Unrepeatable Colors of Machai Village

The village of Machay is located in a territory recognized as the cradle of our civilization. These lands have been developed by humans since prehistoric times. The village itself is also very ancient. Its charm comes not only from its long history but also from the beauty of its natural landscapes and ethnic culture, which makes it the pearl of the Baysun district and all of Surkhandarya. In the foothills of Baysuntag, where all three parts of the village are located - Lower, Middle and Upper Machay - the land and hills are colored in an amazing red hue.

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

The life of the village is closely tied to its land, water and mountains. The residents of Machay are mainly engaged in livestock breeding - they keep cows and sheep, and also practice gardening: local apples are very tasty.

The old houses of local residents - and there are still more of them than new buildings - are also red, as are the fences that separate them: they are built not from the usual brick, but from stone.

The first time I found myself in Machay was in March of last year. There was very little time, but I managed to take good shots and fall in love with the village. I decided for myself that I would definitely return and make a detailed photo report about the nature, residents and architectural traditions of this wonderful place. 

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

Machay is one of those places you want to come back to again, while nothing here has changed yet: the old houses have not been demolished or rebuilt, the streets have not been paved with concrete. In my impression, this is one of the most atmospheric ancient villages of Uzbekistan, whose way of life, daily routine and ethnic traditions deserve special attention, as do the architecture and the appearance of the residents, which combines so many bright colors and authentic features.

We came here with Sergey Pogosyan in April 2026.

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

This time we decided to start with Middle Machay and immediately went to explore the local architecture. We managed to visit one of the houses where a large family had gathered. A dastarkhan was set for us, and we were treated to tea. The house was memorable for the unusual color of its walls: pink, blue and green.

As in 2025, we noticed the outfits of the children of Machay: neat little chapans, bright headscarves - authentic children's clothing lovingly sewn by mothers and grandmothers. Juicy color combinations make Machay's "fashion" its highlight, giving a run for the money to various "Guccis" and "Dolce & Gabbanas." And this is everyday clothing of local residents!

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

April and May are the rainy seasons: while we were filming, heavy gray clouds suddenly rolled in, and we could not finish the shoot. We had to return to Baysun.

A few days later the story repeated itself exactly: a sudden downpour caught us off guard and prevented us from continuing the shoot. But this time we decided to wait out the bad weather. This time our patience was rewarded: we passed the time in shelter, the rain stopped, and in the end we managed to complete the planned shoot.

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

After the rain, Machay becomes even brighter. The ground turns into a sticky mass, and the water in the river flows scarlet because of the color of the local rock. The colors are so saturated that the photographs come out almost unbelievable…

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

I would also like to note the simple human care characteristic of the people of Machay. And it manifests not only in hospitality. Every local resident asked how we were doing, whether we wanted tea, where to escort us and what to tell us.

Photo: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey PogosyanPhoto: Ildar Sadykov, Sergey Pogosyan

And on the autumn expedition we already looked at Machay in a different light: without rain, but with the traditions and customs of the village residents.