Ayaz Kala, Uzbekistan

Pronounced ‘Keezil Koom’ and meaning ‘Red Sand’ in Turkic, the Kyzyl Kum desert covers 115,000 square miles of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and is the 16th largest desert in the world. Unknown to many, the world’s largest open-pit gold mine is hidden in these rose sands.

There are three fortresses here, all built on the edge of the Kyzl-Kum desert at different points between 4th century BC and 7th century AD to form part of a protective ring against nomadic raids. This was once a very wealthy area with sophisticated inhabitants - a wine press and golden statues have been discovered hereabouts.

The fortress of Ayaz Kala, translating from the Turkic as ‘frosty’ or ‘cold’ castle, dates to medieval period. It was probably founded during the Afrigids epoch of the Kushan Empire, around the end of the 7th and the beginning of the 8th century AD. Walls were built from pressed clay bricks and you can see the remains of the arched floor in those parts.

Abandoned for 1,300 years, the fortresses were rediscovered in the 1940s by the archaeologist S.P. Tolstov, and are now listed by UNESCO as the Golden Ring of Ancient Khorezm.

To vsit Ayaz Kala on our ‘In the Footsteps of Joanna Lumley’ luxury small-group tour, or on a tailor-made Silk Road adventure, contact us here.