Hi! Today I will continue to acquaint you with the sights of eastern Bukhara. Last time, we walked through the complex of the residence of Bukhara rulers, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, and today I invite you on a virtual tour of the Ark Citadel, considered one of the oldest monuments in the history of Uzbekistan.
How to Get to the Ark of Bukhara
The complex of the ancient defensive structure is located in the central part of Bukhara. I planned my route to first take a look at the ensemble of Bolo Haouz, then climb to the observation platform of the Shukhov Tower, and then go for a walk around the citadel.
The cost of visiting the citadel for tourists in October 2023 was 40,000 Uzbekistani soms. Entrance can be paid in cash or by credit cards.
A Bit of History
The area where the fortress stands is called the oldest part of Bukhara. According to legends, the age of the citadel is about four thousand years, but I suggest relying on dates confirmed by scientists. It is known that during archaeological excavations, the remains of structures dating back to the 4th century BC were found here.
On the territory of the Ark, there were a ruler's palace, quarters for his assistants, mosques, harem, prisons, a mint, and other buildings. Over the years of the citadel's existence, the structures located here were repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Online sources mention that many of the buildings we see here today date back to the 17th-19th centuries.
The citadel is a high earthen mound surrounded by powerful walls. There is a museum-reserve on the territory, which is visited by many tourists nowadays. Interestingly, in two different sources on the history of the Ark, I found opposite opinions about the origin of the mound on which the fortress stands: in one book, it is called man-made, in another - natural.
The area of the territory where the citadel is located is more than three hectares. The length of the Ark walls approaches 800 meters, and their height varies from 16 to 20 meters. I would recommend allocating at least an hour for a visit to this attraction. During my exploration of the fortress structures, I encountered several tour groups. If you prefer to visit such places with a guide, be sure to check this possibility at the museum ticket office.
A walk through the ancient citadel consists of a series of visits to open spaces and enclosed spaces. Many rooms in the fortress buildings house exhibitions telling the history of these lands. A significant part of the Ark territory is occupied by a large archaeological park with the remains of ancient structures. We will walk through it in the next part of my article.
Have a nice trip!
