Urgench (Uzbekistan): history, population and attractions of the city

Urgench (Uzbekistan) is a city within Khorezm, the oldest region of Central Asia. It was here that the famous Silk Trade Route passed. What is Urgench interesting today? What monuments and attractions are there in this city?

City of Urgench, Uzbekistan: at the threshold of ancient monuments

In the 12th century Khorezm was one of the most powerful formations in Asia. Today it is a modest Khorezm region within the state of Uzbekistan (Urgench is its administrative center). But on its lands there are still many historical monuments - traces of the former states and empires.

About a thousand kilometers from the capital Tashkent is the city of Urgench. Uzbekistan is deeply grateful to this city for the two bright personalities who were born here. This Ulmas Safaevich Alikhodjaev, an outstanding Soviet film actor, as well as the world-famous singer Anna Victoria Herman.

The Uzbek city of Urgench is literally at the threshold of the most ancient monuments of Central Asia. 50 km to the north, beyond the Amu Darya River, are the ancient fortresses of Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala. And 30 km to the south lies the legendary city of Khiva, a World Heritage site. By the way, from Urgench there you can quickly and comfortably reach ... a trolley bus! The trolleybus system "Urgench-Khiva" is the only one in Uzbekistan. In addition, it is one of the few in the post-Soviet space of intercity trolleybus routes.

But in this article we will focus our attention on the sights and interesting places of Urgench.

Urgench (Khorezm region, Uzbekistan): common features of geography and history

Historians still can not name the exact date of the founding of this city. The task of scientists is greatly complicated by the fact that Urgench at different times was called differently. According to one version, it was founded in the 17th century by people from the city of Kun-Urgench (now located on the territory of Turkmenistan). The latter were forced to resettle due to the change in the course of the Amudarya River.

How does Urgench live today? In 2008, Uzbekistan "awarded" the city with the first class airport. From it regular flights to Tashkent, St. Petersburg and Moscow are carried out. The city also has a railway station.

Urgench is located on the canal, ten kilometers from the Amu Darya River. The city has a developed food and light industry. Here there is a cotton ginning, repair-excavating, tire-repair factories, a factory for the production of building materials and other enterprises.

In Urgench there are about 140 thousand people. The dominant nation in the ethnic structure of the urban population are the Uzbeks (95%). Representatives of other nations and nationalities live in the city: Kazakhs, Russians, Turkmens, Koreans and Germans. Urgench has a university, a college and a number of comprehensive schools.

The main tourist attractions of the city

There are almost no ancient buildings in Urgench. The main natural landmark of the city is the Amu Darya River, which carries its waters a little to the north. The river can be a good fishing. In the suburbs there are several companies that will happily provide all the necessary attributes for this occupation.

In Urgench itself is worth visiting the city monuments. This is a memorial dedicated to Jaliliddin Manguberdy - a brave warrior, ruler of Khorezm, deeply revered in Uzbekistan.

Another interesting monument in the city is the monument "Avesta". It is dedicated to the collection of "Avesta", a unique work of ancient writing, in which the foundation of Zoroastrianism was laid. In Urgench you can also see a monument to the great mathematician and founder of the Al-Khrezmi algebra. It was opened in 1979, during the International Conference "Algorithms in Modern Mathematics" in the city.

Once in Urgench, you should definitely visit the local bazaar. It is located right in the center of the city. In the bazaar you can taste delicious flat cakes, buy juicy peaches or ripe melons. The market also offers its guests a huge selection of various spices.

Another interesting landmark of the city is located in the park named after Amir Timur. Here, on a small island, the main architectural monuments of the country were recreated. Of course, in a reduced form.

Finally…

Urgench (Uzbekistan) is a small city in the valley of the Amu Darya River. Tourists often perceive it as a "transit point" on the way to the more famous sights of Central Asia. But in the city itself there are interesting objects. For example, a monument to the great medieval mathematician al-Khorezmi. Or a local bazaar with a huge selection of products, fruits and spices. The sea of impressions will be presented by a trip from Urgench to Khiva on a trolleybus on the only trolleybus line in Uzbekistan.