Route: Uzbekistan | Tajikistan | Pamir Highway via Wakhan Corridor | Xinjiang, China | Xinjiang, China Karakoram Highway | The Panlong Ancient Road | Taklamakan Desert | Mongolia | Russia
The old trade routes of the silk road give travellers endless options to explore central Asia, from lake-scattered mountain plateaus to ornate mausoleum complexes and lively cities packed with soviet architecture.
The name ‘Silk Road’ evokes images of Marco Polo and endless camel caravans stretching from Beijing to Baghdad and on to the Venetian Lagoon. But the fact is there was no single, definitive trail. Rather, the Silk Road was an umbrella term for a web of trade routes between China and Europe formed over a period of around 1,600 years, from the second century BC to 1450. While these routes wound as far south as India and Southeast Asia, most of their traffic moved overland through the heart of Central Asia, over snowy passes and through scorching deserts.
Few merchants and travellers made the full journey from Europe to China, as most goods and gold changed hands many times at various points along the Silk Road. Similarly, today, travellers tend to approach the region in bite-sized chunks - travelling the full length would take longer even than Marco Polo’s famous 24-year, 13th-century journey.
Routes changed over time history buffs and architecture lovers often focus on Uzbekistan, where preserved mosques and madrasas hide behind fortress walls, and Soviet-era architectural oddities can be found. Trekkers and mountaineers turn towards Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Xinjiang (China), and Mongolia, a country of snowy peaks and a proud nomadic heritage. Kazakhstan blends, with a few attractive Silk Road ruins and impressive landscapes that make it an easy choice to add to any itinerary. The legendary, mountain-backed Pamir Highway which traverses through the Wakhan Corridor bordering Afghanistan - is one of the world’s most epic road trips and the northern segment of the ancient Silk Road, described by Marco Polo in the 13th century - lies mostly within Tajikistan’s borders, but travellers intent on seeing it will have to contend with access restrictions and safety concerns.
I had almost traversed 23,400 kilometres of the 'Great Ancient Silk Route' by overland starting from Dostyk (Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border) and have crossed six sensitive borders between six countries, entering the challenging and difficult high-altitude remote terrain of Tajikistan and the Pamir mountains via the Wakhan corridor. During my travel, I got an opportunity to visit the most famous Afghan bazaar in the village Ishkoshim (Tajik-Afghan Border) and was amazed and overwhelmed by the warm welcome from the Afghan people. Furthermore, the path continues on to the opposite side of Hindu Khush mountain range from Afghanistan and Pakistan, passing through Zorkul National Park, Jarty Gumbez, Shaimok village, Murgab, and the Kulma - Karasu Port, the high-altitude border between Tajikistan and the eastern frontier of Pamirs China, which lies at a height of 4400 meters, in Taxkorgan County in Xinjiang China.
Upon arrival at Kalasu port in China, Xinjiang. My journey took me to explore the ancient city of Kashi (Kashgar) and its surroundings, and then onto the most famous and captivating section of China, the Xinjiang Karakoram Highway. Furthermore, my itinerary follows to the unbeatable 200-curved bends of Panlong Ancient Road, the jaw-dropping 1,650-kilometer un-breathable drive of the Taklamakan Desert. The ruins of Jiohe In Turpan and its vicinity. Xinjiang's capital city, Urumqi, and the stunning Tianchi Lake, which is surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains. From here, my journey continues to Takashiken in the Altai Mountain region, which borders the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and Bulgan (Mongolia). Having explored Mongolia Altai, I went to the western side of the Tsangannur-Tashanta border, which leads to Altai Russia and eventually Moscow.
Background Track Courtsey: Waiting for the Beloved · Manish Vyas
Rejoicing (A Journey to the Inner Being)
Camera: Fujifilm Xpro-2 | Iphone 15 Pro Max | XS Max 4K
Негізгі бет A Journey along the great Ancient SILK ROUTE
Пікірлер: 12