Planning my route through the Uzbek city of Bukhara, I was surprised to discover a very unusual structure in the central part of the ancient city — the tower of engineer Shukhov. Today, I will tell you about its history.
How to Get There
The Bukhara Shukhov Tower is located near the Ark Citadel and other famous landmarks of the city. Tourists staying in the city center can easily walk here. For those coming from remote parts of the city, taxis or buses are convenient and inexpensive transportation options.
In the upper part of the tower, there is an open observation deck. In October 2023, the entrance fee was 40,000 Uzbekistani soms. Tickets can be purchased with cash or credit cards.
A Bit of History
Shukhov's water tower can be considered a relatively recent addition to the historic city: construction began in 1927, and the building process lasted for two years. A similar structure exists in the capital of Russia. However, unlike its Moscow "sister," the Shabolovskaya Tower, which was used for broadcasting television and radio programs, the Bukhara tower served as part of the city's water supply system.
The structure served its purpose until 1975 when a fire damaged part of the tower's construction. Online sources mention attempts to turn the building into a tourist attraction dating back to the 1990s, but the modern observation deck was established only in 2019.
The water tower is named after the Russian engineer and inventor Vladimir Shukhov. The master was involved in the design of water supply systems, oil barges, and bridges. However, the most famous structures designed by Shukhov were towers of unusual shapes. In total, around 200 similar objects were erected with Shukhov's participation, both in Russia and abroad. Thanks to its elegant design, the Bukhara tower is often referred to as lace-like.
A lift attached to the southern side of the tower takes tourists to the observation deck, located in the open air. From here, a complete panoramic view of the city unfolds. For visitors' convenience, large binoculars are installed in several places on the platform. The tower's railing has plaques indicating directions to various cities worldwide, along with numbers indicating the distances in kilometers.
Online sources mention that there is a café on the lower level of the complex, but during my visit, I didn't notice it being open.
Next time, I will show you the interesting architectural ensemble of Bolo Haouz.
Have a nice trip!
