| |
 |
Bukhara
Bukhara is an ancient settlement with history that goes back to the early centuries A.D.. In the 6th century it became the capital of early feudal lands of the Bukhara oasis. As the Shakhristan, the centre of a shah's realm, it was formed around an ancient citadel, but with the development of handicrafts and trade, new suburbs (rabads) arose beyond its walls which were included with the Shakhristan in a new fortified wall. |
Bukhara lies west of Samarkand and was once a center of learning renowned throughout the Islamic world. It was here that the great Sheikh Bahautdin Nakshbandi lived. He was a central figure in the development of the mystical Sufi approach to philosophy, religion and Islam. In Bukhara there are more than 350 mosques and 100 religious colleges. Its fortunes waxed and waned through succeeding empires until it became one of the great Central Asian Khanates in the 17th century.
Bukhara with more than 140 architectural monuments is a "town museum" dating back to the Middle Ages. 2,300 years later, ensembles like the Poi-Kalon, Kos Madras, Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Kalian Minaret are attracting a lot of attention. The city consists of narrow streets, green parks and gardens, historical and architectural monuments belong to the different epochs, but locate very close to each other. |
|
|
| |
|
| Chor minor Bukhara |
Magoki-Attori Mosque
Bukhara |
Following the street from the Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassahs, which flows into the labyrinth of narrow, winding streets of old Bukhara, you will find a monument that is not as old, but which is notable for its architecture - the Chor-Minor Madrassah, which was built in 1807 by Khalif Niazkul. He built the madrassah with a cozy courtyard and a pond, a summer mosque, and a four-turret building opening into the architectural complex. Char-Minar means "the four minarets". It draws attention to itself with its unusual architectural solution, the main focus of which is the four turrets with their sky blue cupolas, which have nothing in common with ordinary minarets.
The cube shaped building is crowned with a slightly flattened cupola, it is without any architectural decor and is finished in ordinary brick. Its facade is partially engulfed by a disproportionably large arched portal against which the corner turrets are pressed, and only cupolas ornamented with glazed tile bands of geometrical figures. The four sky-blue cupolas look majestic and beautiful against the background of the cloudless sky. Among the one-storey buildings of old Bukhara, the original beauty of Char-Minar is a pleasant addition to the skyline of the city.
|
 None of the ancient monuments of the city have caused as many puzzles for archeologists and historians as this one. The name of the mosque itself indicates the approximate time of its construction: the first part of the name, "Magoki", means "pit" or "hole" and suggests that the mosque stood much lower than the present level of the city streets and squares.
Ancient Bukharans worshipped fire; they professed Zoroastrian religion. Each family had its own idol, and thought if they prayed to the idols, they would receive happiness and richness. These idols were sold twice a week at the bazaars. Mokh was the king of that time and he himself controlled the marketing. In order to develop trade in the city, he ordered the construction of a temple for the fire-worshippers.
During the excavations led by a great scientist, V. Shishkin, the remains of two buildings were found: the first one was the ancient Zoroastrian temple, and the second, above the Mosque, named "Magoki-Attori". The Mosque was rebuilt in the 12th century, but only the southern facade and portals remain till now. An earthquake destroyed the Mosque in 1860 and the double dome collapsed; it was rebuilt in the 20th century.
|
|
|
|
| |
Bukhara History
In the post-Mongol period there were no extensive construction work in Bukhara and in other cities of Central Asia. But in the next century there was increased activity in this sphere. In the time of Ulug Bek Bukhara acquired a new madrasah (1417). Everything in it is characteristic of Ulug Bek architecture - clarity of the design, excellent proportions, and understated decorative details.
In the 16th century, after the establishment of the Uzbek Shaibanai dynasty, Bukhara once again became the capital of a large Central Asia state. The city grew and new walls were built. The intensive construction here started with a Friday mosque, erected in 1514 in the place of an older twelfth century mosque beside the Kalyan minaret. It became one of the biggest structures in Central Asia. On the other side of the square in which the minaret stands the Miri-Arab madrasah was built in 1535-1536. The madrasah, the mosque and minaret comprise one of impressive ensembles in Bukhara.
The same method of kosh, in other words, of paired buildings, was used in the construction of the kosh-madrasahs, the Modari-khan (1566-1567) and the Madrasah of Abdullah-khan (1588-1590). The architecture of small town mosques combined the technique of monumental architecture and popular tradition. Such are the Balyand and Khoja Zaineddin mosques (16th c.). The ornamental design of their interiors is on a par with the best Samarkand structures of the fifteenth century.
Civil building played an important role in 16th century Bukhara architecture: the bazaar takis, caravansarais and baths. They are extremely expressive in their clear-cut silhouettes and constructional solution.
One of the important Bukhara ensembles, the buildings around the Lyabi-khauz date back to the 17th century. The earliest of them, Kukeldash madrasah (1568-1569) is the largest building in Central Asia among similar structures. In 1620 the Lyabi-khauz pool was dug in front of it, faced with large lime flagstones and its perimeter planted with trees. At the same time, on the two sides of the pool were built the "khana-gah", a mosque and hospice, and the Nadir-Divan-Begi madrasah. The structures stand by the extensive surface of water in a most effective way.
|
| |
|
| |
| Brief Bukhara History |
| |
The 4thc. BC conquest by Alexander the Great.
312 BC establishment of the Selevkids dynasty.
The 8thc. AD Bukhara was conquered by Arabs under command of Kuteyba-ibn-Muslim and began growing as cultural, religious, and philosophical center.
The 9thc. - status of the capital of the Samanids state.
892 - 907 reign of Ismail Samaniy.
The 9thc. - 10thc. development of handicraft production.
961 - 976 reign of the Emir Mansur-ibn-Nuh; Bukhara became the center of writers, scientists, artists; the reign of the Samanids was marked by the flowering of the architecture.
999 Bukhara was conquered by Nasr from the dynasty ot the Karakhanids. The 11thc. Bukhara was conquered by Khorezm-shah's brother; the beginning of the Sadrs dynasty.
1141 Bukhara was under authority of Kara-Chinese.
1241 having suppressed the uprising of craftsmen, Khorezm-shah Mohammed annexed Bukhara to Khorezm.
1220 Bukhara conquered by Mongols of Chingiz-khan.
The 13thc. Bukhara destroyed and devastated by Mongols.
The 14thc. - 15thc. the era of the Temurids.
The 16thc. Bukhara became the capital of Bukhara Khanate.
The 18thc. Bukhara was conquered by Iranian shah.
The end of the 18thc. overcoming the crisis; Bukhara returned to Bukhara Khanate.
The beginning of the 19thc. the war for land between Bukhara and Khiva as well as the war between Bukhara and Kokand for possession of Dzhizak, Tashkent, Hodjent.
The end of the 11thc. Bukhara got into vassalage for Russia; continual interference of tsarist Russia in domestic and foreign affairs of Bukhara Khanate resulted in complete dominion of tsarist Russia over the Khanate. |
| |
|
| |
| Climate |
|
| Actually, the weather in Bukhara is not as it is pictured on the left. Although in winter it gets very cold [around -15 OC or 5 OF], the level of annual rainfall is very low. It is even less in summer, which makes Bukharan summers !!!VERY!!! hot. The temperature in July gets as high up as 50 OC [126 OF] in the shade. During all other time it is quite pleasant. The best times to visit Bukhara are March-April, and September-October.
|
| |
|
 |
|
