 Urgench is a crossroads when traveling towards Khiva. Beyond this asset, the city has no particular appeal.

Asia

Assalomu alaykum! Welcome to Uzbekistan, an epicentre for many civilisations, a place steeped in world history and tradition, and home to rare, untainted landscapes. Once a witness to the grandeur and decadence of the Mongol and Persian Empires and a privileged step of the Silk Road, Uzbekistan still has countless treasures from its multicultural past. From the Bukhara Madrasas to the gems of Timurid architecture, we come to the Khanate of Khiva in the heart of the desert, which seems almost timeless . You can feel the weight of history pervading the whole area. The country also offers great excursions, on foot and by camel, and the opportunity to discover wildlife which, despite the drought, remains as varied as it is exotic. During walks in the steppes and mountains, you will have the opportunity to observe gazelles, scorpions, lynx, mountain sheep and even snow leopards in their natural habitats.

Uzbekistan

Urgench

Khiva is a small, fortified town located in the middle of the Uzbek desert. The town is an open-air museum with an enormous number of Islamic religious monuments that are open to visitors.

Khiva

 Bukhara is considered to be the holiest city in Central Asia. It's a key stop on a  trip to Uzbekistan between mosques, madrassas (Islamic schools), and even mausoleums that have been here for thousands of years. 

Bukhara

Tashkent is a nice city to visit - Uzbekistan has some economic development here, far from the traditions of the East and very touristy cities of the West.

Tashkent

This historic, ruined city dates from the first to sixth centuries, and Toprak Kala bears witness to the glory of the Khwārezm culture. 

Toprak kala

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The site of Toprak Kala was once the magnificent capital of the Khwārezm kingdom in the first few centuries AD, and traces of its glory days can still be discovered by visitors, from the walls of the fortress, the ruins of the palace, and a number of different mausoleums. Located in the hard-to-reach province of Karakalpakstan, Toprak Kala is surrounded by dry, arid plains that make the site itself even harder to reach, meaning that summertime visits can become almost unbearable due to the heat. Personally, I wasn't particularly impressed by the site itself, as it is not very well preserved. I find that <a href="/uzbekistan/">Uzbekistan is bursting with stunning historic sites</a> that are much more worthy of a visit than Toprak Kala. For this reason, I wouldn't necessarily recommend Toprak Kala for your journey to Uzbekistan.

This historic, ruined city dates from the first to sixth centuries, and Toprak Kala bears witness to the glory of the Khwārezm culture.

I started my trip to Uzbekistan by visiting Khiva. The car journey to the Kalas was therefore my first sight of the surrounding landscape: the Amu Darya River, the cotton fields that extend as far as the eye can see, and the gradual progression of the Kyzyl Kum Desert (its name means 'red sand'). The Toprak Kala fortress finally began to come into view, and it was much more impressive than I had ever imagined it might be. The terracotta fortress takes the form of a rectangle that measures 350 meters by 500 meters. Constructed in the first century BC, it would go on to become the capital of the region around the third century, before being abandoned by its inhabitants in the sixth century. I was quite shocked by how well preserved it was, given that it is two thousand years old and tourists wander freely throughout the premises. The structure of the city's houses and courtyards, and some decorative details, are still clearly visible. Nonetheless, it is still worth hiring a guide when visiting the site, as that is the only way to get an explanation of everything that you see. The visit was absolutely fascinating, and if it piques your interest you can go on to explore two other citadels, at Ayaz Kala and Kyzil Kala.

If you visit <a href="/uzbekistan/">Khuva</a> <a href="/uzbekistan/">during your stay in Uzbekistan</a>, make sure that you plan a visit to the Toprak Kala Citadel. The site, and the views, are well worth the effort.

Toprak kala Vacations

Toprak kala: How to get there?

Toprak kala: See when to go ?

Toprak kala: For how long?

Toprak kala: What to see nearby?