In the East, “Ziyorat” means “visiting holy places” and involves two main varieties: pilgrim tourism and religious tourism of an excursion-cognitive orientation. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit Uzbekistan annually to see and touch the shrines.
Islam in Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, there are many religious centers, such as Khast Imam (Khazrati Imam Complex), which houses one of the most valuable relics of Islam – the Koran of the Khalifa Osman, the Shrine of the great Islamic theologian Muhammad al-Bukhari, the burial of the great Sufis of the Naqshbandiya brotherhood, etc.
Christianity in Uzbekistan
In addition to Muslims, many representatives of other religions live in Uzbekistan. The largest confession among them – Christians: Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants. Almost in every major city of Uzbekistan, there are temples and prayer houses for Christians. In Tashkent is the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the largest in Central Asia.
Judaism in Uzbekistan
In the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, there are large Jewish diasporas. For many years the Jewish people live here, keeping their traditions and culture. In these cities there are synagogues, Jewish centers and schools where they study Hebrew.
Buddhism in Uzbekistan
The fourth most widespread religion in the country (after Islam, Christianity and Judaism), which 0.2% of the population profess, most of whom are ethnic Koreans.
On the territory of modern Uzbekistan there are about 20 Buddhist monuments. Some of them are near Termez in Kara-Tepe, Fayaz-Tepe and Dalverzin-Tepe. In Zurmal, the ruins of the stupa were found, and in Balalyk-tepe – a wall with murals. The rest of the monasteries were discovered in Yerkurgan and in the Fergana Valley.
When visiting religious sites in Uzbekistan, it is advisable for women to cover up open parts of the body (shoulders, back and legs).