We thought Khiva was beautiful, but Bukhara has an even more magical quality. Our Hotel Caravan is situated next to the fortress walls and we can easily walk to town through the bazaar and past these amazing illuminated buildings (madrassa and minaret).
Bukhara, which is situated on the Silk Route, is more than 2,000 years old. It is one of the most important ancient cities in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, dating back nearly 1000 years
before Alexander the Great conquered Central Asia.
Bukhara was long an important economic and cultural center in Central Asia. The ancient Persian city served as a major center of Islamic culture for many centuries and became a major cultural center of the Caliphate in the 8th century.
Bukhara, in the Middle Ages, was one of the world centers of Sufism – the mystical sect of Islam. There were many small schools, mentors and religious scientists in the Bukhara of 11th-15th centuries, which resulted in the Naqshbandiya sect – the largest Sunni spiritual order of Sufism. We visited the memorial complex of Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandi – who is recognized as the seventh Sufi saint.
An important monument that survives to this day is the famous Ismail Samanai tomb, impressive in its understated elegance and the best surviving example of 10th century architecture in the whole Muslim world.
The lovely grounds and buildings of the Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace, the country residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, Alim Khan.
Char Minar means “four minarets” – the towers are technically not minarets; the building functioned as a gate house to a long gone madrassa.
