BUKHARA MAGIC OF CENTRAL ASIA

Khamida Tulaeva Digital Transformation for Digital Tourism Bukhara State University and Universitas Gunadarma Tourism destinations of Bukhara

• You will need at least two days to visit the main architectural sights of Bukhara. Bukhara is a holy city of Muslim world. A great many mosques, shrines, madrasahs, with the latest one among them dating back to the XIX century, preserved there. The Samanids Mausoleum is the oldest Bukhara's structure, which remained intact to the present day. This mausoleum is recognized to be a masterpiece of the world architecture for the perfection of its geometric forms. It is one of the most ancient buildings made from burnt bricks in Central Asia. Masterpiece OF squinch style in 10TH CENTURY. Chashmayi Ayub Mausoleum Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum is located near the Samanids Mausoleum, by the ruins of an ancient fort. According to the legend, in ancient times Saint Ayub came to Bukhara as a wanderer, struck the ground with his staff in this very place, and a well with clean and healing water appeared. Poi Kalan ensemble (complex) – one of the biggest ensembles of Bukhara. It contains from three monuments, Kalan Minaret, Kalan Mosque and Mir-i Arab madrasah. Po-i-Kalan means "The Foot of the Great"), is an Islamic religious complex located around the Kalan Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Kalan Mosque was completed in 1514, in the Emirate of Bukhara. It is the second one in size after the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand. Although they are both mosques, they are very different in architectural styles. The roof of the galleries encircling the mosque's inner courtyard has 288 domes resting on 208 pillars. The mosque is surmounted by a large blue tiled dome. 208 Pillars Architectural mosaics Minaret Kalan On approaching Bukhara, travelers can see far in the distance Kalan Minaret, towering over hardly noticeable buildings of Bukhara. In the Middle Ages the caravans that traveled hundreds of miles along the Great Silk Road used the minaret as a landmark, which is natural enough as the word ‘minaret’ is derived from Arabic minora, meaning ‘lighthouse’. In wartime, from the top of the minaret the guards watched the movements of the enemies in the vicinity of the town. The Kalan Minaret is the oldest monument of Po-i- Kalan. The role of the minaret is also largely for traditional and decorative purposes - its dimension exceeds the bounds of the main function of the minaret, which is to provide a vantage point from which the muezzin can call people to prayer. For this purpose it was enough to ascend to a roof of the mosque. This practice was common in initial years of Islam. Mir Arab Madrasah (1535-1536) History of Mir Arab madrasah

• The construction of Mir Arab Madrasah (Miri Arab Madrasah) is credited to Sheikh Abdullah Yamani of Yemen. Also called Mir- i-Arab, he was considered the spiritual mentor of Ubaidullah- khan and his son Abdul- Aziz-khan Religious school

• This madrasah is considered one of the most interesting monuments of Bukhara, and is still an acting institution, where future imams and religious mentors receive their education. Prayer time in Mir Arab madrasah Chor-Minor Madrassah • Among the large number of Bukhara’s monuments Chor- Minor Madrassah stands out for its extraordinary design. Its four minarets, standing very close to each other; look from afar like buds of mysterious azure flowers. At closer survey they appear to be tall and strong towers, illusively “pressing” a domed cubical building. The entrance to the madrassah has a tall portal. Similar portal once decorated the exit to the courtyard of the madrassah. Modari-khan madrassah

• • According to the rhymed inscription above the entrance the first madrassah – Modari-khan madrassah – was built in 1566 on behalf of the ruler’s mother. Today the yard and the hujra cells of Modari-Khan Madrassah accommodate national arts and crafts fairs. It also houses one of Bukhara’s most exotic restaurants where guests can taste the dishes prepared in accordance with age-old recipes. Ulugbek Madrassah Ulugbek Madrassah

• Amir Temur’s son Mirzo Ulugbek, who ruled Movarounnahr in the first half of the 15th century, built three madrassahs. The first one was constructed in Bukhara in 1417. By that time Bukhara had been long since known as the capital of Islam theology. there was carved the following aphorism on the richly decorated entrance door: ‘Seeking after knowledge is the duty of every Muslim man and woman’. Lyabi-Hauz architectural complex • Lyabi-Hauz architectural complex is located in the center of Bukhara and consists of three monumental edifices. The complex possesses a distinctive character: contrary to conventional traditions of making city square or street junction the center of an architectural complex, it was constructed around a large hauz (pond). Bolo Haouz Mosque is a historical mosque in Bukhara, located on the opposite side of the citadel of Ark in Registan district. it is inscribed in the UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site list along with the other parts of the historic city. The interior is decorated with muqarnas-style vaulting, particularly in the antechamber adjacent to the mihrab. Bahouddin Naqshbandi Complex • In the suburbs of Bukhara there stands an architectural memorial to the great Sufi, hermit, and saint Sheikh Bahouddin Naqshbandi, who made an invaluable contribution to the formation and development of Central Asian progressive thought. Bahouddin Naqshbandi Complex is one of Bukhara’s most beautiful architectural sights. It welcomes pilgrims and guests alike with a unique atmosphere of serenity and seclusion.

THE ARK FORTRESS - ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN BUKHARA. ITS FOUNDATIONS WERE LAID IN THE 4TH - 3RD CENTURIES BC. THE FORTRESS HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES DESTROYED AND REBUILT. UNTIL 1920 IT SERVED AS BUKHARA RULERS’ RESIDENCE. In the Middle Ages the history of the fortress was worked on by Rudaki, Ferdowsi, Avicenna, Farabi, and later Omar Khayyam. There also a great library was kept, about which Avicenna wrote: I found in this library such books, about which I had not known and which I had never before seen in my life. I read them, and I came to know each scientist and each science. Before me lay gates of inspiration into great depths of knowledge which I had not surmised to exist. 32 The Ark was used as a fortress until it fell to Russia in 1920. Currently, the Ark is a tourist attraction and houses museums covering its history

33 • Of the numerous country palaces of Bukhara rulers there survived the best of them: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of the last Bukhara emirs. The palace is located at a distance of 4 kilometers north from Bukhara, by the road that runs to Gijduvan.

Gijduvan Ceramics Museum

The works of Gijduvan masters are available for familiarization not only at the potter workshops but also in the Gijduvan Museum of Ceramics. The museum exhibits a large collection of modern masters. Jeyran Ecocenter Jeyran Ecocenter was established in 1997 for the purpose of the breeding and protection of rare and endangered species of animals. The breeding center is located in the south-west of Kyzyl-Kum Desert, 42 km from Bukhara and has the status of protected natural area. It is in the competence of the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Thank you for attention!!!