Nukus

Nukus is a city in Qaraqalpakistan, Uzbekistan. It is the capital of the region and located in the delta of the Amu Darya River about 1255 km west of Tashkent, and about 230 km south of Muynaq and the former shoreline of the Aral Sea. 

At the end of the 19th century, when Russia seized the power in the Khiva Khanate, Petro-Aleksandrovsk (Turtkul) became the center of Amudarya division. At that time Nukus was a little aul (village). It was decided to build a large military fort on the site of village, which was completed in 1874. Soon the population of the fortress, mostly constisted of Kazakhs, began to build hospitals, schools and administrative buildings around fortress.

When the Soviet authority came to power, Turtkul town became the administrative center of Karakalpakstan autonomous region. But in the 20-es the threat that Amu Darya would flush Turtkul, located 12 kilometers from the river bank, caused to move the center of Karakalpakstan region to Nukus. Officially, the town was born in 1932. Now it is the economic, administrative, political and cultural center of Karakalpakstan. The city is decorated with modern buildings, boulevards, public gardens and parks. The main sight is the Art Museum of Karakalpakstan named after Savitsky. Savitsky's collection attracts and amazes various artists and even heads of state around the world. Besides the museum Nukus and the surrounding area has many unique archaeological, historical and cultural monuments.

Main sights: 

• The Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky, which will fascinate you with its unique collection of Russian Avant-garde art of the 1920-1930^th, historical archeological objects, and the culture and traditions of this region. 
• Mizdahkan (Khodjeli's Gyaur Kala) - The archaeological architectural complex in Khodjeli village, 15 km from Nukus (4^th c. BC - 14^th c. AD): 
• Mausoleum of Mazlumkhan Sulgu. According to ancient currency found at the site, the construction of the mausoleum has been dated to the first half of the 14^th c.
• Mausoleum of Shamun Nabig (12-13^th cc.).
• Madrassah Halika Erjep (9-13^th cc.).
• Old town of Ali Belgisiz (16-17^th cc.).