| Bukhara Buxoro | ||
 | ||
| State | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Samarkand and Bukhara region | |
| Altitude | 225 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 39.4 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 263.400 (1999) | |
| Prefix tel | 998 65 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 2001ХХ | |
| Time zone | GMT 5 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Bukhara (also Bokhara, Bukhoro or Buxoro) is a historic city ofUzbekistan as well as the capital of the province of the same name.
To know
It has rich testimonies of its past and in 1993 its historic center was declared by theUNESCO, World Heritage.
Geographical notes
Bukhara is located in the center of an oasis crossed by the Shakhrud canal, 225 km west of Samarkand. It is the capital of the province of the same name.
When to go
Winters are very cold and the thermometer often drops below 0. Summers, on the other hand, are extremely hot. The best time to visit is between March-April or September-October.
Background
Bukhara was presumably founded around the 1st century AD. soon becoming a prosperous center on the Silk Road for which important economic and cultural exchanges took place. In 709 A.D. it was occupied by the Arabs. Between the 10th and 11th centuries it was the capital of the Samanid state, a dynasty of Islamized Persians vassals of the Abassid empire. In 980 Ibn Sinā was born there, known as AvicennaPersian physician, philosopher, mathematician, logician and physicist in the context of a substantially Persian culture. He was one of the best known figures in the Islamic world and in Europe. According to some sources, however, he was born in nearby Afshana (where today there is a museum dedicated to him).
In 1220 it was taken by Genghis Khan and in 1370 from Tamerlane who promoted it to the capital of his possessions. In the 16th century it became the seat of an Uzbek dynasty the Shaybanids. Under their government the city acquired great importance and became the capital of the homonymous Khanate which expanded territorially at the expense of its neighbors. In the 19th century, the khanate entered the orbit of influence of Tsarist Russia. In 1920 the Soviets overthrew the last emir and the khanate was absorbed by the Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan.
The discovery of natural gas fields around 1950 greatly contributed to the economic development of the city. Today tourism is an important aspect of its economy.
How to orient yourself
Bukhara: full screen map.
The center of the city is the Lyabi Hauz square and the buildings all around. The references of the neighborhoods and monuments depart from this area. Towards the west you come in the direction of the Kalyan complex and Ark. Continuing, you reach the Samanide park which is the point of interest furthest from the center.
South of Lyabi Hauz is the Jewish quarter of which only the synagogue remains. While to the south-east a modern area develops with the stadium and new neighborhoods.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Bukhara International Airport (BHK) (Buxoro xalqaro airports). Bukhara has an international airport with flights to / from Tashkent operated by the national airline, the Uzbekistan Airways. International flights to / from Moscow they are carried out by airlines UTair.
By car
An excellent alternative to public transport is the rental of a collective taxi to Samarkand or Urgench (5 and a half hours) e Khiva (6 hours).
On the train
- 2 Bukhara Station (The station is located a few kilometers from the city precisely in Kogon). It is the station from which Afrosiab fast trains arrive and depart from and to Samarkand/Tashkent as well as other trains.
Bukhara represents the queue station of the Afrosiab fast trains that depart from Tashkent and comfortably connect the town. However, it is always necessary to book tickets in advance because, especially on weekends, the trains are very crowded. The alternative in economic terms but with a lengthening of travel times are the old trains Sharq.
To move to Urgench you need to go through Navoi as Bukhara is a terminal station, with connection times that are not too convenient.
In the city, in addition to the station ticket office, there are two ticket offices:
- 3 Train ticket office (Temir yo'l kassalari). often very crowded
- 4 Train ticket office. office inside a building
By bus
There is a bus service that connects the city with the other neighbors, but although the service is cheap, the times are excessive.
How to get around
The size of the historic center allows you to easily visit it on foot without too many problems.
There is also the possibility to rent bicycles whose lack of slopes allows you to turn without problems.
By public transport
The city has an urban bus service, the use of which is mostly limited to travel to the station and the airport.
Buses line 268 from the train station will drop you off at Eski Shahar square. From this terminus, taking the Bahovaddin Naqshband Ko'chasi pedestrian street from the opposite side, you will find yourself in a few minutes on the Lyabi Hauz pond, considered the city center. Monuments, hotels, B & Bs are all located along this pedestrian street or in the adjacent alleys.
By taxi
There are several places where taxis can be taken. In each of them it is possible to find collective taxis to Urgengh / Khiva or Samarkand
- 5 Taxi point ("Lyabi Hauz").
- 6 Taxi point (Toqi Telpak Furushon).
What see
- 1 Char Minar (Chor minor). Koranic school built in 1807 with the funds of the Turkmen merchant, Khalif Khoudoïd. The name in Farsi means the 4 minarets. Today it houses a souvenir shop.
- 2 Abdoullaziz Khan Madrasa.
- 3 Ulugh Beg Madrasa.
- 4 Bolo Hauz Mosque.
- 5 Khoja Gaukushan complex.
- 6 Khoja Kalon Mosque.
- 7 Gaukushan Madrasa.
- 8 Madrasa Kosh. Complex of two madrasas.
- 9 Abdullah khan madrasa.
- 10 Modari-khan madrasa.
- 11 Chor-Bakr. Memorial complex 5 km from Bukhara.
Po-i-Kalyan
Religious complex whose reference is the Kalyan minaret, in fact the word Po-i-Kalyan means "At the foot of the Great".
- 12 Kalyan minaret.
- 13 Amir Olimkhon Madrasa.
- 14 Kalyan Mosque.
- 15 Mir-i Arab Madrasa.
Lyab-i Hauz
Square or complex whose center of reference is the pond.
- 16 Lyab-i Hauz.
- 17 Nadir Khan Devanbegi Madrasa (Nodir Devonbegi madrasasi). First used as a caravanserai, the Koranic school of Nadir Khan Devanbegi later became the meeting place of the Sufi mystics.
- 18 Kukeldash Madrasa.
- 19 Khanqa by Nadir Divanbegi.
Samanide Park
- 20 Samanide Park (Near the bazaar, a few kilometers from the center). Park including some architectural monuments such as the Samanid Mausoleum, a pond and a playground for children.
- 21 Imom Al Bukhari Memorial (Inside the park of the Samanid Mausoleum in front of the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum). Modern construction rather questionable aesthetically.
- 22 Mausoleum of Ismā‘īl Sam‘ān (Ismoil Somoniy maqbarasi). Dedicated to the founder of the Samanid dynasty, vassal of the Tahirids. The mausoleum was built with terracotta bricks.
- 23 Chashma Ayub Mausoleum (Inside the park of the Samanid Mausoleum). Particular mausoleum built over a source.
- 24 Ancient walls of Bukhara. Section of the city walls still visible albeit quite deteriorated by time.
Minor monuments
The city is full of historic buildings of architectural value as well as evidence of the past. However, they are abandoned and often placed in areas of the city that can only be reached through a map search.
- 25 Abdurakhmoni Alam Madrasa. Madrasa transformed into a restaurant.
- 26 Magok-i-Kurpa Mosque. Abandoned mosque.
- 27 Rashid madrasa. Abandoned madrasa.
_(2).jpg/180px-Synagogue,_Bukhara_(481963)_(2).jpg)
- 28 Mullo Tursunjon Madrasa. Abandoned madrasa.
- 29 Rahmonqul madrasa. Abandoned madrasa.
- 30 Hoja Zayniddin Mosque. Mosque in use.
- 31 Bukhara Synagogue. Synagogue of the Jews of Bukhara active to this day.
- 32 Goziyon madrasa. Abandoned madrasa.
- 33 Turki Jandi Mausoleum.
Museums
Bukhara offers a number of museums to visit.
- 34 Maghoki-Attar Mosque (Magʻoki masjidi actors).
2300 som. 
09-17. One of the oldest mosques inCentral Asia erected on a pre-existing Zoroastrian temple, spared together with the tall Kalon minaret from the destructive fury of Genghis Khan. Today it has been transformed into the carpet museum. The hazarbaf motifs on the side entrance are of great value.
2300 som. 
09-17. One of the oldest mosques in_(5650411959).jpg/180px-La_citadelle_(Boukhara,_Ouzbékistan)_(5650411959).jpg)
- 35 The citadel (Ark). Inhabited since the 4th century BC. C. the citadel of Bukhara suffered a terrible fire in 1920 which reduced its wooden buildings to ashes. The reconstruction took place on the basis of archival documents. The monumental entrance to the citadel is striking, a door flanked by two high towers. Next to it is a 17th century pavilion used as a concert hall. Noteworthy is the Emir's palace with the throne room and audience halls. The citadel is also home to several museums:
- Ethnographic Museum. With the objects of the last emir of Bukhara Said Alimkhan, clothes, carpets, porcelain and books.
- Numismatic cabinet. Coins before 1920 or found in Bukhara territory. There are also Greco-Bactrian coins.
- Archaeological Museum. Objects from prehistoric and medieval times.
- Museum of decorative arts. Objects, furniture and jewelery from the 19th and 20th centuries but also individual objects from other eras.
- Museum of fine arts. Paintings before 1932 by Russian painters in Central Asia.
- Collection of books. Antique books from the 18th - 19th centuries, Persian and Arabic.
- Natural History Museum. It displays different species of stuffed animals and panels with explanations on the geology of Uzbekistan.
- Military Museum of Uzbekistan. With Uzbekistan uniforms, photos and military memorabilia.
_(5712819725).jpg/150px-Le_palais_dété_Sitori-i-Mokhi_Khosa_(Boukhara,_Ouzbékistan)_(5712819725).jpg)
- 36 Summer palace of the last Emirs of the city (Sitоrаi Mоhi Хоssа Saroyi) (6 km from the center of Bukhara. Reachable by taxi). 12,000 som. 09:00-19:00. It was the summer home of the emirs of Bukhara today also houses the Bukhara Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts. The building is a fine example of an exotic style, with precious Islamic decorations. The main hall is very interesting. The palace is divided into pavilions. In the tree-lined garden peacocks live undisturbed, expressing the elegance of the ancient court.
Events and parties
What to do
In the city, bicycles are quite popular as a means of transport due to the low vehicular flow of the streets of the center. One way to get around the city might be to rent a bike from one of the shops at Lyabi Hauz.
Shopping
In the past Bukhara has long been famous as a manufacturing and trading center of beautiful carpets. Today the weaving of carpets according to the Bukhara style is the exclusive prerogative of Turkmen tribes but Indians and Pakistanis have become very skilled in copying the designs and the type of weave, reproducing them on a larger scale. Local crafts include woodwork, miniatures, clothes and fabrics, Soviet souvenirs and memorabilia. As in any bazaar, it is normal to negotiate the price.
The main landmarks of the city are the three historical bazaars and others used for the sale of food and sundries.
Bazaar
- 1 Markaziy Bazaar (Next to the Samanide park).
Historical bazaars
The historical bazaars have lost their original configuration regarding what they sell, becoming all a little bit the same. They are the ideal places for tourists looking for local crafts.
- 2 Covered bazaar (Toqi Telpak Furushon). Ancient hatters' bazaar. There is a taxi rank next to it.
- 3 Covered bazaar (Toqi Sarrafon). Ancient bazaar of money changers.
- 4 Covered bazaar (Toqi Zargaron). Ancient jewelers' bazaar.
Other products
- 5 Pharmacy. Pharmacy whose owner also carries out currency exchange (in black)
- 6 Market (Gastronom). Mon-Sun 08: 00-24: 00. Small Soviet-style market.
How to have fun
Shows
At the Devanbegi madrasa, musical or traditional dance performances are often organized for a fee for tourists.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Ice cream bar. Ice cream parlor and bar on the edge of Lyabi Hauz. Unpretentious ice cream.
Average prices
- 2 Chinar, Mekhtar Anbar St. Uzbek restaurant with a nice terrace. Unfortunately the service is very slow even with few people but the quality of the food is good.
- 3 Lyabi Hauz. Quite elegant restaurant, located next to the Lyabi Hauz pond. Uzbek cuisine.
Where stay
In the city center, just around the Lyabi Hauze complex, there is a wide choice of B & Bs which are ideal accommodation for independent travelers. Prices are more than affordable even if they vary from one business to another. Always ask to view the room before paying. Many of these B & Bs have been obtained from ancient houses almost always equipped with an internal courtyard and can offer, more than stereotyped hotels, an unforgettable stay for those who are attentive to the atmosphere of the past. The breakfast, almost always included in the price, is not only abundant but of quality. Typically includes bread, cheese, yogurt, fruit, and unlimited tea.
Moderate prices
- 1 Madina & Ilyos B&B, Mekhtar Ambar Ko'chasi 18, ☎ 998 65 224 6162. US $ 10 including breakfast.
- 2 [link not working]Grand Nodirbek hotel, 10 Sarafon Street, ☎ 998 65 224 3446. US $ 20-30 including breakfast. In traditional Uzbek style, the Grand Nodirbek hotel is gathered around a pleasant internal courtyard decorated in wood. It has restaurant service. The rooms have a large private bathroom and are air conditioned.
- 3 New Moon Hotel, Eshoni pir Ko'chasi, 8, ☎ 998 652 244 442, fax: 998 652 242 034, @[email protected]. US $ 20-30 Breakfast included.
Average prices
- 4 Amelia Boutique Hotel, 1 Bozor Hodja (Near the bus terminus of line 268), ☎ 998 65 224 1263, 998 65 224 2631. single US $ 35, double US $ 60. Hotel housed in the mansion of a 19th century Jewish merchant. All rooms are air conditioned, equipped with satellite TV, refrigerator, hairdryer. Free access to the network via wi-fi.
- 5 Malika hotels, 25 Shaumyana, ☎ 998 65 2246256, @[email protected]. single from US $ 35, double from US $ 65 Breakfast included. Air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV.
- 6 Hotel Amulet, Bahovaddin Naqshband Ko'chasi 74 (Lyabi Khauz), ☎ 998 65 224 5342, 998 65 724 028, fax: 998 65 224 1728, @[email protected]. $40-$60. Converted from a 19th century Koranic school built with grants from Said Kamol, a wealthy merchant of the time. All rooms have a private bathroom with shower and are air conditioned.
- 7 Hotel Zargaron Plaza, Bahovaddin Naqshband Ko'chasi 256 (2 km from the center), ☎ 998 65 2230352. 4-star hotel inaugurated in 2009, with 40 rooms, restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
- 8 Hotel Zargaron, Chakikat 8, ☎ 998 65 224 5821. Three star hotel in the center. It has a total of 18 air-conditioned rooms. It has a terrace bar with nice views of the Kalyan minaret. Access to the network via wi-fi is an extra.
- 9 Hotel Mekhtar Ambar, Bahovaddin Naqshband Ko'chasi 91 (On the main avenue but in the opposite direction to the center.), ☎ 998 65 2244168, @[email protected]. Hotel obtained from a 19th century medressa. It has a total of 10 rooms decorated in traditional Uzbek style.
- 10 Rustam-Zuxro B&B, Bahovaddin Naqshband Ko'chasi 116 (On the main street, around 100 m. from Lyabi-Hauz), ☎ 998 65 224 30 80. Beds from US $ 15, rooms from US $ 45. B&B with an internal courtyard where you can park your bike and / or mopeds. Most of the rooms have air conditioning. The breakfast is abundant and the wi-fi is free. Staff more than friendly and register their guests at the police office.
- 11 Mosque Baland Hotel, Machiti Baland 18. $30. Nice family run hotel with a pleasant courtyard. wi-fi included in the price.
- Asia Bukhara Hotel, Mekhtar Ambar, ☎ 998 65 224 64 31.
- Mubinjon's B&B, ☎ 998 65 224 20 05.
- 12 Khurjin hotels, Poyi Ostona Street 4 (Within walking distance of the Lyabi Hauz), ☎ 998937040848. 30$. Check in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00-13:00. Hotel inside an ancient madrasa. Rated among the best on Booking and very close to the center.
Safety
In some secondary streets relating to the ancient neighborhoods, the absence of public lighting is possible, so only the private lighting of the halls is relied upon. Although you may be in the dark, the only danger could be a passing car.
- 7 OVIR (Office for Visas and Registration), Murtazaev 10/3, ☎ 998 65 2238868. Registration and visa office
How to keep in touch
Around
From Bukhara it is possible to visit Samarkand, easily reachable or continue towards the West in the direction of Urgench to visit Khiva and the nearby castles.
- [link not working]Avicenna Museum (In the village of Afsona), ☎ 998653545207. Museum dedicated to the great thinker and scientist.
- 37 Caravanserai Rabati Malik (Along the M37 road which connects Bukhara with Navoi.). Ancient caravanserai near Navoi. Due to its historical importance it has been proposed for inclusion among the World Heritage Sites in Uzbekistan.
