Chor-Chinor garden

A brook, birthed from a spring that emerges mysteriously from a millstone-like stone, adds to the garden’s enigma. Geologists, baffled by the spring’s behavior—once drying up overnight after an attempt to study it—have left its mystery unsolved, adding to the garden’s lore.

Legend speaks of a mighty batir, a hero who wrested a magical stone from malevolent spirits to create this oasis. With the stone placed, waters sprang forth, and four sycamore cuttings, delivered by celestial birds, were planted, growing into the magnificent grove that stands today.

In the early 20th century, a mosque was built within the garden’s embrace. Originally a madrasah, it now stands as a beacon of learning and faith, its grand dome and exquisite walls defying the slope upon which it is built, maintaining perfect proportions.

While thousands flock to Samarkand’s historical marvels daily, few make the journey to Urgut’s Chor-Chinor. Yet, those who do are rewarded with the symphony of nature—the babble of the brook, the chatter of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the whisper of the wind. It is a place to unburden oneself, to meditate, and perhaps, in the quiet moments, to hear the sycamores speak.