Bukhara Old Town Heritage and History Private Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Lyab-i-Hauz

  Lyabi-Hauz is one of the most popular spots in Bukhara, featuring a pond ("hauz" in Uzbek translates to "artificial water pond"). Since the 16th century, Lyabi-Hauz has attracted numerous residents, as watermen once collected water from it for drinking and street watering purposes. Trade shops and teahouses were also situated near the pond. Today, as it has been for centuries, Lyabi-Hauz remains a central location in Bukhara. A monument dedicated to the renowned folklore character Hoja Nasreddin can be found nearby.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Kukaldosh Madrasah

  Founded in 1569 and situated close to the Lyabi-Hauz reservoir, Kukeldash Madrasah is currently the largest spiritual educational institution in Central Asia. Within its two-story structure, you can also find artisan workshops and souvenir shops.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Nodir Devon Begi Madrasasi

  Madrasah Nodir Devonbegi - Madrasah in Bukhara, part of the architectural ensemble of the XVI-XVII centuries Lyabi-house. The madrasah was built in 1622-1623. by the vizier of Imamkuli-khan, Uzbek dignitary Nodir Devon-run as a caravanserai, but was later converted into a madrasah. In 1993, the madrasah, along with other monuments of the historical center of Bukhara, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 4

  The Nadir Divan-begi khanqah is a sufi lodge, or retreat, located at the west end of the Lyab-i Hauz ensemble in central Bukhara. It was established in the 1620s by vizier Nadir Divan-begi, the maternal uncle of Imam Quli Khan, the ruler of Bukhara from 1611-41.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 5

  For national souvenirs, visit artisan shops in the markets, the Trading Domes of Bukhara, Davron Miniatures Art Gallery, or stalls near popular attractions. Bukhara is renowned for its hereditary craftsmen who create knives, daggers, ceramics, and silver jewelry.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6

  The Magok-i-Attari Mosque is located immediately west of the Lyabi-Hauz pond and architectural ensemble. It is one of the few structures in Bukhara that was partly (or wholly) built prior to the Mongol invasions of 1219-21. According to Edgar Knoblauch it is the oldest surviving mosque in Central Asia, built atop the foundations of a temple that was already present in Sogdian times.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 7
  Taqi-Telpakfurushon Market

  Trading domes were popular features of Islamic cities, particularly in Iran and central Asia. For example, at least six were present in Isfahan in Iran from 16th and 17th centuries. Typically these structures were built over a major street to ensure foot traffic and to provide a sheltered space where merchants could set up shop within niches built into the structure.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Bozori Kord Bathhouse

  As one of the oldest functioning bathhouses in the world, performing this ancient ritual is the ultimate cultural experience.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9

  Tim Abdullah Khan is one of the domed bazaars in the Bukhara Khanate. It was built by the Bukhara Khan Shaybanid Abdullah Khan II in 1577. It is currently included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Ulugbek Madrasah

  The Ulugh Beg Madrasa is one of only a handful of Timurid-era buildings that survive in the Bukhara region, the others being the Chashma-ye Ayyub of western Bukhara and the madrasa of Ghijduvan. Of the three, the two madrasas were the work of Ulugh Beg, the astronomer-king and grandson of Timur who ruled from 1447-49.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Great Minaret of the Kalon

  The minaret, designed by Bako, was built on an earlier existing structure called Kalyan by the Qarakhanid ruler Mohammad Arslan Khan in 1127 to summon Muslims to prayer five times a day. An earlier tower was collapsed before starting this structure which was called Kalyan, meaning welfare, indicating a Buddhist or zoroasterian past. It is made in the form of a circular-pillar baked brick tower, narrowing upwards. It is 45.6 metres (150 feet) high (48 metres including the point), of 9 metres (30 feet) diameter at the bottom and 6 metres (20 feet) overhead.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12
  Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasah

  Opposite Ulugbek Madrasah there is Abdullazizkhan Madrasah. Abdullazizkhan built it in 1651 – 1652 and it is the last large Madrasah in Bukhara. The building is typical by composition, with four-ayvans yard, but with unordinary divergent fan of hudj groups after side ayvans and cupola buildings on the central axis.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 13
  Taqi-Zargaron

  This is the largest trading dome of Bukhara. It is the most northern dome and it is located fast beside the Poi Kalyan. The Toki-Zargaron dome is stretched upwards and strengthened with ribs which make it different from the others. The name Zargaron is connected with the word “zargar” which can be translated as “goldsmith”. Once there located 36 jeweller's workshop -shops selling various jewelries. In addition, Toki-Zargaron was the first among the trading domes of Bukhara. Today one can purchase there jewelries, kerchiefs and various household accessories: Bukhara door-handles, bells, horseshoe for luck, etc.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 14
  Mir-i-Arab Madrasa

  There are two big blue domes of the Miri-Arab madrasah towering above the surrounding buildings in the center of Bukhara. Along with the Kalyan mosque and minaret, this religious educational establishment forms the whole ensemble Poi-Kalyan that is the spiritual center of the city.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 15

  The madrasah was built in 1914–1915 at the expense of Sayyid Mir Muhammad Alim Khan, the last ruler of the Bukhara Emirate, on the site of the Qazi Kalon bathhouse, where the octagonal dome building has been preserved.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 16
  Poi Kalyan Mosque

  At the foot of the minaret, on the site of an earlier mosque destroyed by Chinggis Khan, is the 16th-century congregational Kalon Mosque, big enough for 10,000 people. Its courtyard has some spectacular tile work. Used in Soviet times as a warehouse, it was reopened as a place of worship in 1991.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 17

  As one of the oldest bathhouses in Bukhara, it’s been scrubbing Uzbek civilians and curious tourists since the 16th century. And the methods are still pretty medieval.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 18
  Ark of Bukhara

  Ark-Citadel is a residence of Bukhara khans. According to the last excavations, it was determined the citadel was on this place from 4 century BC. For many years of building and destruction, 20 meters height artificial hill was formed; its upper layers were built over in the time of last bokharan emirs. The wooden part of Ark building was burnt down during the fire of 1920. The general planning is being reestablished by historical documents. Ark included the whole city, consisting of closely accreted houses; courts and yards with state institutions, emir, his wives, and relatives and officials lodgings. Inside the trapeziform outlines of citadel walls the planning was right-angled with traditional cruciform crossing of main streets.

  1 hour • Admission ticket not included
• 19
  Bolo Hauz Mosque

  Bolo Hauz was built in 1712 and is one of the last buildings constructed before the modern era. The building served as a Friday mosque and the Emir of Bukhara would often visit for prayers. Some reports interpret his presence here as a way to show that he too was an ordinary man, while others report his ceremonial entrances with his name read aloud in prayers to show his authority.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 20
  Chasma Ayub Mausoleum

  In and around Samani Park, west of the Ark, is an exceptionally important structure often overlooked by tourists in their bid to take in the big-name sites emblazened on postcards and souvenir tea towels. This is Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, which purportedly marks the spot where the Prophet Job struck the a rid ground and a spring of pure drinking water miraculously burst forth, saving his followers when those around them were dying of thirst.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 21
  Ismail Samani Mausoleum

  The Samanid Mausoleum is a mausoleum located in the northwestern part of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, just outside its historic center. It was built in the 10th century as the resting place of the powerful and influential Islamic Samanid dynasty that ruled the Samanid Empire from approximately 900 to 1000. It contained three burials, one of whom is known to have been that of Nasr II.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Some historical places require entrance fees, since there are museums inside of them. If travelers want to see them from inside, they have to pay enrance fee on the place in local currency.

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