In this episode of Silk Road Adventures, we visit Khiva, Uzbekistan’s desert gem, where puppet makers, dancers and ancient palaces keep the spirit of the Silk Road alive.
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00:00The great desert city of Hiva in Uzbekistan is a special place.
00:24The Ichenkala, or walled city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
00:30But Hiva isn't just a museum. It's alive with rich cultural traditions, like puppetry.
00:43Step inside Hiva and you soon see its special connection to these quirky characters. The
00:50local theatre company regularly performs in the heart of the old city. Farahat is one
00:56of the talented puppeteers.
00:58Curious to know more, I asked her to show me some of the basics.
01:14Safahat, what are you going to show me?
01:20What do you reckon? Could you pull a few strings to get me some work?
01:36I have no idea.
01:42Eva's puppets are shaped, painted and brought to life by local artisans using traditional
01:47techniques.
01:48And what makes a good puppet maker?
01:55And what makes a good puppet maker?
02:01What makes a good puppet maker here?
02:02How do you belong?
02:03That is the best?
02:04In the beginning, I want to look back as a gift for every child.
02:07The spirit of the Grand The Grand The Grand was // I have no idea.
02:12Hiva's ancient walls hold many secrets. Bounded by desert, the city was a vital oasis for
02:26weary traders traveling the Great Silk Road.
02:31According to legend, the city was founded by Shem, the son of the Biblical prophet Noah.
03:01Throughout history, Hiva was also a great center of learning. It was the birthplace of the father
03:07of algebra, al-Kawarizmi. His Latinized name gave us the word algorithm.
03:14The Tosh Havli Palace is one of the city's many marvels. Built in the 1830s by the ruling
03:21Khan for his four wives and 40 concubines, it's a labyrinth of rooms and courtyards.
03:26Visitors can now peek inside the living quarters, including the Harim.
03:31dance is deeply rooted in the culture of Hiva and the wider region, and as the day draws to a close,
03:46dance is deeply rooted in the culture of heaver and the wider region and as the day draws to a
03:56close the city comes alive to a different beat it's called lasgi and let's just say the rhythm
04:02has a way of pulling you in
04:04what's the dance trying to express
04:19huzbekistan's other ancient silk road cities like samarkand and bukhara often steal the
04:46spotlight but heaver is a treasure waiting to be discovered