Navoiy Province: Nature, Desert Landscapes and Culture

• Sarmishsay is an ancient site with more than 10,000 Stone Age petroglyphs.
• Aydarkul is an endorheic lake in the Kyzylkum Desert and part of water tourism routes.
• A tourist ring in the region is 340 kilometers long and includes more than 60 sites.
• Historic sites include Rabat-i Malik, Toshmajid and the Deggaron Mosque.
• The Tudakul Reservoir has a recreation area for sunbathing, swimming and fishing.

The landscape around Sarmishsay is characterized by striking mountain ranges, valleys and distinctive rock formations. It supports a diverse range of plant and animal life. Nature enthusiasts can make this landscape a focus of their trip and distinguish it from the region’s water destinations.

Aydarkul lies in the Kyzylkum Desert and provides a habitat for pelicans, swans, herons and bird species listed in Uzbekistan’s Red Book. The lake is part of water tourism routes. Its abundance of fish supports a fishing season and successful catches. Visitors can also take part in ethnographic excursions to yurt camps on the shore.

Tudakul offers another waterside landscape: the reservoir lies in an oasis in the desert, within Navoiy Province. Its water is highly saline and partly mineralized. The recreation area there offers opportunities for sunbathing, swimming and fishing. This information helps distinguish interest in water activities from the water body’s particular characteristics.

Sarmishsay offers a glimpse into a very early artistic tradition: its more than 10,000 Stone Age petroglyphs depict hunting, rituals and social interactions. They differ markedly from the buildings that tell stories of trade, religion and architectural history.

Rabat-i Malik served as a caravanserai for merchant caravans from the 13th century until the beginning of the 18th century. At the same time, the site preserves the remains of an 11th-century palace. The surviving entrance portal is known locally as the “Gates of Bukhara.” The different dates refer to different aspects of the site: the palace remains on the one hand and its use as a caravanserai on the other.

The Toshmajid architectural complex was built in the village of Vangozi in the Kyzyltepa District of Navoiy Province. It dates from the 16th century and includes a mosque, a minaret, a madrasa, a bathhouse and an old cemetery. The tower was built between 1583 and 1586. Art and architectural historians believe that Toshmajid was an important Sufi center in the 16th century.

The Juma Friday Mosque in the Chashma Complex also has distinctive architectural features: it stands above the sacred spring and has forty wooden columns and a 16-meter dome. The Chashma Complex is located in the center of Nurata, includes monuments and is a sacred place of prayer.

The Deggaron Mosque is located in the village of Khazar in the Karman District. It is dated to the late 11th or possibly early 12th century. Four pillars support a central dome; the architectural style is considered more typical of pre-Islamic buildings. The architectural and historic complex also includes a museum, a khanaka and the mausoleum of Sheikh Mavlono Orif Deggaroni.

The province’s tourism routes include a 340-kilometer “tourist ring” with more than 60 sites, including Nurata, Karman and Kyzyltepa. Its length and number of stops offer a concrete point of reference if you are considering a trip that takes in multiple places. The ecotourism route and the Sentob recreation area in Nurata District also offer a range of experiences, from walks through the foothills to visits to Aydarkul. In Sentob, tourists can also go horseback riding, walk around the area and hike in the mountains.

Konimeh District has an ecopark for ecotourism and camping. Visitors can sample Uzbek, Kazakh and Karakalpak cuisine, as well as fresh camel’s milk, shubat. The park’s facilities include a musical fountain, rides for children, a sports field and an amphitheater for cultural recreation. Those who want to take local cuisine or leisure activities into account alongside nature and history when choosing a trip will find a distinct focus here.

For regional orientation, you can also visit the pages for Nurata District and Taldy. Other destinations in the travel guide include Andijan Province, Tashkent, Surxondaryo Province, Samarkand Province, Khorezm and Jizzax Province.

How many petroglyphs are there at Sarmishsay?

Sarmishsay has more than 10,000 Stone Age petroglyphs. They depict hunting, rituals and social interactions.

What can you do at the Tudakul Reservoir?

The recreation area at the reservoir offers opportunities for sunbathing, swimming and fishing.

What does Konimeh Ecopark offer?

Visitors can enjoy, among other things, Uzbek, Kazakh and Karakalpak cuisine, shubat, rides for children, a sports field and an amphitheater.

For the main travel overview: Uzbekistan.