Situated in Central Asia between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, the Aral Sea, and the slopes of the Tien Shan Mountains, Uzbekistan is the largest of the ’stans’ in the region, bounded by Kazakhstan in the north and northwest, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east and southeast, Turkmenistan in the southwest and Afghanistan in the south.

It was through this land that the Great Silk Road ran, with conquerors, adventurers and traders plying their way from west to east and east to west, seeking the silks and spices of the Orient. Conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, the nomadic tribes living there were later converted to Islam by invading Arab forces during the 8th century. Since then Islam has been the dominant religion in the region and its noted scholars have contributed heavily to Uzbek culture.

The Mongols under Genghis Khan took the region in the 13th century, and completely destroyed all the cities, the irrigation infrastructure and sources of culture over a three-year period. It later became part of Amir Timur the Great’s empire and his successors until the 16th century. In a series of battles, he cleared the area of Mongol rulers and, at the end of 14th century, a powerful state covering a large area was established. Timur stressed the strengthening of political power and economic and cultural growth.

During his rule and after his death, the Timurids paid great attention to the promotion of art, science, and culture. This was a time for re-building monuments and cultural facilities, for the rapid flowering of Uzbek poetry, miniature painting, manuscript art and the development of numerous scientific disciplines within astronomy, mathematics, history and medicine. Today, Amir ؛Timur is held in great esteem in the hearts of the Uzbek people who number close to 28 million. The Moguls who later came to power and prominence in India had their roots in this region.

Present-day Uzbekistan became independent in 1991 following 70 years of Soviet rule. And yet, not much has changed in the way of social or cultural mores. In a trip organized by the Planet Group in the UAE, I was privileged to be part of a delegation that visited the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara.

Our three-and-a-half-hour journey from Sharjah in the comfort of an Uzbekistan Airways B-767 soon brought us to Tashkent, the capital. Tashkent is a multicultural city and while Soviet influence has stamped its mark on modern-day architecture, there still remains monumental evidence of a great and historic past. And there is much to see and do. A visit to Jami Mosque, Khazrat Imam Complex, the Catholic Cathedral or the day market offers visitors plenty of diversions. Evenings can be topped off with a visit to the Opera and Ballet Navoi Theater or a walk through Independence and Friendship Squares. One of the gratifying observations was the lack of international fast food outlets. Instead healthy and hearty Uzbek fare abounds.

From there it was on to Samarkand by road. During the five hour journey, as we sped through farmland budding with cotton and fruit trees, it was almost like going back in time and recalling snippets of historic past events. Samarkand is a city that has retained most of its historic monuments and one of the highlights of my trip was a visit to the Imam Bukhari Mausoleum.

Imam Bukhari is a scholar, revered by all Muslims; he dutifully compiled the authenticated Hadith (Sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after painstaking research and travels including a stay in Makkah in the 9th century. His books are widely referred to in Islamic writings. Imam Bukhari took great care in writing down the Hadith and choosing those which met the standards and conditions of strong testimonials which included only reliable and trustworthy testifiers. He spent 16 years in writing the kitaab, altering it a total of three times.

Bukhara was our next stop, and the chilly air and soft patter of rain in this ancient town further stimulated our historical interest. Bukhara was once a great trading center for silks and spices and the remnants of those activities are still visible today. Scattered among the historic places of interest and mud and clay houses are the emerging signs of a nation on the move.

An 800-year-old synagogue testifies to the tolerance the Uzbeks allowed people of other faiths. Arts and crafts are visible everywhere you go, and the good nature of the street vendors makes you want to stuff your suitcases with ceramics, silk and pottery.

During our weeklong trip to this part of the world, I was overwhelmed by the sense of history and the friendliness of the Uzbek people. For Gulf visitors looking for a break from the tried and true, Uzbekistan would surely not disappoint. It is close, very reasonable and extremely safe. So if you are looking for a break this summer and want something different, yet safe and affordable, head to this jewel of a country. Once you’ve been there, you will not be disappointed. It will leave lasting memories. And you will want to return. I know I do.