Kattakurgan
Western gateway to the Zarafshan valley, beside the “Uzbek Sea”
Districts
Samarkand Region
2 cities and 14 districts — each with its own history, landscape and crafts.
Samarkand
Ancient capital, modern regional hub
Bulungur District
Land of epic bards and Timur's own Shiraz
Ishtixon District
Former seat of the Sogdian ikhshids in the Miankal oasis
Jomboy District
The Zarafshan’s right bank: Shaybani Khan’s bridge and Sheikh Khudoydod’s shrine
Kattakurgan District
Miankal orchards and the 'Kattakurgan Sea'
Narpay District
Zerabulak heights and the land at the canal's end
Nurobod District
A Samanid tomb, a cave shrine and healing springs
Oqdaryo District
An oasis between the Zarafshan’s channels, home to Makhdumi Azam’s Dahbed
District · 400,000 people
Pastdargom District
Orchards on the Dargom and master furniture makers
Paxtachi District
Ancient Dabusiya on the Zarafshan
Payariq District
Imam al-Bukhari’s shrine and the Nuratau foothills
Qoshrabot District
The Nuratau mountains, cradle of epic bards
Samarkand District
The farm belt around the regional capital, abolished in 2026
Toyloq District
Orchards on Samarkand's doorstep
Urgut District
Bazaar, ancient plane trees and crafts at the foot of the mountains
