Usbekistan

A Land of Antiquity, Mystery and Hospitality

- Anirban Dasgupta

No, Uzbekistan never occupied a prominent place on my travel Wishlist. It was a country I had never given much thought to - far from the enticing blue oceans, distant from the majestic mountains of the Himalayas, lacking the renowned wildlife and dense forests found in other destinations. Neither as glamorous as European heritage and history nor as modern and avant-garde as Singapore or Berlin, Uzbekistan had never captured my imagination.

However, all of that changed on the 15th of October, 2023.

As I stepped onto the sleek and elegant Boeing 700 series of Uzbekistan Airlines, little did I know that this journey would not only reshape my perception of the country but also become one of the most memorable adventures of my life. The comfortable flight, accompanied by delectable food, set the tone for what would prove to be a ten-day trip of surprises and awe.

In the pages of history, the city of Samarkand beckoned. The cities of Tashkent and Samarkand in Uzbekistan exemplified the perfect equilibrium between tradition and modernity. As we immersed ourselves in the vibrant culture and lifestyle of this extraordinary land, we witnessed the harmonious coexistence of these two contrasting elements in every facet of society.

A stroll on the pages of History-Samarkand