Bukhara

The Mausoleum of Ismail Samani is located in the historic urban core of the city of Bukhara, in a park that houses an ancient cemetery. This mausoleum, one of the most appreciated sites of Central Asian architecture, was built between the 9th and 10th centuries (between 892 and 943) as the resting place of Ismail Samani, a powerful and influential emir of the Samanid dynasty, one of the Persian dynasties that ruled in Central Asia, and ruled the city in the 9th and 10th centuries.

The Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum is located near the Samanid Mausoleum, in the middle of a small, ancient cemetery in Bukhara. The building suffered some losses, but the preserved parts represent a harmonious combination of entrance portal, and next to it are the remains of the western wall. The portal's construction layout is traditional, consisting of two pylons, which form the niche overlapped by the semi-vault. The II-shaped frame, whose interior forms the facial surface, the tympanum, and the ktoba, is topped with an inscription above the lancet arch. The northern part of the niche portal is a gabled wall with a portal. From the western end, the portal is attached to a deep brick wall, of which the western part has been lost. The wall is in the form of a trapezoid with a large base. The central room is superimposed on the tent-shaped dome. Except for the proportions of the building, this monument has a well-thought-out and perfectly executed decoration, the main part of which is concentrated on the portal. The most striking place in the overall decorative composition is the ktoba, with Arabic inscriptions against a background of botanical ornamentation. The portal frame's outer contour is marked by a II-shaped area, reinforced by a giraffe of intertwined octahedrons, made of terracotta bricks. Turquoise-glazed inserts fill the central octahedral plinths. A ribbon borders the frame and the ktoba. The monument's historical value lies in its exact dating, written in ktoba (1208–1209 BC), or in the year 605 of the Muslim calendar. Its name means "Job's well," due to the legend in which Job (Ayub) visited this place and dug a well by striking the ground with his staff. The water from this well remains pure and is considered curative. The current building was built during the reign of Timur and features a conical dome in the Khwarazm style, which is unusual in Bukhara.This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, in the Cultural category.

Every city has a beautiful and popular spot where citizens go to relax and enjoy beautiful views. In Bukhara, this is it. This small but picturesque place has been the center of public life, thanks to its large pond, its historic water source. This place became famous for its unique microclimate. It once featured a bazaar, a teahouse, and barbershops. From here, water carriers carried water for watering the streets and for drinking.Since time immemorial, grand festivities took place in this square. Businesses were decorated with carpets and embroidery. In the evening, lights were turned on and stalls were set up. Modern Bukhara is also faithful to its traditions: it has many teahouses and restaurants, and festivals and celebrations often take place there. Artists, artisans, and musicians are conveniently located on the streets, along with various souvenir shops, where tourists and locals stroll. In the shady Lyabi-Hauz Park, you can also find the monument to Khoja Nasreddin, a national hero of Central Asia known as Afandi.Around this ancient pond, three grandiose monuments were built during the 16th and 17th centuries: the Kukeldash Madrasa (16th century), the Khanaka Madrasa, and the Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasa (17th century). They all form a single complex, in which Lyabi-Hauz serves as its central element.

Built during the reign of the Sheybanid dynasty in the 16th century, it is the oldest building in the Lyabi Khauz complex and the largest in Bukhara. This madrasa has more than 130 hujras, where more than 320 students lived and studied. It became a symbol of the powerful state under the leadership of Abdulla Khan. It is a two-story building with a large mosaic portal at the entrance, decorated with deep arched niches, flanked at the corners by elegant columns of translucent green onyx. The interior decoration is predominantly white.

Originally a caravanserai, the Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa is part of the architectural complex located around the famous Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara. The madrasa building, as well as the nearby khanaka, are named after Vizier Nadir, on whose orders they were built. Vizier Nadir served at the court of one of the strongest and most powerful representatives of the Ashtarkhanid dynasty, Imamkuli-khan, who ruled Bukhara from 1611 to 1642. This madrasa was built following the model of Sherdor in Samarkand, but the famous lions were replaced with mythical birds of happiness. It is decorated in the style typical of Muslim monuments in Central Asia. In addition to birds, images of other animals and a sun with a human face were also used, something unusual in Islamic monuments.

The Magoki Attori Mosque is a historic mosque in Bukhara, one of the earliest mosques in the city and part of the Lyab-i Hauz religious-historical complex. Originally, Magoki Attori was a six-pillared, twelve-domed mosque. The main entrance was on the longer side of the building, noticeably offset from the central axis. It was notable for its portal, which was accentuated by an arch supported by two carved stone columns. The main decorative material was polished and carved brick, from which patterns in the form of curls, spirals, and meanders were made. In the decoration of the Magoki Attori Mosque, artisans skillfully combined loop-shaped bricks, a mosaic of terracotta bars, and an enameled glass insert. Arabic inscriptions and relief girih (a type of geometric ornament) were placed diagonally on small vertical panels. The originality of the form, the play of shadows in the brickwork, and the ornamental luxury of the mosque's southern facade speak of the high level of craftsmanship of 12th-century Bukhara. Today, Magoki-Attori's decorated portals, with their carved alabaster, glazed majolica, polished brickwork, and carved terracotta, are masterpieces of architectural decoration.

It is the oldest of the madrasas built by Ulugbek and the oldest preserved in Central Asia. The Ulugbek Madrasa of Bukhara is a rectangular building with a courtyard and a main entrance decorated with a tall portal. A two-tiered arcade opens from the façade and also features towers. The ornamentation motifs are dominated by astral elements, which can be associated with Ulugbek's worldview as an astronomer. On the door leaf, there is an inscription from the Quran stating that "the pursuit of knowledge is the duty of every Muslim man and woman." There, students studied Arabic, geometry, astronomy, and religious subjects from morning until night. Their studies lasted 15 to 20 years, and the students of this madrasa steadily joined the ranks of Eastern thinkers and poets.

Abdulaziz Khan's complex is different from the others not only because of the colors of its decoration, but because of its entire design, which was atypical for the canonical buildings of that period. The location chosen for its construction is also interesting: right in front of the Ulugbek Madrasa (built two centuries earlier).Abdulaziz Khan, a descendant of the Ashtarkhanid dynasty, like his predecessors, wanted to enrich the city's spiritual and cultural heritage by building a madrasa. It began as a very ambitious project, as this madrasa was supposed to become the crown of Central Asian architecture and the great legacy of the Ashtarkhanid dynasty. For the first time, the walls of the spiritual institution were covered with tiles and paintings of landscapes, trees and flowers, as well as images of the mythical Simurgh bird and Chinese dragons. The Abdulaziz Khan Madrasa is part of the historic center of Bukhara and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

Poi Kalon, or Poi Kalyan, is the main complex located in the center of Bukhara, at the intersection of the “four bazaars” trade routes. It consists of a group of four monuments: the Poi Kalon Mosque and the Miri Arab Madrasa, facing each other, with the Kalon minaret between them and, south of Miri Arab, the small Amir Allimkhan Madrasa. This Islamic religious complex as a whole dates back to the 16th and 18th centuries.In the heart of Bukhara, the Poi Kalyan complex unfolds like a tapestry, weaving together threads of history, culture, and spirituality. It stands as a tribute to the enduring spirit of a city that has been the cradle of civilization for centuries and invites travelers to embark on a journey back in time as they explore its historic grounds.

This mosque is one of the largest in Bukhara, with a large interior plaza and columned porticos for indoor prayers. One of the city's most outstanding monuments. According to archaeological studies, the original mosque (Karakhanid Djuma) was destroyed by fire and dismantled, presumably during the Mongol invasion. A second mosque was built on its ruins, but it did not last long. Apparently, according to some contemporary writings, a third mosque was built during the Sheybanid period, in the 15th century.The layout of the Djuma Mosque (called Kalyan Mosque or Kalon Mosque) is traditional, featuring a rectangular courtyard with a tall, wide maksura hall on the west side. Each axis of the courtyard has a large ayvan, and the perimeter of the courtyard is built with pillared vaulted galleries (208 pillars and 288 domes). The maksura is square and has deeply recessed niches on the cross axis and a mihhrab on the main axis. The slab is typical of the early 15th century, an octahedron of arched pendentives supporting a domed inner dome, surmounted by a blue spherical outer dome on a drum. This structure still dominates the skyline of Bukhara. The construction of the mosque was completed in 1514, under the direction of Ubaidulla-khan. The new elements were a main facade with a peshtok in the center, gul-dasta (towers), and arches in the walls. The decoration of the mosque is sparse, consisting mainly of glazed tiles and knotwork bricks, concentrated mainly on the main facade and the mihrab. Curiously, beyond this facade, archaeological investigation has revealed earlier decoration, consisting of six-sided tiles and a mosaic border.

The Kalyan or Kalon Minaret, designed by Usto Bako, was built in 1127 by order of the Qarakhanid ruler Mohammad Arslan Khan to summon the faithful to prayer. It also became a symbol of Islamic authority in Central Asia and, in turn, stood as a testament to the city's prosperity and spiritual fervor during this golden age of Islamic civilization. Known locally as the Great Minaret, this imposing structure has served as a beacon of faith and resilience for over eight centuries.Rising to over 45 meters in height, it was built in a circular shape that tapers towards the top and made from a distinctive brick material characterized by alternating bands of turquoise and blue tiles. These vibrant colors, reminiscent of different hues of the sky, add to the minaret's visual appeal and cultural significance. A symbol of architectural mastery and historical significance, it stands proudly amidst the ancient streets of Bukhara.Beyond its architectural splendor, the Kalyan Minaret bears witness to Bukhara's tumultuous history, surviving invasions, earthquakes, and the passage of time. Its resilience in the face of adversity has earned it a place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

The Miri-Arab Madrasa, with its two prominent blue domes, stands majestically in the center of Bukhara and is part of the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, along with the Kalyan Mosque and Minaret. This religious educational institution is an important spiritual center in the city. Its construction dates back to the 16th century and is associated with Sheikh Abdullah Yamani, the spiritual leader of the Sheibanids.The Miri-Arab Madrasa is considered one of the most fascinating monuments in Bukhara and continues to function as an educational institution where future imams and religious mentors receive their training. The building features traditional architecture, with a square courtyard surrounded by two floors of cells and two large vaulted halls at the left and right corners. The main facade is highlighted by a portal and flanked by two-story loggias. The inner courtyard is adorned with intricately carved mosaics. At the center of the madrasa is the shrine of Ubaydulla Khan, the Emir of Bukhara who ruled between 1533 and 1540. The burial site of Sheikh Abdallah Yamani, known as Miri Arab, is also located here, giving the madrasa its name. Its size, its color, its architecture—everything makes it one of the most beautiful monuments not only in Bukhara but in the entire country. The building's decoration and architecture reflect an exquisite oriental taste. Despite having suffered numerous destructions, restorers have managed to reconstruct much of the building, returning it to its original appearance. The grand façade continues to impress visitors with its beautiful layout, just as it did in ancient times.