Bukhara. The name alone evokes stories from the Arabian Nights and sounds like the end of the world at the same time. But there was a time when the fifth-largest city in Uzbekistan was in fact, one of the largest trading hubs in the world. At the height of the silk road trade in the 9th and 10th centuries, Bukhara was even the most important Islamic center in the world. Just one of the reasons it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let’s discover the best things to do in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
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7 Things To Do In Bukhara
1. The Ark of Bukhara
The Ark is an ancient fortress observing the very heart of Bukhara since the 5th century AD. As it served as a real fortress until 1920 and was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The last time, was after the Bolsheviks conquered Bukhara. It said that the Emir itself blew up parts of his palace, as he did not want them to fall into heathen hands.
Putting legends aside, the Ark is home to a fabulous and well-preserved mosque and offers a spectacular view of Bukhara. There is also a tiny museum, but like most museums in Uzbekistan, it is very simple and not worth visiting by itself.
2. Po-i-Kalyan complex
Probably the main reason why most tourists come to Bukhara is the Po-i-Kalyan complex. The complex is so impressive that even Genghis Khan spared the Kalyan minaret (back then one of the tallest buildings in the world) after he conquered the city. The whole complex consists of a mosque and a madrasah and is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world.
The history of this mosque goes back to the 7th-century ad. Even before that, it served as a place for the heathen fire cults of these days. The current structure, with its 288 domes and 208 pillars, dates back to 1514 and was built to rival the famous Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand. It was the attempt by the local governor to start the formation of new capital (and for a time quite successful).
3. Chor Minor
Chor Minor (actually Madrasah of Khalif Nyaz-kul) is a unique little mosque with what appears to be four minarets. Contrary to what you might believe, the structure is quite small (maybe 15 meters high) and was only completed in 1807. That being said, it is part of the World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Bukhara and worth a visit. It certainly looks fantastic, even though these days there is just a souvenir shop inside.
4. The Ark, Bukhara’s ancient fortress
This enormous white-washed military fortress that housed many of the ancient kingdom’s royals is Bukhara’s oldest structure and home to several museums. Admittedly much of the site was closed during our visit, though we found the undulating protective falls the most interesting part.
Just across the road, the wooden pillars and intricate ceiling of Bolo-Hauz Mosque present some interesting frescoes and are a worthwhile stop.
Entrance fee | 15,000 som ($1.90) entry plus 5,000 som ($0.60) camera fee.
5. The Lyabi-Hauz
The Lyabi-Hauz is a beloved spot for many locals. You would think that the meaning of this word had something to do with a house, but that is not true. ‘Hauz’ means pond and refers to the historical pond that is in the middle of the square. Back in the day, Bukhara had 200 water points throughout the city, but many were removed because it could easily spread diseases. The Lyabi-Hauz is one of the last ones left. In the evening, locals love to visit this square and drink tea. There is music and karaoke and kids ride rented electric cars around the pond.
6. The trading domes
Visiting an Islamic city without seeing the Bazar feels like not having been there at all. Right in the heart of Bukhara (in between Lyab-i Hauz and Po-i-Kylan) you will find the old trading domes of Bukhara. It’s not a true bazaar anymore, as you will only find souvenir shops here, but it is still a wonderful place due to its ancient architecture.
7. The TOKS
In de 16th century the Lyabi-Hauz area was a lively market domain with a dozen of bazaars. The most important bazaars were based in ‘toks’, an indoor market built on a crossroads of trade routes. Today there are three toks left: Tok-i-Sarrafon, Tok-i-Telpak Furushon, and Tok-i-Zargaron. I recommend everyone to pay a visit to these mini bazaars, emphasizing ‘mini’, because it’s super small. However, it is a great opportunity to get out of the heat and look for an Uzbek souvenir to bring home.
Read more: Best Things To Do In Samarkand, Uzbekistan
