Bukhara Photos View
Informations Bukhara city
Bukhara "Abundant", "Blessed" - these are the epithets given to Bukhara in the past. Bukhara is at the crossroads of ancient trade routes and was a large commercial center on the Great Silk Road.
Bukhara is really a museum-city: more than 140 architectural monuments are to be found here. The earliest of these was constructed in the 9th century. One of the most famous masterpieces of architecture dates from the 9-10th centuries - the mausoleum of the Samanides. The ancient masters succeeded in achieving an articstic effect: the walls are like a light and transparent lace. Almost 50-metre tower of Kalyan minaret rises in all its splendour over the city and no tourist will be indifferent to the Ulughbek and Chor-Minor medressehs.
There were many bazaars in ancient Bukhara, one of them - Lyabi-hauz bazaar (the 16-17th cc.) has been preserved up to this day.
Bukhara's "old city" is the only place in Central Asia where the colour of the East still lives.
Visit the "pearl of the East". Touch the mysterious soul of Bukhara!
Bukhara - one of the most ancient cities of the East - is situated at the brink of oases and the vast sandy desert of Kizilkum. Bukhara celebrated its 2,500-year anniversary in 1998. At different times the city had been known under different names: Numizkat, Madinat-as Sufia, Fakhirs, Vikhara (the latter in Sanskrit mean “monastery”). First known written reference dates back to the 3rd century AD. In the 9th century Bukhara became the capital of the powerful Samanid state. At that time trades were flourishing, professions developed and irrigation canals widely constructed. The famous doctor and philosopher Avicenna spent his childhood here, poet Rudaki composed his verses here and medieval historian and poet Firdausi lived here, too. The Bukhara’s library was glorified for its wealth of manuscripts written in Greek, Arab, Persian, Chinese and other world languages. In the Middle Ages Bukhara had become one of the core religious centres of Asia: numerous mosques and madrasah (spiritual secondary schools) were constructed. In XVIII century Bukhara became the centre of the Bukhara Emirate existed till the beginning of the 20th century. Today Bukhara is an administrative centre of a large province of Uzbekistan. The city has a population of 250,000 peoples. Bukhara’s townsfolk do their utmost to preserve the history of their native city and they strive to encourage incoming tourism from all over the world.
Popular Places in Bukhara
1. Citadel Ark (VII - XX) - most ancient of all the Bukhara’s architectural monuments. Built on the place of a more ancient original fortress, Ark has seen multiple reconstructions and served as a residence for Bukharian rulers. The Citadel covers an area of about 35,000 sq. m. Mint and jeweller workshop, Vasir`s (minister) offices, jail, warehouses, small emir’s mosque, harem - all situated in the Citadel. Today Ark has number of museums: History Museum, Philately Museum and Ethnography Museum.
2. Samanid Mausoleum (IX-X) - Family burial-vault of the Bukharian Samanid governors, one of the earliest known monuments of burnt brick built at the territory of Uzbekistan and perfectly preserved to our days. Architecture of the monument amazes by its harmonious simplicity, proportionality and singularity. The monument does not have any external plastering or tiling, instead, the builders were using just bricks positioning in such a way that to create unbelievably unique patterns, which change their look as the day progresses depending on the light intensity.
3. Poi-Kalyan Complex including a cathedral mosque Kalyan (XV) and minaret Kalyan (1127). The facade of the mosque is decorated by glazed bricks, and the domes and the arches - by the superbly restored mosaic tiling intricately composed in inimitable epigraphic, geometrical and vegetable designs. Minaret Kalyan is 45.6m high and even today is the highest building in Bukhara. External surface of the tower is adorned in ten decorative belts each having its own geometrical pattern of bricks. A magnificent "sky light" completes the vertical of the minaret.
4. Chor-Minor (1807) - the original structure presenting what is left of a once small madrasah with a gateway structure of four small (some believe, Indian-style) minarets.
5. Kukeldash Madrasah (XVI), Lyabi-Haus Complex (XVII) – an basin of bricks 36m x 46m x 5m set in the wrench of 500-year old mulberry trees, a largest in Bukhara Kukeldash Madrasah and two structures linked to a name of the Bukharian Minister someone Nadir Divan-Begi: the Hanako (hostel and mosque combination) and Madrasah (both XVII).
6. A cult architectural complex of Bahautdin Nakshbandi (XIV - XVII) - created on the burial place of Nakshbandi – the founder of the Sufi Nakshbandia Order and a most respected saint and patron of Bukharian townsfolk. The complex includes two large mosques, a Holy Grave of Nakshbandi, a sacred well, a minaret, a basin and a trunk of an old mulberry tree ostensibly planted by Nakshbandi himself.
7. Sitora-i Mohi Hosa (XIX-XX) – the summer country-side residence of Bukhara emirs. Architectural style of the Palace is eclectic to include elements of both Eastern and European architecture. Interior most richly adorned in fretwork, white alabaster- and wood carving and marble supplemented with true masterpieces of the Bukhara textile craftsmen. Huge courtyard where antelope-gazelle used to roam and where peacocks and pheasants still walk about harmoniously completes a unity of the architectural ensemble.
8. The Jeyran Antelope Sanctuary - is situated 40 kilometres away from Bukhara near the town of Karaulbazar in the steppe land area. On its huge territory variety of wild animals are being preserved such as jeyran (steppe antelope), cheetah and Prjevalski Horse. Tourists have a chance to photograph the nearly extinct species in their natural habitat.
Other monuments of interest to tourists: Nekropolis of Chor-Bakr (XVI),
Miri-Arab Mausoleum and Madrasah (XVI),
Chashma-Ayub (Saint Job) Mausoleum (XII - XVI),
Taki-Zargaron trading domes (XV - XVI),
Magoki-Attari Mosque (XII - XVI).