Bukhara

Any person who has ever visited Bukhara can confirm that Samarkand is the beauty of the earth, but Bukhara is the beauty of spirit.

The history of Bukhara goes back to the ancient times. In Sanskrit word "Bukhara" means "monastery". Here you can find more than 140 architectural monuments and architectural masterpieces. Bukhara is a "museum city" under the blue sky. Even 2300 years later majestic monuments and ensembles such as Poi-Kalon, Kos Madras, Mausoleum of Ismail Samani and Minaret Kalon attract attention and interest of people with different profession, points of view, different origin.

Mausoleum of Ismail Samani is the oldest building in Bukhara. It was created against an order of Ismail Samani, the most famous ruler and founder of the Samanids dynasty. The mausoleum is one of the most elegant buildings of Central Asia.

The 10th century Bukhara acquired more cultural importance and became a center of science and literature. Famous poets such as Narshahi, Rudaki and Dakiki and scientist Avicenna were well known in Bukhara. They and other scientists made a great contribution to Oriental Renaissance as well to development of the world culture and science.

Labi Hauz ("hauz" means pool) is the most peaceful and interesting place in the city. Shaded by mulberry trees as old as the pool it gathers different people in cool. You can find there street-sellers, old men playing chess or gossiping over tea, and a lot of other people who come here to learn the news, to change their thoughts, to find each other. There is a statue of Hoja Nasriddin on the eastern side of Labi Hauz. He is a semi-mythical person a "wise fool" as he called himself. There are a lot of interesting and instructive stories and parables about him.

Another interesting place in Bukhara is Nadir Divanbegi madrassah. Initially its purpose was to be a caravan saray (a place where traders and merchants could find food, sleep, and new partners). But it was converted into educational madrassah in 1630 AD. There is Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka further on the western side of the square. It was created at the same time. Both are named after Abdul Aziz Khan's treasury minister, who financed the building in the 17th century. The Kukeldash madrassah is situated northward of the street. This monument was built by Abdullah Khan II. That time it was the biggest Islamic school in Central Asia.

There is Poi-Kalon architectural ensemble (XII-XVI) in the center of the old Bukhara. The minaret (ancient orient tower) which height is 50 meters towers over the city in all its grandeur and splendor.

Being quite far away from the city you can mention the beautiful light-blue domes of the Chor-Minor Madrassah and the Ark Citadel. The medieval architectural masterpieces Ulugbek and Kukaldosh Madrassahs (XV) brought through the centuries their exotic color of the older times.

Wonderful multicolored murals with the scenes of battles and hunts were discovered in the Varakhsha ancient settlement in Bukhara environs. This discovery is dated by V-XI centuries. These ancient paintings have been delivered to the museum for safe keeping. Archeological discoveries prove the high skills of craftsmen in ancient Sogdiana. They created their crafts combining rich traditions of antiquity with some patterns of the Buddhist art from eastern Turkistan.

  

Monuments of Bukhara

• Mausoleum of the Samanids (the 9th-1Othcc.)
• Bukhara Emir Palace Sitoraiy-Mokhiy-Hosa (the end of the 19thc. - the beginning of the 20thc.)
• Labi-Hauz Ensemble (I6th-17thcc.)
• Ark fortress (11th- 20thcc.)
• Bala-Hauz ensemble (the beginning of the 18th- 20thcc.)
• Mausoleum of the Samanids (the 9th-1Othcc.)
• Chasma-Ayub Mazar (1380 or 1385)
• Madrasseh of Abdulla-khan (1596/98)
• Madrasseh of Madariy-khan (1556/57)
• Balyand Mosque - (the beginning of the 16thc.)
• Gaukushon Ensemble (Mosque, Minaret, Madrasseh) (16thc.)
• Hanaka of Zainutdin-Hadji (1555)
• Pai-Kalyan Ensemble (12th-14thcc.)
• Kukeldash Madrasseh (1568/69)
• Hanaka of Nadira-Divan-bigi (1620)
• Madrasse of Nadira-Divan-bigi (1620)
• Madrasseh of Ulugbek (1417)
• Madrasseh of Abdulaziz-khan (1652)
• Bala-Hauz Mosque (1712)
• Mausoleum of Saifetdin Boharziy (the second half of the 13th-14thcc.)
• Mausoleum of Buyan Kulikhan (the second half of the 14thc., 15th or 16thc.)
• The out-of-town Mosque Namazgoh the (12th- 16thcc.)
• Hanaka Faizabad (1598/99)
• Chor-Minor Madrasseh (1807)
• The Jubariy sheikhs family site of burial Chor-Bakr (1563)