Sights of Bukhara

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Ark Citadel
The Ark Citadel was the center of the city, showing the military power of the ruler. The palace, treasury, and prison were located here too. Buildings preserved today in the ark, were constructed from the end of the 18th, to the beginning of the 20th centuries. Today the Ark Citadel is a big earthen platform stretching from west to east, with a number of buildings located inside. Presently, the eastern part of the Ark represents the archaeological monument. Childukhtaron Mosque is still preserved here, presently accommodating the historical museum.
 


Varakhsha Palace
The palace, which is located outside Bukhara, was built more than 1,000 years ago, and underwent great reconstructions since that time. Varakhsha Palace delights by its huge sizes and picturesque frescos. Walls surround the courtyard are beautifully decorated.
 


Ismail Samani Mausoleum
A masterpiece of the 9th and 10th centuries is the burial vault of the Samanids ordered by Ismail, a powerful representative of the Samanid dynasty. The ruler himself, his father, and his grandson are buried here. The Samanids' Mausoleum was built of individually-made baked bricks. The intricate brickwork looks like lace.
 


Chor-Minor Medressah
The four-towered entrance preserved to date is especially majestic, giving the complex its name, Chor-Minor (Four Minarets). It was constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, by order of the rich merchant, Turkmen Khalif Niyazkul, a traveler and carpet and horse seller. The madrassa stands by itself and as a beautiful pearl, shining in the sunlight under a perfect blue sky. It is truly unique, a philosophical monument that has no match in the architecture of Central Asia.

 

Kalyan Minaret
The Kalyan Minaret known as the Great Minaret is famous for its 48 meter tower reaching into the blue sky. It is anchored by a unique engineering construction that stretches deep into the ground. On top, the minaret is finished with a cupola with 16 openings, from where the mullah could call the people to pray. The new minaret is constructed completely of the burnt bricks.
 


Mausoleum Chashma-Ayub
The history of Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum is linked with a legend. According to this legend, the biblical prophet Iov-Ayub passed by the waterless area of Bukhara. He struck his staff and suddenly appeared this well, which produced very clean and healthy water. The building, which has been preserved up to today, was constructed in the 1480s. Khorezmian masters brought by Temur worked here, giving Bukhara an attractive look. At present, the museum of water and the movable carpet exhibition are located here.


  
Medressah Ulugbek
It is the only building remained in Bukhara in memory of the great astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek. Madrassa Ulugbek is a rectangular building with a courtyard and front door decorated with a high portal. The astral elements predominate Ulugbek's life philosophy: “The pursuit of knowledge is the duty of each follower of Islam, man and woman.”


 
Kalyan Mosque
It was built in the first part of the 15th century. The mosque is one of the unique and biggest in Central Asia after Bibi Khanum, in Samarkand. The main entrance is finished with a big portal decorated by a mosaic. The rectangular courtyard is surrounded by galleries, including 288 cupolas based on 208 pillars. The mosque occupies one hectare of territory.
 


Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex
Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex (end of the 19th — beginning of the 20th centuries) is one of the best Bukharan palaces. It is a must for tourists. The complex consists of two adjacent buildings located in the suburbs of the city. A new palace was built in 1912—1913 and boasts exceptional artistic value. The hall is decorated with the exquisite ornamental paintings and the walls are covered with mirrors. Today, a branch of the Bukhara Ethnography Museum is located here.

Bakhauddin Nakshbandi Complex (17 c.)
Sheikh Bakhauddin Nakshbandi was a cleric teacher of Amir Temur. Worship of the sheikh's sacred grave was equated with the Hadj to Mecca. In the 80ties, the complex was completely renovated and now it includes the separate courtyard with a khauz, the beautifully decorated mosques Kushbegi and Muzafarkhona, a minaret, small medressah and the burial vault of the Bukharan rulers as well.

Namazgokh Mosque (12th c.)
It was constructed outside Bukhara and the people from all the city and suburb were gathered to pray. From that time it has been changed a little bit.

Medressah Modari-khan (17th c.)
It was built by Abdulla-khan II in honour of his mother. The main facade of medressah was beautifully decorated by many-coloured brick mosaic making different geometrical designs. All the design looks very modestly.

Baland Mosque (16th c.)
Baland means tall. The name of the mosque comes from its location on the high stone base ground. This is a typical sample of the Ghuzar mosques, with its beautifully decorated interior.
 


Seifeddin Bokharzi Mausoleum
It was built above the grave of popular Central Asian mystic. Has a huge size but simple decoration. The building has a complicated plan of construction: the burial vault — gurkhona, prayer's room — ziaratkhona covered with small and big-sized cupolas. There is no decoration anywhere. The only beautifully decorated element is a splendid wooden gravestone of the 14th century established in gurkhana.


Medressah Nadira Divan-Begi
Primarily, this place was built as a caravan-saray (or palace), and was transformed to madrassa in 1630. The two birds of phoenix facing a symbolic sun above the portal lead into the madrassa, which has many small shops where arts and crafts are displayed. A dinner and folk dance show, accompanied by traditional instruments, and in contemporary fashion, is held under the stars in the courtyard.
 


Kukeldash Medressah
Bordering the Lyabi-khauz square, this medressah is among the biggest and most monumental in Central Asia, with 160 hujras as well as a splendid example of “white interior”. The entrance gate is of particular interest, inlay and fixtures are devoid of glue or nails and covered with heraldic ornaments.

Miri-Arab Medressah
Located just opposite the Kalyan Mosque, the main facade of this madrassa, is finished with a portal adjoining the two-tiered loggias. In the center of the gurkhona (or "burial vault") rests the wooden tombstone of Ubaidulla Khan. The madrassa is beautifully decorated with the covered mosaic. At present, the theological seminary in this madrassa is opened.
 


Lyabi-khauz Ensemble
The Lyabi-khauz Ensemble, bearing the same name because a pond (or "khauz") was dug on the site in 1620, is a majestic architectural ensemble in the center of the city, connecting the beautiful architectural monuments of the Kukeldash Khanaka and Nadira Divan-Begi madrassa.