Author: Novastan 
Novastan
Written articles:
The Nights of Registan
The Registan, located in the heart of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, is one of the most magnificent architectural ensembles in the world. The word ‘Registan’ means ‘sandy place’ or… [...]
An eagerly-awaited meeting
Ilima is an enthusiastic French-speaking Kyrgyz who loves to welcome tourists and show them around her country. En route to the town of Naryn, they were lucky enough to come… [...]
Ahmed Yasavi Museum
The town of Turkestan, Kazakhstan, has been turned upside down by the extensive work being carried out to transform pilgrims into religious tourists. While… [...]
Janpik Kala
Less well known than other fortresses in the Kyzylkum desert of Karakalpakstan, such as Ayaz-Kala or Toprak-Kala, the clay fortress of… [...]
Floodwaters
An inconspicuous latrine stands on the brown floodwaters of the Panj River near Kozidech, between Khorog and Ishkoshim, Tajikistan. Credits : Joachim Bohndorf (Germany) Find… [...]
In the dragon’s belly
To the south of Lake Issyk-Kul lies a fairytale valley: Skazka or Fairytale canyon. This enchanting place has certainly stimulated the imagination of mystics and dreamers. In… [...]
A bridge over the Ichim
It is a major attraction on the promenade along the River Ishim, and one of Astana’s many architectural boldnesses. Designed by the Kazakh studio New Moon,… [...]
Magic City
Opening in 2021, Magic City in Tashkent, spread over 21 hectares of a former Soviet park, is a fusion of a shopping centre and a theme park… [...]
Yak wandering
Yaks graze peacefully at the foot of the mountains surrounding Lake Song-Köl. Credits : Lucas Fita (@lucasfita_notes, Portugal) Find all of our… [...]
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
The mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a 12th-century Sufi poet and mystic, is remarkable for several reasons. An important place of pilgrimage, its presence conferred on the… [...]
Traffic jam on Pamir Highway
Like small rocks in the vastness of the Pamir mountains, the lorries using the M41 road between Tajikistan, China and Kyrgyzstan are blocked by roadworks near… [...]