From the blue-tiled splendor of Tamerlane's Samarkand to the holy city of Bukhara, which boasts a mosque for each day of the year, and beyond, the desert-girdled khanate of Khiva, Uzbekistan lays claim to a breathtaking architectural legacy. Bound by sand and snow, fed by meltwater from the Roof of the World, these fertile oases attracted the greatest travelers and conquerors in history along the fragile threads of the Silk Road. This guide is the first to focus on the wealth of sites and colorful legends at the heart of Central Asia, plus the best of the rest--excursions covering the major attractions of neighboring republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. * The first guide to cover this former Soviet Republic, now in its third edition * A highly informative insight into the history, religion and culture of Uzbekistan * Up-to-date practical information for the traveler * Useful and informative maps * Special topics include a discussion of slaves, the disappearance of the Aral Sea and the life and death of Tamerlane the Great * Literary excerpts from writers such as George Curzon, Cohn Thubron and Ella Maillart * Information on excursions to neighboring republics * Superb color photography Read Less