‘Plov’, from the Persian ‘pilaw’, is the national dish of Uzbekistan. Consisting of rice, carrots, onions and meat – usually mutton, but also lamb or beef – it’s slow cooked in sheep’s fat, and traditionally served with horse-meat sausage a…

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One of the most popular stops on our Uzbekistan tours is the visit to the Narzullayev ceramics workshop between Bukhara and Samarkand. The family have been potters at the same plot near the Zeravshan River for five generations. They continu…

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As in China and India, the state has a monopoly over silk production in Uzbekistan, although the bulk of the production and weaving is carried out in small, family-run businesses. A fine example and one we love to take our clients to is the…

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There’s no better way to experience the distinctive atmosphere of the Kyzlkum Desert in Uzbekistan than spending a night or two in a traditional yurt. These circular felt tents first came to the region with the Mongols in the 13th century a…

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An art form that remained remarkably resilient to the cultural suppression of Soviet times is Uzbek embroidery, or ‘suzani’. Brides-to-be traditionally stitched ornate, multi-coloured wall hangings, bed spreads, table covers and prayer mats…

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Carpets are produced throughout Uzbekistan. Most are made of silk, and are of an exceptionally high quality – with a price tag to match! It can take a couple of women six months or more to weave one rug. The final cost depends on the ‘knot…

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A forlorn, dusty town in the Kyzl Kum desert has to be one of the last places on earth you’d expect to find a world-class gallery of modern art. But Nukus, the otherwise un-distinguished, Soviet-block capital of Karakalpakstan Republic, in…

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Of all the art forms refined under the patronage of the Timurids, glazed tilework has achieved the most enduring and visible legacy in Uzbekistan. Every inch of the minarets, domes, niches and facades embellishing country’s world-famous rel…

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Daily markets remain an essential part of Uzbek life, and one of the great pleasures of visiting the country lies in exploring them, watching local people as they go about their business shopping for fresh produce, clothes and spices. Thre…

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Many forms of traditional Uzbek music were suppressed in the Soviet era, particularly those associated with Sufi worship and other expressions of the Islamic faith, but certain folk forms were encouraged and still thrive in the country toda…

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One of the great sights of Khiva are the intricately carved pillars of the Jama Masjid, in the heart of the old walled city. What few of the travellers who admire them work realize, however, is that only a stone’s throw away a family of woo…

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