2 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
Two-and-a-half hours from Samarkand by road
When to go
Avoid the height of summer and the depths of winter.
Minimum stay
A few hours
Nurata (Uzbekistan)
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@flickr cc t_y_l
Practical information on Nurata
Reviews of Nurata
Founded as a military fortress by Alexander the Great in 300 BC, Nurata has little of interest to offer to modern travelers.
My suggestion:
The local specialty is the Suzani, a rounded motif that appears on the region's traditional carpets - which, by the way, are ideal souvenirs.
My review
Aside from the ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress, a mausoleum that dates from the ninth century and a mosque from the sixteen century, I must admit that the city of Nurata came across as quite depressing. The dusty, modern center isn't a very inviting place to stay, despite the region's obvious virtues.
One tip: skip Nurata but do explore the surrounding countryside, which offers a range of different options, from the foothills of the Pamir Alay mountains (although the foothills still reach more than 2,000 meters!) or the elevated mountain plateaus where a stay in a yurt is always a possibility. it's also one of the last cities in Uzbekistan where you have the option of enjoying the countryside; further west, you head into the great desert plains.
©
@flickr cc t_y_l
Founded as a military fortress by Alexander the Great in 300 BC, Nurata has little of interest to offer to modern travelers.
My suggestion:
The local specialty is the Suzani, a rounded motif that appears on the region's traditional carpets - which, by the way, are ideal souvenirs.
My review
Aside from the ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress, a mausoleum that dates from the ninth century and a mosque from the sixteen century, I must admit that the city of Nurata came across as quite depressing. The dusty, modern center isn't a very inviting place to stay, despite the region's obvious virtues.
One tip: skip Nurata but do explore the surrounding countryside, which offers a range of different options, from the foothills of the Pamir Alay mountains (although the foothills still reach more than 2,000 meters!) or the elevated mountain plateaus where a stay in a yurt is always a possibility. it's also one of the last cities in Uzbekistan where you have the option of enjoying the countryside; further west, you head into the great desert plains.
©
@flickr cc t_y_l
