Urgench

The modern face of Khorezm

Urgench is the regional capital of Khorezm, and most travellers know it only as the airport for Khiva. It deserves a little more than that. The name belongs to one of the great cities of Central Asia: old Urgench, the capital of the Khorezmshahs, which was destroyed by the Mongols and now lies in ruins across the border in Turkmenistan as Kunya-Urgench. When the Amu Darya changed its course, life moved east, and a new Urgench grew up here. The city you see today is mostly modern, with broad streets and parks, and it is where people from Khiva come to work, study and shop.

What to see

Urgench is not a city of madrasas, but it tells the story of Khorezm in its own way. The Jaloliddin Manguberdi Monument honours the last Khorezmshah, who resisted the Mongol armies and is a national hero in Uzbekistan. The Avesta Park Complex refers to the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrianism — according to one long-standing tradition, the faith has deep roots in ancient Khorezm. In the evening, people walk by the Urgench Youth Lake. Half a day is enough, usually on your arrival or before your flight out.

Gateway to Khiva and Khorezm

Urgench's real role is as a gateway. Flights from Tashkent land at its airport, and from there it is about 30 km to Khiva, a transfer of half an hour or so. If your flight arrives late or leaves early, your guide may suggest a night here; otherwise we take you straight to Khiva. Urgench is also the starting point for trips into the wider region: the desert fortresses of ancient Khorezm on the edge of the Kyzylkum, and the Shavat–Dashoguz border crossing into Turkmenistan, for travellers continuing to Kunya-Urgench and Turkmenistan.

Practical notes

The best seasons are spring and autumn; summers in the Khorezm oasis are very hot. Urgench has a railway station on the line to Khiva, and taxis and our drivers cover the short distances in town. Everyday life here is more local than touristy: fewer souvenir shops, more ordinary bazaars and tea houses, and a good chance to see how people in Khorezm really live.

Frequently asked