Destinations / The Best Places to Visit in Samarkand / Registan Square
Registan Square
In times of Temur, the Square became the center of Samarkand. It heralds proclaimed the will of Khan, calling people sounds copper pipes. There were public executions, and they celebrated the beginning of the successful end of war. The emperor marched victoriously over the area, returning from countries capturing treasures, slaves, and the heads of enemies, put on a spear. The first and the most important - Ulugbek Madrasah was built in 1417-1420 years. On two floors of its 50 rooms 100 students lived. Under the small angular domes were lecture halls, and nearby was a large mosque. One of its graduates was Jami, the famous Tajik poet. According to some estimates, Ulugbek himself taught mathematics here. After 200 years, Samarkand ruler Yalangtush decided to build another two larger madrassas, more luxurious and rich in ornament, to eclipse the previous rulers. Sher-Dor Madrassah (Madrassah with the lions) was 1619 built-1636. Despite the fact that it was a religious building, it was quite unusual and provocative for its time, featuring tigers and persons on the huge site. Currently, there are conducted folklore festivals here. Madrassah Tilla-Kari (decorated with gold) was built in the 1647-1660. In addition to the educational goals it has also served as the main mosque. The luxury interior decoration in gold leaf makes a great impression. In the Middle Ages Samarkand was called the "heart of the Silk Road," and Registan the "heart of Samarkand." Registan Square is the main attraction not only of Uzbekistan, but throughout Central Asia. Situated in an elevated part of the city, this area with an ensemble of three madrassahs formed about six years ago.
The Square of Registan , literally means "sandy place" . Registan is the administrative, the trade and the craft center of the city. Registan in Samarkand is one of the outstanding examples of urban art in Central Asia, formed in the XVII century . It can "look through the pages, "thousands of stories of Samarkand. It has affected the whole history of the medieval city. From the north-eastern side of a shopping facility Chorsu , built in XVIII century. They say that all roads lead to Rome . Undoubtedly, all roads lead to Samarkand Registan. The square got together six radial streets, which at the beginning of the XV century were built by Tim "Tilpak-Furushan" . All the adjoining streets were filled with small shops and stalls . Everyone who comes to this area encompasses a particular mood: it seems that through the centuries cries of artisans , the buzz bazaar, voice messengers were read out the decrees of the rulers here... In times of Tamerlane Registan was the main commercial area of the city. During the reign of Ulugbek it acquired official parades. However, the value of the center of the social life, the trade and the craft activities of Registan are preserved to this day . The outstanding achievement of creative thought are of the XV century architectural ensembles. At this time, the most important urban development problem is the architectural design of the Registan Square. "O, wonder! vastness of it , this mountain stands firm, supporting the sky. The majestic facade height - double the heavens, the severity of the ridge of the earth comes to shudder " - words from old Tajik verses that emphasize the magnitude of the madrassa.
Others from The Best Places to Visit in Samarkand
” Alexander the Great, 329 BC Among the cities of the world, one of the most ancient is Samarkand, which is more than 2750 years old.
There are many legends surrounding its history.
Its praises have been sung by the writers and poets of old.
It has been the home of great scholars and architects, whose works still stand in all their glory to delight and amaze us.
Like other great centers of the ancient world, such as Babylon, Thebes and Rome, Samarkand has a rich and turbulent past.
In the 4th century BC it was conquered by Alexander the Great and his Greek troops.
At the beginning of the 13th century the city experienced the invasion of the barbaric hordes of Genghis Khan whose savage hordes annihilated its population, pillaged its treasure and reduced the city to the heap of ruins.
It looked as though the city was about to enter a long period of decline, but by the latter or the 13th century it had recovered to such an extent, that the Venetian explorer Marco Polo described it as “a very large and impressive city”.
In the late 14th century the Central Asian conqueror Timur (Tamerlan) designed to make Samarkand the capital of his great empire adorned with buildings of unsurpassed splendor, elegance and luxury.
Skillful architects and masons, artists and artisans were brought here from the conquered lands and the construction was launched on a scale that had never been known before.
It was then that the most famous buildings of the city were erected.
Very considerable construction work was also carried on under Ulugbek, Timur’s grandson, who was both an eminent ruler and scholar, the author of astronomic tables known throughout the world.
Under Ulugbek more magnificent buildings were erected.
There are a lot of historical monuments in Samarkand, well known all over the world: the Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the Registan Square, Bibi Khanym Mosque, the Ulug Bek Observatory.
A lot of tourists from different countries visit Samarkand and its famous monuments, which are dazzled.
Samarkand , the fabled city on the Silk Road, the capital of the conquerors and the Romantic poets to the monastery, still shines as the brightest star among the historical and the cultural centers of the modern world.
Today Samarkand is a place where is carefully preserved the unique spirit of antiquity.
A special combination of its rich monumental and amazing diversity of its cultural traditions make an impression on visitors.