An eccentric museum dedicated to Islam Karimov, the former dictator of Uzbekistan.

Once a luxurious flagship of the Soviet Union, this Brutalist structure remains a landmark of Tashkent’s communist past.

Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.

Home to what was once considered the largest gate in central Asia.

Beautiful palace stands tall over the Fergana Valley.

Witness traditional silk production in the Uzbek city that's been a hub of sericulture for over a thousand years.

Prowl through this sprawling bazaar under a massive Soviet-era dome for delicious eats.

Where Stoddart and Connolly suffered in the infamous Bug Pit.

Touching displays of wishes for peace from the Cold War era.

Looking for a unifying history, Uzbekistan finds its answer in a 14th Century Turco-Mongol conqueror... despite the fact he wasn't Uzbek.

The heartbeat of modern Uzbekistan’s thriving market culture.

One of the most ethnically diverse spots on the planet.

Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

An underground world of gorgeous, palatial metro stations designed as a nuclear shelter complex.

An 18-meter-long sarcophagus of a constantly growing dead prophet.

Final palace complex of the last of 29 Kokand rulers.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.