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HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH UZBEKISTAN

Shahrisabz
The town of Shahrisabz- meaning "green city" and known as the hometown of Tamerlaine. The age of architectural monuments here reaches 500 years, amongst them the ruins of Ak-Sarai palace meaning "the white palace"-the royal residence of Tamerlaine and his family. Dorus Siadat complex dated to 14th century is the mausoleum of Tamerlaine's son Jahangir who fell off the running horse at the age of 22. They say that the Great emperor never smiled again after his son's death. He also considered this place as family burial spot and built mausoleum, mosques, commemoration hall and huge stone sarcophagus for himself and his relatives which in fact were found by scientists only in 1954.

Forty six metres high is Kok Gumbaz mosque designed and built by the request of Ulugbek in memory of his father Shahruh-the son of Tamerlaine. Nearby is located Gumbezi Seidan mausoleum dated to 14th century and built by Tamerlaine in memory of his father. Later Ulugbek add the mosque which became the main mosque in Shahrisabz some time later.

Other places of interest here is 500 metre deep cave of Tamerlaine and Tash Kurgan mountain settlement where people still keeps their ancient traditions and customs.

Termez town is located in the very south of Uzbekistan on the bank of Amudar'ya River, and was found apparently in 3 century B.C. Termez played an important role on the historic crossroad of The Great Silk Road already in 2-1 centuries B.C.

Among tourist's spots here, things to see include: the ruins of Kara-Tepe - religious Buddhism centre dated to 2-3 centuries A.D. with various monuments of Buddhism culture, Fayaz-Tepe - Buddhism temple decorated with frescos and sculptures, and apparently dated to 1 century A.D., Sultan-Saodat mausoleum dated to 9-10 centuries A.D., Kyrk-Kyz palace dated to 10 century, architectural complex of Khamid Al-Termezi (748-869) an outstanding Uzbek mathematic and philosopher. In 14th century Tamerlaine requested to built a marble gravestone over the grave of Al-Termezi.