Three must-visit attractions in the center of Bukhara Old Town, one-day city walk route
Bukhara Old Town is very beautiful, with a history of more than 2,500 years, and is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. It was the capital of the Samanid Dynasty in the 9th to 10th centuries, occupied by Genghis Khan in 1220, and conquered by the Turkic Timur in 1370. You must visit the Kalyan Minaret in the center of the old town, which is very iconic. There are three must-visit attractions in this square, which are also very suitable for a one-day city walk.
👣Facing the square from left to right:
Mir-i-Arab Madrasah - Kalyan Minaret - Kalyan Mosque
1️⃣st stop: Mir-i-Arab Madrasah
One of the earliest madrasahs built in Bukhara, it was built between 1530 and 1536, and its founder, Mir-i-Arab, was a missionary from Yemen. This madrasah can only be visited at the gate, and some of the interiors are all closed, because the madrasah is still in use today, and there are still students of the madrasah attending classes inside.
2️⃣nd stop: Kalyan Minaret
A very important landmark in Bukhara, it was built in 1127 AD, with a height of 45.6 meters, and was the tallest building in Bukhara at that time. The Kalyan Minaret was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is said that when Genghis Khan's westward expedition reached here, he destroyed all the surrounding buildings such as the Kalyan Mosque, but did not destroy the Kalyan Minaret because he was deeply impressed by its magnificence.
3️⃣rd stop: Kalyan Mosque
It was built in 1121 AD, but because Genghis Khan destroyed it at that time, what you see now is what it looked like when it was rebuilt in 1514. It is a very typical four-iwan building with a very unique architectural style, with layers of arcades blooming endlessly like petals.
💰Ticket cost:
Except for Kalyan Mosque, which costs 15,000 UZS/person, the other two are free
🚗Transportation:
These three attractions are next to each other, suitable for a one-day city walk
❤️Tip:
Ladies need to wear a scarf or hat to cover their heads when entering the mosque