14 recommended tourist spots in Bukhara, Uzbekistan!

If you are interested in sightseeing in Uzbekistan, we highly recommend the city of Bukhara. Located west of Samarkand, the city is home to many buildings with unique and unusual decorations, as well as typical Islamic architecture, making it a wonderful place that is packed with the essence of Uzbekistan tourism.

In this article, we will introduce 14 recommended spots for sightseeing in Bukhara. Please use this as a reference when planning your trip.

1. Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble

Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble is an artificial pond located right in the center of the city of Bukhara. There are many attractions around the pond, including the "Kukeldash Madrasah", a representative tourist spot in Bukhara, as well as the Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah and Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka.

The area around Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble is a popular place for Bukhara residents to relax, and there are cafes called Chaykhanas scattered around. It's also a great starting point for sightseeing in Bukhara.

2. Kalon Minaret

The Kalon Minaret is a popular tourist spot that almost all tourists visiting Bukhara go to. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a symbol of Uzbekistan, along with the blue city of Samarkand.

Built in 1127, the Kalon Minaret is about 48 meters tall. You can see the high level of Islamic architectural technology at the time. The sand-colored Kalon Minaret stands out against the cloudless blue sky. If you climb to the top, you can get a panoramic view of the city of Bukhara, making it a great tourist spot for photography.

3. Chor Minor

Chor Minor, located in the old city northeast of Lyab-i-Hauz, is also one of Bukhara's popular tourist spots. The exterior of Chor Minor is a little different from the usual Islamic architecture.

Chor Minor has four minarets, the top of which is a small dome-shaped blue roof. You can see all four minarets at once from the windows inside Chor Minor.

In addition, the four minarets of Chor Minor are all different in shape, design, and size. When you visit, be sure to walk around the building and check out the differences between the four minarets.

4. Ark Castle

Ark Castle stands on a hill about 20 meters high, northwest of the city of Bukhara. It is a tourist attraction that can be said to be the symbol of Bukhara and is an essential spot for sightseeing in Bukhara.

The walls surrounding the man-made castle are shaped like an upside-down sake cup. The first Ark Castle was built around the 4th century BC. It has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt many times, but it has protected the city of Bukhara for a long time.

Inside the Ark Castle, there are many rooms that can be visited, including a torture chamber, a prison, a guard's room, a mosque, a hall that was used as a throne room and an event venue, a mint, and a craft center. It is built as if there is a small town inside the castle walls, and you can get a glimpse of what it was like at the time.

There is also a museum inside the Ark Castle. The history of Ark Castle and Bukhara is introduced in an easy-to-understand way, so please take your time to explore it when you are sightseeing.

5. Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi

The Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi is located about 12km east of the city of Bukhara. Although it is a little far from the city of Bukhara, it is a recommended tourist spot for those who want to feel a sacred atmosphere.

The Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi is called the "Mecca of Central Asia" and is a very sacred place known as the largest pilgrimage site in Central Asia. Bahauddin Naqshbandi was an Islamic philosopher from Bukhara who was active in the 14th century and led a sect of Islamic mysticism that still has influence mainly in Central Asia.

The mausoleum is packed with the essence of Islamic architecture, such as mosques, medreses, and minarets, centered around the main building. Seeing the believers praying fervently will purify your heart. If you are visiting Bukhara, be sure to visit the Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi.

6. Taki Bazaar

Taki means "roof" in the local language. As the name suggests, Taki Bazaar is a round-roofed bazaar in Bukhara.

There used to be five Taki Bazaars in Bukhara, but now only three remain: Taki Saffran, the largest money exchange in Central Asia; Taki Terfakpurshan, famous for hats, kitchen utensils, and daily necessities; and Taki Zargaron, which had 36 jewelers.

Taki Bazaar has an atmosphere where you can feel the enthusiasm of the Silk Road merchants of the past. The entrance, which was designed to allow camels to pass through, is full of exoticism. Currently, every Taki Bazaar is lined with souvenir shops, so it's the perfect way to end your trip to Bukhara!

7. Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah

Among the buildings in Bukhara, the relatively new Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah was built in the mid-17th century.

Among the Islamic architecture in Bukhara, which has striking blue and white patterns, the interior of the Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah is characterized by its warm-colored decorations such as brown and red.

In front of the Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah stands the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, which is the only building in Bukhara associated with Ulugh Beg, the fourth ruler of the Timurid dynasty, and is a popular tourist spot in the city. If you visit Bukhara, be sure to check it out!

8. Mausoleum of Ismail Samani

Located a little to the east of the city of Bukhara is the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani. It is an old tomb built between the end of the 9th century and the mid-10th century, and its greatest feature is that it is one of the few buildings built before Islam was introduced to Bukhara.

In the early 13th century, Bukhara fell to the Mongol invasion. Many historical buildings were damaged, but the Mausoleum of Ismail was already buried underground at that time and escaped the fires. Miraculously remaining intact, the Mausoleum of Ismail is also a building of great historical value as an auspicious building!

The geometric pattern made of assembled sun-dried bricks is a design influenced by the ancient Sogdian culture and Zoroastrianism. It has an exotic atmosphere.

9. Chor-Bakr Necropolis

The Chor-Bakr Necropolis is located a little west of the city of Bukhara. This is where the tombs of many people who left their mark on Bukhara's history lie, and it is a tourist spot known as one of Bukhara's leading pilgrimage sites.

Originally a town of monks on the outskirts of Bukhara, it was considered a sacred place because a tomb for the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad was built here. Mosques, madrasahs, and the tombs of the Shaybanid royal family were built here, and currently, there are 30 buildings in the Chor-Bakr Necropolis.

The large grounds are surrounded by high brick walls and there is only one entrance. This is a rare feature not seen in other buildings in Bukhara. When you visit the Chor-Bakr Necropolis, be sure to take your time to look around.

10. Mir-i-Arab Madrasa

Located in the center of Bukhara, Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is a venerable madrasah that still teaches Islamic theology today.

It is filled with the essence of Islamic art and architecture, such as blue domes and delicate mosaics. With a courtyard surrounded by two-story buildings and mosaics with verses from the Quran, Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is a must-visit place for tourists in Bukhara, with a structure that can be called "THE Islamic architecture."

In fact, this Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is an elite school that has produced many famous Islamic theologians. Even the Soviet government, which banned religion, was unable to abolish this madrasah. Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is located in an area with many tourist attractions such as the Kalan Minaret, making it easy to visit.

11. Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah

Located in the very center of Bukhara, in front of Lyabi Hauz, Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah was built in the mid-17th century.

Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah is characterized by the painting of a phoenix. Since Islam prohibits idolatry, it is very rare for buildings to have pictures of animals painted on them, and they are rarely seen in other buildings in Bukhara. If you come to visit, be sure to take a good look at it.

If you visit Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah in the summer, you can have dinner while watching a folk dance show. If you are in Bukhara in the summer, be sure to enjoy this as well.

12. Chashma Ayub

Located west of downtown Bukhara, Chashma Ayub has a slightly unusual shape. There is a small spring inside the building of Chashma Ayub, and according to the Bible, the saint Job used his staff to make a spring appear here and help the people of Bukhara, making it one of Bukhara's most popular tourist spots.

The rectangular building made of sun-dried bricks is not large and has a simple exterior with a cylindrical roof and an irregular dome roof. However, it is believed that the water from this spring has the miraculous power to heal illnesses, and many people visit every day in search of blessings. Chashma Ayub is a recommended place both as a tourist destination and as a power spot.

13. Bolo-Khauz Mosque

Located west of the city of Bukhara, the "Bolo-Khauz Mosque" was built in 1718 and was used as a mosque exclusively for the royal family at the time.

Its most distinctive feature is the thunder gate pattern, which is dotted with geometric and floral motifs, and the red, brown, and green decorations, which are rarely seen at other tourist spots. On a clear day, the mosque is reflected in the pond in front of you, creating a truly beautiful sight.

14. Magoki Attori Mosque

Located in the very center of Bukhara city, Magoki Attori Mosque is famous as the oldest mosque in Bukhara. It has been destroyed and rebuilt in the same place many times due to invasions from other countries, so the mosque's building pattern is divided into three layers vertically.

The bottom layer is from the Buddhist era, the middle layer is from the Zoroastrian era, and the top layer is from the Islamic era. If you visit, be sure to compare them.

The interior of Magoki Attori Mosque is a little different from the typical Islamic architecture, with a simple exterior made of dried bricks and geometric patterns and carvings carved into the red clay bricks, but that is also one of its charms.

◎Summary of recommended tourist spots in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

When you think of Uzbekistan, many people probably think of Samarkand, known as the "Blue City," and its mosques with blue domes.

However, as you can see, Bukhara is a city that brings together various cultures from various eras, from gorgeous Islamic architecture to precious buildings built before Islam. Even those who are not familiar with Islamic culture or Silk Road culture will surely enjoy it.

Bukhara is a city where you can feel like you've traveled back in time just by touring the city. Please visit us.