Author: Dilshod Karimov, Cultural Heritage Specialist and Travel Guide

I used to think classical music from Central Asia was all folk instruments and throat singing—turns out I was embarrassingly wrong. Uzbek symphony orchestras

I used to think Uzbekistan was all about the Silk Road architecture—you know, the turquoise domes and intricate tilework that flood your Instagram feed.

I used to think glass blowing was one of those crafts that existed mostly in Renaissance Venice or maybe upscale art galleries in Brooklyn.

I used to think chestnuts were just those things you roasted at Christmas markets. Turns out, in the walnut forests of southern Uzbekistan—places like

I used to think you needed to fly to Chile or Hawaii for genuinely dark skies. Turns out, Uzbekistan—yes, that landlocked expanse wedged between Kazakhstan

I used to think paper came from trees, period. Then I walked into the Samarkand Paper Mill on a dusty Tuesday morning—honestly, I wasn’

I used to think broom-making was just bundling sticks together until you had something vaguely sweepable. Turns out, the craft of traditional Uzbek broom-making—called

I used to think lichen was just that crusty stuff on rocks. Turns out, in the mountain valleys of Uzbekistan, artisans have been harvesting these slow-growing

The First Thing You’ll Notice Is How Surprisingly Quiet Everything Feels Inside Tashkent International Airport isn’t what I expected. I’

I’ve stood in front of monuments that felt too perfect, too polished—but the Jahongir Mausoleum in Shakhrisabz hits different. Here’