Bukhara Region: UNESCO Heritage, Desert and Crafts
Accommodation in Bukhara Region
In Bukhara Region, impressive buildings meet a landscape shaped largely by the sandy expanses of the Kyzylkum Desert. Bukhara, the region’s centre, offers a rich cultural focus; other discoveries lead to crafts, historic settlements and distinctive natural features. When choosing where to stay, consider whether you want to focus mainly on the city or on a trip with several regional destinations.
Bukhara and its historic buildings
The historic centre of Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993. More than 140 monuments from different periods have been preserved in the city, each more than a century old. Notable examples include the Poi-Kalon ensemble at the foot of the Kalon Minaret on Registan Square. It comprises the Miri-Arab and Amir-Alimkhan madrasas, the Kalon Minaret and a mosque of the same name. The minaret was built in 1127 and is 45.6 metres high.
Other buildings also offer insight into the city’s long history: the Ark Fortress served as the residence of Bukhara’s rulers for almost one and a half millennia. The Magoki-Attori Mosque is part of the historic centre and is considered the city’s oldest mosque. The Samanid Mausoleum was built between 892 and 907 and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. Those interested in different architectural styles can include these sites in their itinerary alongside the Poi-Kalon ensemble.
Museums, markets and local traditions
Sitorai-Mohi-Khosa Palace combines a complex built in the European style with oriental interior design and is divided into men’s and women’s sections. Today, it houses a museum of decorative and applied arts. In Bukhara, a culinary masterclass also offers the opportunity to prepare the traditional dish Oshi Sofi together with local chefs.
The historic centre is also home to Tim Abdullah Khan, a trading dome built in the 16th century. Visitors can buy Bukhara carpets and other handicrafts, paintings and musical instruments there. The Lyabi-Hauz ensemble is one of the central monuments of old Bukhara; concerts, fashion shows featuring Uzbek clothing and other events are held there. This allows you to weigh up architecture, crafts and cultural events according to your interests during your stay in the city.
Gijduvan adds a strong craft tradition to these experiences. Its embroidery is made entirely by hand using silk threads. At the ceramics museum and workshop, visitors can watch the production process and buy a souvenir. Gijduvan shashlik is also a well-known local grilled meat or kebab speciality. If you want to include regional crafts and cuisine, you can consider these alongside the city’s attractions.
More destinations and landscape experiences
The grounds of the ancient Gijduvan Kurgan fortress include cultural and historic sites prepared for tourist visits. These include the Old Stone Hammam and the Bozori Qaymoq, Boloyi Kassobon and Boborakhimboy mosques. In the tourist mahalla of Kurgan, craft workshops offer insights into traditional ways of life and Uzbek hospitality. Paykend is another historic highlight: desert sand engulfed the ruins of the medieval settlement over millennia, helping to preserve them to this day. The remains can be viewed at the settlement’s history museum.
The landscape itself offers another reason to explore the region beyond Bukhara. The specialised Bukhara breeding station “Jeyran” is located between Kogon and Karaulbazar on the A-380 in Bukhara District, Bukhara Region. Jeyrans are bred there under special conditions. The Bakhautdin Naqshbandi Complex is 12 kilometres from Bukhara; a museum there displays exhibits and information about his life and work. The Chor Bakr Memorial Complex is part of an official travel programme that includes pilgrimage rituals.
Choosing where to stay and considering travel
For a trip focused on historic buildings, museums and events, you may want to consider staying in Bukhara. If your itinerary is to include crafts, cuisine or destinations outside the city, plan your stay around these different priorities. When looking for a holiday rental, it therefore helps to decide first whether the city centre or the wider region will be the setting for your trip.
The high-speed Afrosiyob train takes approximately four hours to travel from Tashkent to Bukhara. The region lies in southwestern Uzbekistan and borders Turkmenistan and other Uzbek regions. Its subordinate areas include Kagan District.
For the broader travel overview: Uzbekistan.
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