Monuments of Bukhara : Uzbekistan

Maggoki-Attori (“Mosque in the pit” - Persian) is located in the very center of the old city of Bukhara. The basement of the construction stroke into the ground in 6 meters and covered with cultural layers of the centuries-long history of Bukhara.

The Mosque has arisen on the place of the former Zoroastrian temple of fire-worshippers Mokh.   Explorations show that there were a bazaar near the temple were medical potions, spices and loam idols used to be sold.

The extant covered bazaars of Bukhara give a clear image of Bukhara as a trade city on the Great Silk Road. There were a lot of bazaars within and outside the city, but only four of them remained. They are: Toki- Zargaron, Toki-Telpak Furushon, Toki-Sarrafon and Tim Abdulla-Khan. These domes were built on the cross of two or three roads used by caravans loaded with goods.

Chor Bakr Necropolis (XVI-XVIII centuries) is one of Burkhara’s holy places. This place is popular not only with Bukhara’s citizens, but also among Muslim pilgrims of other countries. Necropolis is located not far from Bukhara, in Sumitan village. It presents an architectural complex, composed by several tombs. Thus, some sources call this place as “Necropolis”.

In the south of the Bukhara there is a Balyand Mosque – one of the district Mosques of the city built in the beginning of XVI century.

A suburban palace of the Bukhara emirs Sitorai Mokhi Khosa is situated in 4 km. to the north of Bukhara. The building of the palace was started in the beginning of XIX century, but the most part of buildings on this territory belongs to the period of government of the last emir- Said Alim Khan (1911-1920).

Chor-Minor, madras with amazing shape, is situated in the north-west of Bukhara. Its name is translated as “Four minarets”. These minarets symbolize the four parts of the world. Ornaments of the minaret differ from each other. A part of a two storied entrance arch has survived and presently used as a mosque. The decoration of internal walls and dome represents religious inscriptions in Arabic. These signs could be seen and nowadays.  The building was flanked with kelyas (cells) which formed a square courtyard. Library with variety of valuable manuscripts was located on the second floor.

Ulugbek’s Madrassah is the only building in Bukhara, which remained in remembrance of Ulugbek, a great regent, astronomer and mathematician. Madras was built in 1417. A talented architect Ismail Isfagani participated in building works and design of Madras. The highest explosion of town building and architecture was marked in Maverannakhr cities in XIV and XV centuries.

Bakhoutdin Nakshbandi’s memorial complex is located in 12 kilometers north-west from Bukhara, in Kasri Orifon place. This complex includes Nakshbandi’s Mausoleum, Khonaka (XVI century), Abdulfayzkhan’s mosque and minaret (XVIII century), Kushbegi mosque (XIX century) and vault of Bukhara’s rulers.

All roads in Bukhara lead to “Lyabi Hauz”- the most popular place among city’s guests and citizens. This complex has formed in XVII century and consists of several constructions that were built around the pool. Thus, the name “Lyabi Hauz” is translated as “pool coast”.

The outstanding monument of the Muslim architecture and striking example of the unique building art is the Mausoleum of the Samanides. The mausoleum built in IX-X centuries still impressing with its shapes and proportions, even in time of modern technologies helping to make an exact calculation of building constructions.