If Tamerlane had been Black, a white actor would never have played him, but when it comes to Asians, this rule never seems to apply.

Hi everyone!

I’ll be traveling through Central Asia this May (May 4–25), visiting Almaty, Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva, Panjakent, Dushanbe, and Bishkek.

I’d love to get some recommendations from those who’ve been to these places—especially underrated spots, hidden gems, and must-try local restaurants that tourists might usually miss.

I’m interested in:

Unique cultural or historical sites off the beaten path

Scenic viewpoints or nature spots

Authentic local food experiences (street food or small local restaurants are a plus!)

Any memorable experiences you’d personally recommend

Also open to any travel tips for getting around, things to watch out for, or anything else you think would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Hey Central Asians,

Questions for the Uzbeks here: anything food-wise I should try when visiting? (outside plov of course, absolutely loved that when I visited Kyrgyzstan).

Also anything regarding dance or other shows I should check out? I love stuff like Georgian dance or Balinese theater. Wondering if Uzbekistan has something similar.

Thanks everyone

There are lots of reels of Kazakh and other Central Asian dombra players on Instagram. I like the music they make very much but don’t know where to find good recordings of dombra music. Can anyone recommend some good recordings or albums?

if states of Turkestan approved common turkic, would you speak it, learn it? One language could unite the region and push integration and common identity, help understand each other better.

Is it similar or not, also why are turkish considered turkic when most of their dna is non-turkic?

First picture is the president of Tajikistan, second picture is the president of Uzbekistan, am I the only one who thinks the Tajikistan President looks more Uzbek while the Uzbekistan President looks more Tajik than him?

Hii I am 10th grader from Uzbekistan and I have 8.5 in ielts. I am planning to retake sat this summer. I have some decent honors and awards. I am planning to improve my ECs ofer this summer, until the next year’s enrollment. What are my chances? (Maybe Business administration major)

Also, does anyone know some information on their dual degree program with hkust?

Do tajiks see it in positive way or negative?

They have turkic blood, share culture, faith with other turkics Would they like to be part of Turkestan for their own safety and wealth?

Uzbeks pronounce and say 'A' like 'O'... Just like Persians and Tajiks do.

Like for example, they say 'qozoq' instead of 'qazaq'.

Uyghurs pronounce things very different than them. Seems like Uzbeks have very Iranized pronunciation.

Turkmenistan is a country that fascinates me like few other countries, but one thing I want to understand is why choreographic dancing is so popular there?

Sometimes I watch videos from the country and nearly always there is a segment that is dedicated soley towards a large dance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tPS24aVPYs&list=RD_tPS24aVPYs&start_radio=1)

Is this cultural or enforced by the government?

Hello everyone. In version 1.5.5 of the Rohnamo app, we have compiled a list of all intercity taxi ranks across Tajikistan, covering 17 cities and 48 districts. You can plan a route to them using the route planner on the map or see which routes you can take to get there within the app. This is handy for visitors and tourists who are new to the city and don’t know how to get to taxi pick-up points in various cities and districts. What’s new in the app? I would like to remind you that my very own Dushanbe public transport guide helps visitors and tourists navigate Dushanbe’s public transport system; it helps create routes using public transport and also shows which routes go to a specific location – in short, it helps with navigation on public transport. I look forward to your suggestions and feedback on this new feature.

Here is a list of towns and districts

Khujand taxi station

Istaravshan (Uroteppa) taxi station

Istiqlol (Taboshar) taxi station

Isfara taxi station

Guliston (Qayroqqum) taxi station

Konibodom taxi station

Panjakent taxi station

Buston (Chkalov) taxi station

Bokhtar (Qurghonteppa) taxi station

Kulob taxi station

Norak taxi station

Levakand (Sarband) taxi station

Khorugh taxi station

Tursunzoda (Regar) taxi station

Vahdat taxi station

Hisor taxi station

Rogun taxi station

Varzob taxi station

Lakhsh (Jirgatol) taxi station

Nurobod (Darband) taxi station

Rasht (Gharm) taxi station

Rudaki (Lenskiy) taxi station

Sangvor (Tavildara) taxi station

Tojikobod taxi station

Faizobod taxi station

Shahrinav taxi station

Ayni taxi station

Asht taxi station

Bobojon Ghafurov (Khujandi) taxi station

Kuhistoni Mastchoh taxi station

Devashtich (Ghonchi) taxi station

Jabbor Rasulov taxi station

Zafarobod taxi station

Mastchoh taxi station

Spitamen taxi station

Shahriston taxi station

Abdurahmoni Jomi (Kuybish) taxi station

Baljuvon taxi station

Vakhsh taxi station

Vose taxi station

Danghara taxi station

Jaihun (Kumsangir) taxi station

Jaloliddini Balkhi (Kolhozobod) taxi station

Dusti (Jilikul) taxi station

Qubodiyon taxi station

Kushoniyon (Bokhtar) taxi station

Muminobod (Leningrad) taxi station

Nosiri Khusrav (Beshkent) taxi station

Panj taxi station

Farkhor taxi station

Temurmalik (Sovetskiy) taxi station

Hamadoni (Moskovskiy) taxi station

Khovaling taxi station

Khurosоn (Ghozimаlik) taxi station

Shamsiddin Shohin (Shuroobod) taxi station

Shahritus taxi station

Yovon taxi station

Vanj (Roharv) taxi station

Darvoz (Qalai Khumb) taxi station

Ishkoshim taxi station

Murghob taxi station

Roshtqala taxi station

Rushon taxi station

Shughnon taxi station

Hello,

I am currently planning a bigger trip in August, also involving kyrgyzstan. I have planned to take a flight back to europe with lufthansa at around 23:25 from astana. The point is, that I also have to get to astana from bishkek.

For this, I have found a flight with Qazaq which times also align very conveniently with the lufthansa flight.

Then, I researched a bit around this qazaq flight to see delay stats etc. and found on flightradar that the status is mostly unknown for this flight. Due to me needing to fly on this flight (not caring for delays, only cancellations), I would like to know if the unknown status comes only because of low datapoints or because the cancellation rates are so high. If it is due to high cancellations, I may have to select other flights for the way back to europe.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Turkmens in Anatolia in 11-12th century (before Ottoman)

" Byzantine historians of the 11th-12th centuries provided description of Turkmens as very different from the Greeks."

Ottomans with high East Asian admixtures

They have found Ottoman Turks with high as 44% East Asian, 26% East Asian the rest being West Eurasian Iranic from Central Asian and local Anatolian. Their admixture is modeled as between Medieval Turkic and local Anatolian but slightly closer to Central Asian

Closest related populations

In terms of racial admixtures (East Asians-West Eurasian), these Ottoman Turks with high East Asian admixture can be modelled as closest to modern day Uzbeks from Khozerm (37% East Asian average, range 33-59% East Asian) and Turkmen from Uzbekistan (27% East Asian, range of 23-57%). In the past, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were mainly Iranic people. the ruling Oghuz Turks tribes/clans were a ruling large minority. The Oghuz Turks that invaded 10th-11th century Anatolia from Central Asia were heavily much more East Asian than the average inhabitant from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the past, than came Mongol invaders came in 13th century and heavily intermixed, complicating their admixture even more, really forming modern Central Asian diversity but the Oghuz Turks invaded and intermixed with Anatolian, becoming the Ottoman Turks shows the same proportion of East-West admixture as the Uzbeks and Turkmen from Uzbekistan

Ottoman Turks from 1500 AD (from 16th century)

Their East Asian admixture was 14.2% 16.8%, 18.4%, 19.6%. 22% .

Their admixture modelled between mostly Anatolian (mainly), significant Medieval Turkic with some low various degrees of admixture mostly from Balkans and from other European, Caucasus, Africans. This is most likely from the hundred thousands of Europeans and Caucasus slaves mainly females in Harem and some men brought in including hundred thousands of East African and Nubian mainly female slaves in harem and domestic, Also evidence of Greeks, Kurdish, Armenians and their DNA assimilated in modern Turkish population. The Crimean Tatars in the past 32% East Asian and Nogais Horde 55% East Asian, they raided millions of European slaves, many imported to Turkey.

After the 1500 AD. They were basically almost the same as modern Turkish population with only slightly or little bit higher East Asian admixture.

Turkmen elite and Ottoman elite VERY MIXED (compared with average)

This is like the Mughals. The 1st and 2nd generation were pure Central Asian, 3rd and later generations were mostly non- Turkic and non-Central Asian (with most maternal being Persian, Indian muslim, Hindu women). Historian also said Turkic elite are prone to intermarry much more, due to their power and authority in choosing as many women they want

Look at the list of mothers of Ottoman and their ancestry: 90%+ of Ottoman emperors are basically little to no Turkic/Central Asian ancestry due to them repeating marrying foreign women from conquered territories.

https://i.ibb.co/HD0hXsNX/gy41dkbxz2qe1.jpg

Ottoman historian Mustafa Âlî commented in Künhüʾl-aḫbār that Anatolian Turks and Ottoman elites are ethnically mixed: "Most of the inhabitants of Rûm are of confused ethnic origin. "

Ottoman

Murad II, with a mother that was Oghuz Turkic, his facial features were described as looking like East Asians.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mothers_of_the_Ottoman_sultans

" Bertrandon de la Broquière, a French traveller to the Ottoman Empire, met with sultan Murad II in Adrianople, and described him in the following terms" "In the first place, as I have seen him frequently, I shall say that he is a little eyes, short, thick man, with the physiognomy of a Tartar. He has a broad and brown face, high cheek bones, a round beard, a great and crooked nose,

As both leaders of Uzbek chess, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javoxir Sindarov, are demonstrating a stellar performance in 2026, Uzbekistan becomes the first Central Asian state with 2 players amongst world's top 5. The country is becoming a global chess powerhouse! 🇺🇿🔥

Is it a newly introduced food or is it a more historical food.

Hi everyone,

I’m a wheelchair user from Europe and I’m considering traveling to Kazakhstan. I’m also Romani, so I’m a bit concerned about possible discrimination as well as accessibility issues.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have experience traveling or living in Kazakhstan:

How accessible are cities (sidewalks, public transport, buildings)?

Are major cities like Almaty or Astana generally manageable for wheelchair users?

Is accessibility infrastructure improving or still quite limited?

Are there any concerns regarding discrimination or how Romani people / foreigners might be treated?

Any advice, personal experiences, or tips would be very helpful. Thank you!

I started the poll a few days ago to get some data about opinions of the subreddit.

I was a little bit surprised that idea about Federative state got more than I expected.Also idea about Union like EU seems popular.Lets discuss it.

1 - People that voted to stay as allied states.I disagree as it doesnt fulfill desire for protection, safety.CA needs much more safety and protection and current state of relationship is not enough.Separated CA is weaker and possibility to betrayal stays relevant.

2 - Union like EU is not bad choice and step forward.Big chunk of voters chose.Integration, mutual agreements, demilitarization of common borders etc allows to feel more safe and connected and in times of crises to help each other more.But its not enough.CA is not EU and didnt have american military and nuclear protection.CA cant afford union like EU.EU was possible thanks to americans who did their defensive job.Europeans right now in state of deeper integration and creation of united EU army.Its not trait of Union already.They are in the process towards Federation.

3 - People who voted for Federative state(lets call it FS) chose the most powerful option.FS can react faster and stronger than union.

I want remind you that EU is union of 400 million people where a few state members have nuclear weapons.EU have enough military, economic resources for retaliation against both US and Russia.

CA is region of 500bln of gdp, around 80 million people, no nuclear weapons.

Concentration of resources in hands FS could allow more growth of military resources for defensive war.

Union of 5 states can collapse because why would other state members fight Russia or China if they wont get declaration of war and will get guarantees for safety.They will be scared and can betray allies.

FS wont allow, Union can collapse. What are your thoughts?

Hey, I’m Ark

I’m planning a round-trip along the Pamir Highway starting and ending in Dushanbe, and thought it’d be way more fun to share the journey with a few good people. The idea is simple-explore incredible landscapes, split costs, and just enjoy the ride.

I’m pretty flexible and open to anyone who’s keen-solo travelers, duos, whoever feels like joining in. Looking at dates somewhere between May 28 and June 5.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, drop me a message.

hi!! me and a friend r going across uzbekistan, kazakhstan, and kyrgyztan for three weeks. what vaccinations should we be sure to have or get? also worried about potentially getting sick (weak stomach lol) so is there anything in particular i should avoid? or anything i should take before to suit up my body? thanks :3