Historical monuments and museums of uzbekistan

BUDDHIST SITES IN UZBEKISTAN Buddhism thrived in Uzbekistan in the Graeco-Bactrian and Kushan periods, and Termez was a regionally important centre of Buddhism in Central Asia. The two most significant Buddhist sites in Uzbekistan which survive to the present day are the Kara Tepe Stupa and cave complex, and the Fayaz Tepe Buddhist Monastery. Fayaz Tepa was built in the 1st to 3rd centuries AD and has been restored with the help of the Japanese government. Many of the finds, including beautiful Buddhist sculptures, are on display in Termez Archeological Museum, one of the best museums in Uzbekistan.

ANCIENT FORTRESSES IN UZBEKISTAN In Karakalpakstan you will find Elliq Qala, which means “50 Fortresses”. In fact, there are rather more than 50 desert castles in this part of Uzbekistan, as new sites keep being discovered. The fortresses are on UNESCO’s Tentative List for World Heritage Site status, and are part of the Golden Ring of Ancient Khorezm. Amongst the most impressive Khorezm fortresses are Ayaz Qala (4th century BC), Topraq Qala (1st century BC), and Big Guldursun (7-8th century AD).
There are ancient fortresses all across Uzbekistan, however, so you can easily find one which is conveniently located for your itinerary. Varakhsha in Bukhara Region was founded in the 4th century BC; Nurata Fortress in Navoi Region is thought to have been built by Alexander the Great; Ahsiket in Namangan Region was built in the 3rd century BC but destroyed by the Mongols; Kyr Kyz near Termez is associated with a popular local legend of 40 female warriors; and the Ark Fortress in Bukhara is part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Bukhara.

SILK ROAD SITES IN UZBEKISTAN Bukhara, Khiva, and Samarkand are often described as Uzbekistan’s SilkRoad cities, and indeed they contain dozens of dazzling monuments paid for with the profits of Silk Road trade. But in Uzbekistan you can also find monuments directly connected with the Silk Road merchants, the goods they traded, and the journeys they made. 
In Navoi Region, two Silk Road sites lie right on the main highway, which follows the same route as the ancient Silk Road. You can enter the 11th century Rabati Malik caravanserai, which is on UNESCO’s Tentative List for World Heritage Site status, then cross the road to admire Sardoba Malik, the attractive domed cistern which supplied the caravanserai’s drinking water. Tourists visiting Bukhara can still shop in the original trading domes. These include Taki Telpal Furushon (the hat makers’ dome), Taki Sarrafon (money changers’ dome), and Taki Zargaron (jewellers’ dome).