Bumazhnaya Fabrika "Meros" — Attraction in Samarqand Region

Discover traditional paper-making "Meros".

This factory manually produces paper using centuries-old technologies. In a relaxed setting, the Meros Paper Mill creates an atmosphere that transports you back to the past. Inside, the sense of heritage continues, with the staff here employing traditional methods to make the paper.

In the year 751, Chinese prisoners were sent to Samarkand to make paper, and so the tradition began. Today, the paper that is still made here with these methods is generally used in the restoration of ancient manuscripts in Uzbekistan and around the world.

The main material used is the bark of the mulberry tree. During your visit to the Meros Paper Mill, you'll see a demonstration of the bark being peeled and cooked to a malleable consistency. It's then beaten into a dough-like substance that is placed in water and filtered with a sieve. The beating process is powered by a water wheel, and uses the flow of the nearby Siab River for movement. Once filtered, the material is pressed, hang-dried, and smoothed out with stone or shells. This process has a characteristic yellow tint to the paper and the lack of bleaching allows it to last at least ten times longer than typical...

🌿 Konigil Village & Meros Paper Mill – Samarkand’s Traditional Papermaking Treasure

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🇯🇵 日本語バージョン

サマルカンド郊外のコンギル村にある Meros Paper Mill（メロス紙工房） は、古来の技術を受け継ぐ唯一の手漉き紙工場です。ムハタロフ兄弟によって1996年に設立され、モクルベリー樹皮を使った「シルク紙」製造を復活させました 。

訪問者は紙を乾燥させる工程や磨き作業まで見学でき、希望すれば実際に紙漉き体験（約25,000UZS）も可能です ()。敷地内には川沿いのチャイハナ、伝統的な水車「チャルフパラク」があり、サマルカンド風ピラフや果物も楽しめます ()。

製品はノート、ポストカード、バッグ、ドレス、マスクなど多種多様。寿命は通常の紙の10倍以上、300〜400年持つ耐久性と独特の黄色みが魅力です 。

訪問情報： • 📍 サマルカンド中心から約13km、車で約20分 • 💵 入場料ツアー料：約3,000UZS、体験込み：約25,000UZS • 🌳 水辺と木陰に囲まれた美しいビレッジ内に位置します

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🇬🇧 English Version

About 13 km from Samarkand lies Konigil village, home to the Meros Paper Mill—the only place in Uzbekistan where traditional hand-made paper is crafted using 8th–9th century techniques  .

Founded in 1996 by the Mukhtarov brothers, the mill revived the ancient art of making durable mulberry-bark “silk paper,” famed for its strength and characteristic yellow hue . Visitors can observe each step, from boiling and pounding bark to drying and polishing the sheet, and join a hands-on workshop to create their own piece (approx. 25,000 UZS) .

Surrounded by shady trees and a bubbling siab river, the site also features a traditional teahouse, a rustic water wheel (charkhpalak), and offers Samarkand-style pilaf and fresh seasonal fruits at the entrance .

Their souvenir shop showcases a wide variety of products—postcards, journals, handbags, masks, even dresses—all made from this beloved paper. Owing to its natural composition, Samarkand paper can last 300–400 years—far surpassing modern white paper longevity .

Visitor Info: • 🚗 Approximately 20 min drive from downtown Samarkand • 🎟 Tour entry 3,000 UZS; workshop experience 25,000 UZS • 📷 Ideal for cultural immersion, educational visits, and artisan photography

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🏷️ Hashtags / ハッシュタグ

#KonigilPaperMill #SamarkandPaper #MerosMill #TraditionalCrafts #HandmadePaper #SilkPaper #CulturalHeritage #Uzbekistan #TURSUNFUDO #エコツーリズム #ウズベキスタン文化...

As the sign boldly says "tourism" area, don't expect an authentic experience to understand paper making. Not much of a place to visit if you have limited time in Samarkand. Pottery wasn't even opened too. Employees are just doing the minimum to show you the process. Just a neat place to show the kids how we can use water to spin a watermill or create a contraption. Completed the whole process in less than half hour. Don't even get me started on the...