Historical monuments of Bukhara

In the same district with the Samanid mausoleum and Chashma-iy-Ayub, not far from the park, stands one of the most attractive ensembles, "Kosh-Madrasah", which are typical of Bukhara. The word "Kosh" means "double" and, indeed, these two educational institutions face one another across a narrow street. The first of them is Modari-khan Madrasah that was put up by Abdullakhan II (Abdulla-khan) on his mother's behalf. The date of erection 974 hijra (1566-67) is inscribed with majolica in verse above the entrance. As to composition it is a standard educational institution with a hostel for students and instructors around the courtyard, public halls of the mosque and lecture-rooms - darskhana - along both sides of portal in the interior of the building. The main front is richly faced with multicolor brick mosaic. The second building of Abdullakhan Madrasah was erected in 1588-90 and is an outstanding piece of medieval architecture.

Bakha ad-Din is a ritual ensemble, built in the former centre of the dervishes' Order Nahshbandiya. Its spiritual guide, Sheikh Bakha ad-Din was conveyed to earth in 1389 near Kasri-Arifon settlement (now the Kagan district in the Bukhara region). Toward the 16th century the Bakha ad-Din ensemble has acquired characteristic features of a necropolis combined with a ritual place. In 1544 Khan Abdul Aziz the Second built a burial vault -"dakhma" - above the Sheikh's grave, with a carved marble fence, and at a distance - the biggest ever khana-gah.

12 km outside the city, this holy place of Islam is truly inspiring many people. Pilgrims, young and old, men, women, children, from near and far gather for blessings, prayers and meal together in these peaceful and serene surroundings. A museum gives you more insight into yet a different aspect of Central Asian's fascinating history.

On an esplanade that is situated down the road a piece to north-east from Labi-hauz, stands out an unusual monument "Chor-Minor", which means, "four minarets". It is the only intact part of former large Madrasah built by a rich Turkmen, Khalif Niyaz-kul.

Kukeldash Madrasah (1568-69) bordering the Lyabi-hauz is among the biggest (80 x 60 meters) and most monumental in Central Asia, with over 130 hujras as well as a splendid example of "white interior". The entrance gate is the particular interest, inlay and fixtures are devoid of glue or nails and covered with heraldic ornaments. Kulbala Kukeldash is the name of Khan's foster-brother who was the builder of this structure.

In the northwestern section of the city rose the Ark - the palace fortress of the bukharkhudats. Beyond the walls of the Ark and the shakhristan sprawled the business quarters and artisan's areas - the rabad with its residential neighborhoods of adobe-clay houses. The rabad was stimulated in its growth by the development of caravan trade: Bukhara was on the crossroads of ancient trade routes linking up China, Iran and India. At the western gates of the citadel were the divans - the state offices, and the palaces of the nobles. At the eastern gates stood a Christian church.

The oldest monument in Bukhara, the Ark - citadel and residence of the local rulers goes back to the 3d century B.C. Over the centuries, construction and destruction at the site of the Ark have accumulated an artificial hill 18 meters high. The last emirs of Bukhara built up the top layer. The fortifications were built up layer after layer one on top of the other till they developed into motley facing of the hill. There are few surviving buildings in the Ark since most of the wooden framework structures burnt out in a fire in 1920. The overall layout has been restored on the basis of historical documents.
The first of the structures that has survived to this day are the gates of the Ark which face west and open out on the Registan Square. The gates were built in the 18th century in the form of a massive portal fringed by double towers.

Just opposite the corridor outlet into the Ark raises the roofed gallery of the grand mosque. It has a layout of a big quarter mosque in which the main prayer hall with four columns supporting the roof is surrounded on three sides by a roofed gallery (avian). The decor displays typical features of the turn of the century.
The Registan square to the west of the Ark developed into the city's social center during the pre-Arab period. Up to the I3th century, the square was built up with administrative buildings and palaces of the nobles. Later, the square was turned into a bazaar: at the entrance to the square sprawled Rasta-iy-tirgaron - rows of stand where gunsmiths sold their ware; in the center of the square rose Toki Ord Furushon arcade and a domed structure where head-dresses were sold. And all around was the noisy and colorful eastern market. Close to the entrance of the Ark were the arsenal, the office of the kushbegi (military chief), the Poyanda grand mosque, the quarter mosques of various guilds and also the madrasah Bozori Gusfand belonging to the butchers' guild. Also there was the dar ash-shifa (hospital), where, according to ancient sources, patients were given potions and special food for treatment.

Opposite the Ark is situated the Bolo-khauz complex of the 18th century which is the only monument of the Registan that survived intact. The colorfully painted gallery with the colonnade coupled with the minaret is reflected in the water of the pond.

A fine example of a quarter centre is the Balyand Mosque in the western part of the city, which was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It is a cube-shaped structure with a colonnade at the corner, and a refined interior. A paneling of hexahedral glazed tiles painted with gold, goes round the hall.

Kalyan Mosque is equal with Bibi-Khonym Mosque of Samarkand in height. Although they are of the same type of building, they are absolutely different in terms of art of building. Monumental pylons serve as a support for the multidomed roofing of the galleries encircling the courtyard of Kalyan Mosque. The longitudinal axis of the courtyard ends up with a maksura, a portal and cupola building with a cruciform hall above which towers a massive blue cupola on a mosaic drum.

Kalyan Minaret was an observation tower and during the Bukhara Emirate the place for public executions. Many legends are linked to this grand construction such as the story of the master builder who prepared the foundation of alabaster and camel's milk and then disappeared for two years, starting the brick work only after the base was firmly dried. There is a brick spiral staircase that twists up inside around the pillar and leads to the landing in sixteen-arched rotunda - skylight, which is based on a magnificent stalactite cornice (sharafa).