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Bukhara attractions
Bukhara attractions
Kalyan Minaret (Tower of Death). It was built by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan in 1127. According to the legend Arslan Khan killed an imam. The imam asked the khan in a dream to lay the imam's head on a spot where nobody can tread on it. Thus the tower was built over the imam's grave. With a height of 47 m it is Bukhara's landmark. In its ornamental bands the glazed blue tiles were used for the first time in Central Asia. It gets its nickname as the "Tower of Death" because they once executed criminals by taking them to the top and pushing them out, leaving them to fall to their death. This practice stopped in the early 1900s. 3000 UZS. �
Ark citadel, Registan Square. 9am to 6pm. From the most ancient times the Ark was the fortified residence of the rulers of Bukhara. Everything could be found there - palaces, temples, barracks, offices, the mint, warehouses, workshops, stables, an arsenal, and even a prison. Nowadays there is a museum inside. 2400 UZS. �
Lyabi-khauz. The Lyabi-khauz is considered to be the center of the Old City. Plaza Lyabi-khauz is derived from Persian and means “ensemble near the pool”. The main element of this ensemble is the pool. The ensemble Lyabi-khauz has three monumental structures. These are: * Kukeldash madrassah (16th century) built by Abdullah II was, at the time, the biggest Islamic School in Central Asia. * Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah (16th century) was inteded to be a caravan saray, but according to the order of the ruler Imam Kulimkhan, was reconstructed into a Madrassah. * Nadir Devanbegi Khanaka (winter mosque) was built at the same time as the Lyabi-khauz (16th century). �
Ismoil Somoni (Ismail Samani) Mausoleum. The mausoleum was built during the reign of Ismail Samani, one of the most outstanding members of the Samanids dynasty, who ruled Bukhara from 892 until 907. Originally, the mausoleum was intended for the grave of Ismail Samani’s father, Akhmad, but later became the burial vault of the Samanids. It was completed in 905 and is the oldest Muslim monument in Bukhara. It is considered as a masterpiece of early Islamic architecture. Ismail b. Ahmad b. Asad Samani was born in 234/849 and died in 295/907. He was the first member of the Samanid dynasty ruling over all Transoxania and Fargana. He was governor of Bukhara on behalf of his brother Nasr. Ismail had defend Bukhara against attacks by Khwarazmian forces. He twice failed to send the 500,000 dirhams annual tribute to Nasr and had to defend the city against two attacks by Nasr. After Nasr's death in 279/892 Ismail became ruler of all Transoxania. He transfered the capital to Bukhara and was recognized as governor by caliph al-Motazed (279-89/892-902). In 280/893 he led an expedition north into the steppes, capturing Ṭaraz (modern Dzhambul/Kazakhstan), taking an immense booty of animals and Turkish slaves, and converting a Nestorian Christian church into a mosque. Ismail's greatest achievement was the defeat of Amr b. Layt in a battle near Balk in 287/900. Amr had received from caliph al-Moʿtażed eastern Persia and Transoxania, which entailed deposing Ismail as governor. Amr invaded the upper Oxus (Amu Darya) provinces, but was decisively defeated by Esmaʿīl. The ʿAbbasids at Baghdad were thus relieved of pressure from the aggressive Saffarids, and the caliph formally appointed Ismail governor of Khorasan, Sistan, Ray, Ṭabarestan, and Isfahan, in addition to his Transoxanian provinces. Samanid amirs were, however, able to retain permanent control of Khorasan and Transoxania only. Although he still officially recognized the caliphs’ overlordship in the Friday sermon and on his coins), Ismail took advantage of his distance from Iraq and his new prestige to function as an independent sovereign. There is no evidence that he ever forwarded regular tribute or taxation to Baghdad. He spent his last years witgh battles against the Zaydi Shiite imams in the Caspian provinces, extending Samanid power westward across northern Persia, and repelling a Turkish invasion from the steppes. Ismail launched an offensive against Ṭabarestan and northern Persia and by 287/900 held territory as far west as Ray and Qazvin, though again his successors were not able to hold on to these areas. When Ismail died he was succeeded by his son Ahmad (295-301/907-14). Ismalil became renowned for justice and piety and for serving the caliph and his interests faithfully and is considered as the greatest of the Samanids. �
Kukeldash Medressa. built by Abdullah II., at the time the biggest Islamic school in Central Asia �
Taqi Sarrafon. bazaar of the moneychangers �
Taqi-Telpak Furushon. bazaar of the cap makers �
Taqi-Zaragon. bazaar of the jewellers �
Maghoki Attar Mosque. the oldest surviving mosque in Central Asia, dating back to the 9th cent., reconstructed in the 16th cent. �
Faizullah Khojaev House, Tukaeva. Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm. 2000 UZS. �
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Bukhara Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
