The highlight of Nukus is the Karakalpakstan State Art Museum, founded by Igor Savitsky. It holds over 50,000 works of avant-garde and post-avant-garde art, once banned under Soviet rule. Today, it is considered one of the world’s top museums outside of Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Although officially founded in 1932, the Nukus region has ancient roots. The fortress of Shurcha dates back to the 4th century BCE and was part of the Khorezm kingdom. Many ruins in the area can be explored on archaeological tours of northern Uzbekistan.

Near Khodjeli lies the mystical Mizdakhan necropolis, tied to both Islam and Zoroastrianism. Some believe it is the resting place of Adam or Gayomard, the first man in Persian mythology. It is a unique site of ancient faith and mystery.

Nukus today is an administrative, academic, and cultural center. With green boulevards, universities, local markets and Karakalpak cultural events, the city offers a great way to discover northern Uzbekistan’s identity beyond the mainstream.