Navoi town is the center of the same name region of Uzbekistan with a very developed industry. But is it possible for an industrial town to compete with tourist hubs like Bukhara or Khiva? I asked myself this question after my friend’s multiple stories about Zeravshan Valley. I had to find out whether Navoi tours are really what travellers need.
Navoi is a young city indeed, it’s only 65 years old. Despite its small age, it managed to attract attention due to its geographical location. In the middle of the vast steppe, the town looks like an island in the ocean or an oasis in the desert. The Great Silk Road used to pass through it, and millions of traders stopped here overnight.
It was a small unnamed caravanserai near the village of Karmin, with a history dating back several hundred years. The construction of a new town with an entirely industrial purpose started only in 1958. It was named in honour of the great poet Alisher Navoi. All spheres of industry are highly developed in the town, from mining and metallurgy to mechanical engineering. However, tourists are not attracted by the industry.
It looks like Navoi trip has only factories and plants to offer, doesn’t it? A short conversation with the tour operator made everything clear. In the town, you can relax in green parks, visit the local market, and attend a number of museums. Meanwhile, the real sights are scattered around the outskirts of the town in the Kyzylkum sands. For instance, the Sarmyshsoy Gorge with a huge number of petroglyphs on stone cliffs.
It is worth buying a Tashkent Navoi tour package just to see these ancient petroglyphs. The sight is inexpressible in words: two-kilometre walls completely covered with mysterious pictograms of the IV century BC. Not only archaeologists from all over the world come there, but futurologists as well.
Ordinary tourists compare travelling through the Sarmyshsoy Gorge to landing on the moon because the cliffs are so impressive. They say that traces of alien civilizations were discovered there, but I don’t believe it.
Navoi travel always includes visiting the Hungry Steppe, particularly the remains of the Rabat-i-Malik residence of the Karakhanid dynasty. The ruined palace, of which the central portal with the foundation remained, evokes mixed feelings. What is really striking is that every stone laid in the wall was not touched by the restorers. The original remnants of the centuries-old building survived till nowadays and now repose under the scorching sun of modern Uzbekistan.
Navoi tour is very multifaceted, you see that the advanced infrastructure of the town contrasts with the neighbouring ruins of ancient Central Asian civilizations. I walked along the sands during the day for sightseeing purposes, in the evening enjoyed the shade in local parks, and dined in local restaurants.
Navoi hotels are for every taste and of different levels, so finding an overnight stay is not a problem. The town is clean and neat, there are a lot of trees, and the microclimate is maintained by fountains along the sidewalks.
Tashkent Navoi train is quite comfortable, but there are also shuttle buses and collective cabs. I enjoyed my trip to this town, and it answered to my question. There is much to see here and a lot of interesting places to explore. In this regard, I recommend everyone to visit Navoi township. I want to get to the Zeravshan oasis again, although I returned from there only four months ago.