbekistan Travel Advice is to plan these trips early on to avail offers or discounts on tour prices.
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There is nothing as per law in Uzbek that a woman must wear, so you can bring your clothes that you love to wear. However, the country has its own culture and we believe you won’t like to offend it. So, we recommend packing some light shirts, t-shirts, jeans and long-sleeved dresses covering knees. You need to wear a scarf or something that covers your head while entering a mosque. You can pack some swim-dress to wear near your pool at your hotel.
Well, it’s really up to you. Bring as much as you want to spend in Uzbekistan. The country is not much expensive but most for paying most of the things you will need cash. Cards are not much accepted here. You can exchange your money at the airport or in any hotel or banks of Uzbekistan (both in private & govt. bank). Keep in mind that you need to pay tips in restaurants and to porters (not mandatory, but expected as it’s almost a custom to tip).
No, drinking tap water isn’t considered safe in Uzbekistan. We highly recommend using bottled water while you are in Uzbekistan. Also, make sure to eat clean and well-cooked food. If you are visiting Uzbek inn hot time make sure to keep big water bottles as you will feel thirsty due to the hot climate especially in the day time.
Well, the answer is No. Uzbekistan is not only a magical country with a rich history and spectacular natural beauty but also a very friendly country to visit. If you are afraid of if it is safe, then let us tell you even the country is safe for solo woman travelers. Uzbek people are warm and friendly. They will easily welcome you as their guest. Choose a reliable tour operator and explore the best of the country without any fear.
Of course, you can avail alcohol in Uzbekistan. It is kind of part of their life. Alcohol is taken by many Uzbek people especially, the Russians. Soviet people introduced Vodka and other alcoholic drinks that are now a part of their life. However, some very strict Muslims don’t prefer drinking. However, it is allowed and legal in the country.
Uzbekistan is famous for its ancient cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez, and Tashkent that are explained in many historical stories. These places have some stunning old Islamic architecture buildings that make it famous. As well, the natural beauty, mountains, and rich history of the country usually fascinate its travelers.
Uzbek people eat many types of food in their daily life. The dishes of Uzbekistan are delicious. Mostly they eat and drink soups, meat dishes, floury dishes, bread, milk, and oriental sweets. They share their culinary style mostly with Turkic people. Mostly they have a whole meal in one pot. You can try some local cuisine during your visit to Uzbekistan like; Plov, Shashlik, Lagman Soup, Shurpa, Dimlama, Chuchvara, Samsa, and more.
While visiting to Uzbek you are recommended to have the following vaccination-
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Rabies
Meningitis
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
The country is best to visit at any time except the summer season (July & August). During these 2 months, the country is at its highest temperature that goes up to 40-degree Celsius. However, spring and autumn are a great time to visit Uzbek i.e. from April to May and September to early November. During this period the country remains dry with a clear sky and cool temp.
The tropical climate of the country is great for malaria mosquitoes; hence once malaria was the worst health threat in Uzbekistan. To protect people from falling ill in malaria the govt. of Uzbek has taken various steps and in 2010 the country became malaria-free. Now it has won the WHO certificate as a malaria-free country. Hence, you can stay stress-free about malaria.
In July 2018, Uzbekistan started an E-visa facility and there are 76 nationalists can apply for a visa online. You can go to the official E-visa site, and apply for your e-visa by filling a form online. The total cost is 20USD. It takes 2 to 3 working days for processing your visa and then you can get a confirmation in your mail. The payment you can do only in the working hours. If you are not from a country where you can go for e-visa, then you can go with the traditional way. You can book it from the embassy.
There are 21 countries that enjoy visa free entry to Uzbekistan. Here is the cost for Uzbekistan-
Cost for 30-days single-entry or multiple-entry visa- US$60 to US$100 for most nationalities
Cost for 30-days single-entry or multiple-entry visa - $160 for US nationalities
Additional entry cost- $10Per entry