Bukhara combines a more than two-thousand-year-old historic centre on the Silk Roads with a largely intact urban fabric associated with the Islamic cities of Central Asia from the 10th to the 17th century. Its preserved cultural heritage includes the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the Poi Kalyan Minaret, the Magoki-Attori Mosque, the Chashma-Ayub Shrine, the Ulugbek Madrasa and the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble.
Perhaps you would like to rent a holiday apartment for your stay in Bukhara.
Culture and History
The Ark Citadel is Bukhara’s oldest architectural monument and served as the residence of Bukhara’s rulers until 1920. Its historical exhibition covers Bukhara’s history from the Palaeolithic, dated from 100,000 to 12,000 BC, to the Timurid period in the 14th and 15th centuries. The exhibition also includes archaeological finds from the ancient settlements of Paikend, Varakhsha, Uchkulakh, Setalak and Kyzylkyr; these finds date from the 4th to 3rd century BC through to the 20th century.
The Kalyan Minaret was built in 1127 by Arslan Khan, ruler of the Kara-Khanid state. The Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is part of the Poi-Kalon architectural ensemble, which also includes the Kalyan Mosque, the Kalyan Minaret and the Madrasa of Emir Alimkhan. Visitors entering the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa through the main entrance can see the marble tomb of Sheikh Abdullah al-Yamani and the presumed burial site of Ubaydullah Khan.
The Kukeldash Madrasa is part of the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble. Lyabi-Khauz was once a trading post on the Silk Road; concerts are held within the ensemble. Chor Minor is an architectural monument in Bukhara built in 1807. Its four towers are topped with domes and decorated with glazed mosaics.
Museums and Exhibitions
The Bukhara State Museum-Reserve has more than 130,000 exhibits relating to Bukhara’s more than 2,500-year-old historical, material and spiritual culture. It comprises 15 branches and three permanent exhibitions.
A four-day itinerary for Bukhara includes a visit to the craft centre in the recently restored Modari-Khan Madrasa, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of the History of Bukhara Calligraphy.
Surroundings and Climate
Near Bukhara is Sitora-i Mokhi-khosa, a palace four kilometres north of the city. The former country residence Sitora-i Mokhi-khosa of the last Emir of Bukhara is now a museum of decorative and applied arts.
Also near Bukhara, on the outskirts of the city, is the religious complex of Bahouddin Naqshbandiy; it is a centre for followers of the Naqshbandiyya order. Bukhara has hot, dry summers and comparatively mild winters.
Cuisine and Festivals
At one edition of the traditional “Eastern Cuisine” festival, visitors were able to sample a variety of dishes and sweets from Uzbek national cuisine. The traditional “Silk and Spices” festival includes eastern spice markets, markets selling Uzbek silk and cotton fabrics, music concerts, ethnic fashion shows and craft fairs.
Visitor Information
When visiting religious sites in Uzbekistan, women are advised to cover their shoulders, waist and legs if they are exposed.
