Mustaqillik Maydoni in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan

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Tashkent (meaning Stone City) is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. The buildings on the postcard houses the Ministry of Finance,  located on Independence Square.

 

After the proclamation of Uzbekistan's independence in September 1991, "Lenin Square" was renamed in 1992 as "Mustaqillik Maydoni", which translates to "Independence Square".

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The stamp on the right is part of a set of stamps about space, issued in 1997. 

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Along the Silk Road, ancient city of Khiva | Uzbekistan

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Khiva is an ancient city located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. In the 10th century Khiva is mentioned as a major trading center on the Silk Road. Itchan Kala is the inner town, protected by brick walls some 10 m high, of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran.

In 1990 the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Thx Patrik!

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Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, a monument for Amir Timur

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Amir Timur (1336-1405), also known as Tamerlane, is remembered as a vicious conqueror, who razed ancient cities to the ground and put entire populations to the sword. He was the most powerful ruler in the Muslim world after defeating the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria, the emerging Ottoman Empire and the declining Sultanate of Delhi.

On the other hand, he is also known as a great patron of the arts, literature, and architecture. The Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, located on the Silk Roads in southern Uzbekistan, is over 2000 years old. The city contains many fine monuments, and in particular those from the Timurid period.

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A matching stamp!

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Itchan Kala, Uzbekistan

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Khiva is an ancient city,located in the southern part of the region of Khorezm in Uzbekistan. It is a unique monument town, completely preserved in the cultural style of the region. In the 10th century Khiva is mentioned as a major trading center on the Silk Road. 

Itchan Kala is the old part of the city. Today Itchan-Kala is open-air museum with more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses. In 1990 the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Four minarets from Bukhara | Buxoro, Uzbekistan

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The Char-Minar Madrassah was built in 1807 by Khalif Niazkul. He built the madrassah with a cozy courtyard and a pond, a summer mosque, and a four-turret building opening into the architectural complex.

Char-Minar means “the four minarets” in Tajik language. It draws attention to itself with its unusual architectural solution, the main focus of which is the four turrets with their sky blue cupolas, which have nothing in common with ordinary minarets.

The historic center of Bukhara, which contains numerous mosques and madrassas, has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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From a set of four stamps 2011, golden heritage of Uzbekistan, a Lavh.

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The Madrassah of Sher-Dor in Samarqand, Uzbekistan

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Samarqand founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Over the history this legendary city on the Silk Road went through growths and decays, suffered from destroying invasions of foreign rulers and again revived, becoming more beautiful. Trade routes to the west, to Persia, to the east, to China, to the south, to India, intersected here and formed intersections of the Silk Road. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001.

 

Sher-Dor Madrassah was built on the Registan Square, Samarqand in 1619-1636. The name is translated as “Madrassah with Lions”.

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(left) To commemorate Berdaq, an Uzbek poet from the nineteenth century

(right) Uzbek National Academic Drama Theatre

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Tilla-Qori Madrassah in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

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Samarkand is the second largest city of Uzbekistan. The history of Samarkand is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed many upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great, the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane's. Hence, the culture of Samarkand was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures. 

The postcard shows the inside of the Tilla-Qori Madrasah. Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious (of any religion).

Built in1660, the madrasah also encompassed the role of a mosque. As guests approach the glazed portal it will become apparent why the madrasah was called Tilla-Qori - "covered by gold".

Stamps

(top) Uzbek National Academic Drama Theatre.

(bottom) State Academic Bolshoi Theatre named after Alisher Navoi.

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