A British traveller has documented his journey to a little-known corner of the world, an autonomous republic that he claims 'no one knows exists'. Daniel Pinto visited Karakalpakstan, a region located inside Uzbekistan, and found a place with a distinct identity that remains a mystery to most.
A Hidden World Within a Country
Daniel Pinto, sharing his experience on Instagram under the handle @dnzh.travels, explained his fascination with obscure places. Karakalpakstan is an autonomous republic with its own ethnic group, culture, and language, yet it is not an independent nation. "It's like a country that's not really a country located inside another country," he remarked in his video, which garnered over 1,600 likes.
He welcomed viewers to "the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan", a name he admitted took him a long time to pronounce correctly. He described it as a super interesting place with its own traditions, creating the sensation of being in an independent country. "Except you are not," he clarified. "You are just in the far west of Uzbekistan!"
Exploring the Soviet-Era Capital: Nukus
Daniel's adventure began in the capital, Nukus. For just $20 (approximately £15), he secured a small twin hotel room. On his first morning, he explored the city, describing the roads as 'very Soviet, very quiet'. He sampled local cuisine for breakfast, ordering Laghman, a typical noodle dish, alongside Uzbek bread.
He then ventured to the city centre, pointing out both the Uzbek and Karakalpakstan flags. "There's not much going on in this old little Soviet town," he observed. "I can see this place being quite vibey at night, but during the day, nothing going on." His footage highlighted landmarks like the Muhammad Imam Iyshan Mosque and the Nukus Art Museum, also known as the Savitsky Museum.
Viewer Reactions and Hidden Gems
The video prompted a flurry of comments from viewers, many sharing their own knowledge or desire to visit. One person highlighted the Nukus Art Museum as "widely recognised as one of the top art museums in the world". Another noted the appeal of a "nice quiet city with no crime".
A particularly poignant comment urged Daniel to visit the rusting ruins of ships in the desert near Moynaq, a relic of the Aral Sea ecological disaster. "Difficult to get to but quite the experience," the viewer noted, referencing a trip in 2019. Others expressed a wish to visit such beautiful but seemingly hard-to-reach places.
After his time in Nukus, Daniel departed on a sleeper train to the historic Uzbek city of Khiva, continuing his exploration of Central Asia. His journey shines a light on a unique destination that blends Soviet history with a resilient and distinct cultural identity, waiting to be discovered by intrepid travellers.
