In October of this year, I visited the marvelous city of Bukhara, a true gem of Eastern architecture. Today, I'll share with you my walk through the city center, where I had the chance to see several interesting monuments of ancient architecture.
I flew to Bukhara from Tashkent. Initially, I wanted to take the high-speed train here; locals say that you can enjoy beautiful views of nature along the way. However, buying tickets for the railway transport heading towards the tourist destinations in Uzbekistan can be quite challenging. During the planning of my trip, I couldn't find convenient options.
My acquaintance with Bukhara began right after landing; on the first evening, I managed to take a walk around the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, which is quite far from the city center, so I'll tell you about it in a separate article. Now, let's explore the historical part of Bukhara together and enjoy the views of its beautiful architectural monuments.
Bolo Haouz
The first site I included in my walking route was the Bolo Haouz complex. The ensemble consists of a winter mosque, an open-air prayer area for warm weather, a pool, and a separate minaret. The structures belong to different time periods: the mosque was built in the early 18th century, while the minaret tower appeared two centuries later.
Tourists can enter the mosque for free. You'll need to take off your shoes before entering. Also, if you come here during prayer times, you may be asked to return later.
Shukhov Water Tower
An unexpected sight in distant Eastern Bukhara was the Shukhov water tower. The name of this engineer is likely known to many due to a similar structure located in Moscow.
While the Shukhov (Shabolovka) tower in the Russian capital served for many years as a broadcasting point for television and radio programs, the tower in Bukhara had a different purpose—it was a water tower.
Today, there is an open observation deck at the top of the tower. The cost of going up is 40,000 Uzbek soms. Payment can be made in cash or by credit card.
Ark Citadel Historical and Ethnographic Museum
Across the road from the Shukhov tower is a massive ancient citadel, which now houses a large museum space on its territory. Visitors can explore the interior of ancient buildings, see the enormous throne hall, or take a stroll in the archaeological park.
Until 1920, the citadel was the residence of the rulers of Bukhara. Today, we see buildings from different periods, mainly dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, according to the information board.
Similar to the Shukhov tower, the cost of visiting this complex for foreign citizens is 40,000 soms.
Po-i-Kalyan Architectural Ensemble
Continuing our walk through the city, the next stop on our route is the Po-i-Kalyan (Poi Kalan) ensemble. It includes the Kalan Mosque, Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, and a minaret. The latter is one of the symbols of Bukhara.
Tourists can enter the mosque complex, and the ticket price is 10,000 soms. The madrasa is closed to visitors, probably because it is an active educational institution. Guests have access to only a small room located just beyond the central entrance doors.
It's worth noting that these and other buildings in the historical part of Bukhara are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Lyab-i Hauz Architectural Ensemble
Another architectural complex I encountered that day is called Lyab-i Hauz. It includes the Kukeldash Madrasah, Nadir Divan-Beghi Madrasa, and the Nadir Divan-Beghi Khanaka.
Here, you can not only admire ancient monuments of Eastern architecture but also spend some leisure time. There are café tables around the pool area, and one of the madrasas hosts costumed performances.
Chor Minor Madrasa
Finally, I decided to take a look at the Chor Minor Madrasa. The building was erected in 1806–1807 and is located far from the famous central landmarks. However, I still made my way to it because the photos of the building I saw online seemed very interesting to me.
The construction differs significantly in structure from the madrasas I had seen in Uzbekistan before. Its most unusual feature is the four tall minarets grouped at the corners of the main volume.
On the ground floor, there's a souvenir shop, and you can pay to visit the roof of the complex here. The ticket costs 5,000 soms and can be paid in cash or by credit card.
My day in Bukhara was coming to an end; I took the last photos of Chor Minor Madrasa and headed to the airport. By the way, this is the second airport I walked to this year due to having excess free time. The first such experience was a walk to the airport in Trabzon, Turkey.
My next article about Bukhara will be dedicated to the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace.
Have a nice trip!
Bukhara: Budget for a 1-Day Trip (October 2023)
- Round-trip flight from Tashkent to Bukhara for one person: 59.4 dollars (about 726,000 Uzbek soms).
- Hotel in Bukhara, 4 stars, for one night for two people: 1,430,000 soms.
- Entrance fees to the attractions, excluding guided tours: 95,000 soms per person.
- Total: about 3,072,000 soms.
