Karakalpakistan autonomous Republic

Karakalpakistan autonomous Republic

The territory of the republic is 166 000 square km. The population is 1 569 000 people. The autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan located in the north-western part of Uzbekistan has its own constitution. The constitution was adopted on April 9, 1993. The republic has national emblem, flag and anthem. It was formed in 1924 and it was a part of Kazakhstan republic, since 1936 it is a part of Uzbekistan Republic. The Karakalpaks which is the main ethnic group in this area speak Karakalpak language of kipchak small group, from Turkic group languages of Altaic family. According to the religion they are Sunni Muslim.The territory of Karakalpakstan is covered with Kyzylkum desert in north-western part, with Ustyurt plateau in south-eastern part and with the Amu Darya delta. The southern part of Aral Sea is located on the territory of Karakalpakstan. There are also some mountain ranges. The biggest one is Sultans Uvays mountain ranges.

What to see in Karakalpakistan?

Mizdakkhan

This is an impressing architectural complex. Local people say that there is a grave of the first man Adam. Over the imaginary grave of Adam there is a construction called “Apocalypse Watch”. Each year the bricks of building walls fall, according to the sayings, if the last brick falls once, it will be the end of the world, so the pilgrims try to put the bricks in the construction, believing that God would hear their prayer and save them. This is a necropolis where travelers can admire the architecture of different periods. Not far from Mizdakkhan there are the ruins of fortress called Gyaur-Kala. Gyaur-Kala is a pre-Islamic city fortress even the name Gyaur from Arabic means “Infidels”, so “Fortress of Infidels”.

Ayazkala

Ayazkala is a main fortress among ancient Khorezmian fortresses of pre-Islamic period. The name Ayaz-kala means “Fortress in the wind”. The historians say that this mound on a rocky hill was built at IV c. B.C. The construction of the fortress refers to the time when Zorastrian traditions became one of the main spiritual values of the local people. The archaeologists have found an amazing burial according to the rites of the ancient fire-worshipers - peeled sun and birds of prey of a human skeleton that were placed in a ceramic jug.Next to main part of Ayazkala there is a small building also on the hill emerged later. Nowadays there is a yurt camp for the tourists who want to spend a night inside of nomadic tents in a desert.

Toprakkala

Toprakkala was a capital of ancient Khorezm kingdom. The name means “Soil fortress”. It was built at I-IV centuries and was used as a residence of Afrighids dynasty. Archaeologists say that this fortress also served as a center of religious rituals and here was built the Zoroastrian temple. They found the ruins of palace with 150 rooms decorated with impressive wall-painted objects. During the excavations a very interesting archive of Khorezmian governors was found as well. It is an important historical source to learn the history and culture of people lived in Central Asia in that period.

Djanbaskala

This fortress translated as a “sloping fortress” was built at IV c. B.C. Djanbaskala doesn`t look like other fortresses and its main difference from the other ancient cities is an absence of towers and minarets, which is an indispensable element of the Khorezm architecture of that period.

The fortress is rectangular with a size 200x170 m. The height of its walls is 10 meters in some parts it reaches 20 meters, between internal and external walls there is a passage of 3 meters of width. It is more well preserved than other buildings as it was covered with dunes.

The complex of Sultan Uwais Korani

Khazret Uwais ibn Omar al Korani was one of successors of Prophet Muhammad. He is famous in Central Asia as Ways – baba or Sultan – baba. He was born in 625 in a small village called Karayn in the territory of actual Yemen. He died in a battle in Sifra against Muaviya when he was only 32 years. He was buried in Syria. His symbolic tomb is located in Karakalpakistan. The period of construction is unknown, around the tomb there are the buildings dated to XVII-XIX centuries. Not far from the mausoleum of Uwais Korani there is a small mausoleum called Chinor Bobo who was a haircutter of Prophet Mohammed. Today it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for local people and for pilgrims coming abroad.

Chilpak-kala

This architectural monument of ancient Khorezm was a religious cult center of Zoroastrians. The name of Chilpak-Kala means “Fortress of Silence”. According to the legend the fortress was built by Deva Haji enemy of Ahura Mazda, who led the eternal fight against the forces of light. A round tower with high walls standing out on a hill above the sandy surroundings impresses with its size. The fortress was used as Zoroastrian cemetery, where people put dead bodies waiting it to be eaten by birds and animals, as it was not allowed to bury in the ground and to burn it on fire.

Aral Sea-Muynak

It was the biggest water reservoir in Central Asia covering the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and fourth biggest lake in a world. Today it is almost dried up, it is divided in two lakes: southern and northern. This catastrophe began in 60s of last century. There were 34 varieties of fish and in the territory of Karakalpakistan there were 5 fish factories and 1 fish cannery. For the amateurs of extraordinary tours local agencies organize tours to Aral Sea, where the travelers can spend a night in tents.

On the way to Aral Sea there is a city called Muynak formed in 1963. This city was a main producer of fish canned goods. The population is 13 000 people. There was a big port that became a big cemetery of ships used during the flourished period of this area.

Ustyurt Plateau

Ustyurt Plateau is the land of wonderful canyons. The nature world of Ustyurt impresses with a big number of birds such as eagles and vultures, argali and wild horses. The main sight of Ustyurt is its rich with precious artifacts cave dwellings. They are dated back more than 1200 years. In 1951, the geographers found ceramic artifacts dated XII-XIII centuries during expediting this caves. Archaeologists descending in several caves found a vessel and pictures on the walls. Usyurt is a good touristic destination for travelers loving safari, nature, ecotours. It is a dreaming destination for photo tours.

Nukus

The Capital of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan was founded at XIX c as small village, since 1932 Nukus has a status of the city. The name of Nukus means ( 9 sons) according to the legend a Khorezmian governor was very angry with his wifes and he exiled them with an order not get marry anymore to the actual territory of Nukus, where the wives got married with traders and nine sons born from them founded this city. So, Karakalpak nation comes from 9 exiled wives from harem of khan. The population is more than 260 000 inhabitants.

What to see in Nukus ?

Igor Savitskiy museum

The most popular attraction for the tourists is a Museum under the name of famous Igor Savetsskiy considered "Louvre of desert ", the "miracle of the desert" founded in 1966. This museum has more than 280 exhibits. Igor Savitskiy who founded this museum was a great Russian archaeologist and amateur of Central Asia. In this museum you can find the objects of material culture and art of the ancient Khorezm, folk arts and crafts of Karakalpaks. The tourists loving art can admire masterpieces of Russian avant-garde painting school, as this museum has the best and the richest art collection in Central Asia. You will discover archaeological findings, the objects from the period of ancient Khorezm - the home of Zoroastrian religion and its sacred book "Avesta", the unique terracotta statues of Zoroastrian goddess of fertility Anahita, ossuaries - containers for bones of bodies of deceased worshipers.