Photo of the day
Victory square
Victory Square is a much-visited place in Bishkek. Its immense esplanade is dominated by the monument to Victory over Nazi Germany and its emblematic tynduk, the zenithal opening of… [...]
The Majestic Vobkent Minaret, a Witness to Uzbek History
The Vobkent Minaret, located in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture dating back to 1198. It stands 40 meters tall, though part… [...]
Singing Dunes
This photo captures the Singing Dunes (“Aigaikum” in kazakh) of the Altyn-Emel National Park in winter. It is the perfect spot to admire the peaceful landscape all around.Tourism… [...]
Family outing
A local family visits the site of Merv’s first fortress, walking along its ancient walls. The ancient city of Merv dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. This oasis… [...]
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine
By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We're independent and we need your help to stay that way!Maria Peak
Part of the Chimtarga mountain range in northern Tajikistan, Maria Peak rises to a modest 4,790 metres. It is usually admired from afar during a trek in the… [...]
Abai and Semey
Two men walk by the entrance of the Abai Theater of Semey. The theater, built in a typical Soviet modernist style, is named after Abai Qunanbaiuly, or simply… [...]
Quality Requirments
The cattle market in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan starts early in the morning, even in winter. The purchase of livestock and pack animals must be well thought out – knowledge &… [...]
Nightfall in Song Köl
At dusk, all around Lake Song-Köl in Kyrgyzstan, the yurts light up one by one. Nowadays, almost all the camps have their own generator, but oil lamps are still… [...]
The boy and the mosaic
A boy rides his bicycle past the mosaic facade of a multi-family home on Abuali Ibn Sino Avenue in Dushanbe. This mosaic, designed by Sadukov & Lukovtsev in 1971, celebrates… [...]
Fortresses of Khwarazm: Ayaz-Kala
The Khwarazm region, in the lower valley of the Amu Darya, was known in ancient times as the ‘oasis of fifty fortresses’. Of these fortresses, built over a… [...]