Audio tour SAMARKAND – JEWEL OF THE SILK ROAD

Welcome to Samarkand, one of the most ancient cities in the world, located in the Central Asian oasis of the Zarafshan River. Its strategic location and rich history have drawn the attention of legendary conquerors like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Amir Temur, all of whom sought to claim it as their own. The city's name with roots in ancient languages like Sanskrit and Persian was Samaria or Samar, translates to "a meeting place," reflecting its historical role as a hub for sacred rituals and tribal councils.

 The city was founded in 700BC as old as Rome. By the time Marco Polo visited in the 13th century, Samarkand was already over 2,000 years old. It has been a cradle of culture and science, linked to luminaries such as Omar Khayyam, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Alisher Navoiy. Over centuries, Samarkand served as the capital for various empires, including the Samanids and the Qarakhanids. Under Amir Temur, it became the heart of a vast empire, and Ulugbek's observatory made it a global center for astronomical research.

 Today, Samarkand is celebrated as the "town of blue domes" and holds a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, a testament to its timeless architectural splendour and historical significance.

 I am excited to be your tour guide today, walking with you, to enlighten you on the major attractions of Samarkand. I have curated 15 attractions and most of them are historical mosques, Mausoleums and Madrassas that the city is known for.

 Before I start, let me give you brief history of ancient Samarkand and its transformation to becoming as an Islamic center.

 Spanning over 200 hectares, ancient Samarkand sits atop the Afrasiab hills, named after a legendary Turanian king. The city's citadel, believed to be the sacred fortress Kangdiz, was central to ancient legends, including tales of Siyavush and King Kay-Hosrov, who built a miraculous fire altar and temple here. It also played a role in Zoroastrianism, with Zarathustra storing the "Avesta," his holy scripture, on gold plates in Samarkand.

 During the Achaemenid Empire, Samarkand, known as Marakanda, became the capital of Sogdiana, protected by formidable walls. It was later destroyed by Alexander the Great, who faced criticism from Zoroastrians for desecrating its temples and sacred texts. The city rebounded in the 4th century A.D., flourishing as a key hub on the Silk Road.

 By the 1st millennium, Chinese records referred to it as "The Kang Kingdom," a dominant Sogdian princedom. Over the centuries, Samarkand saw the rule of Hephthalites, Turks, and the Tang dynasty. During this period, the city was fortified with four new walls and enriched with Zoroastrian, Buddhist, and Christian temples, some of whose artworks still survive. In the 8th century, Arab forces under Qutayba ibn Muslim conquered Samarkand, marking the city's integration into the Islamic world.