About this experience
Bukhara is like a magical jewelry box with an ancient mechanism, and I will help you open it! Eastern bazaars, scents of pilaf and flatbreads, colorful carpets, winding streets, and of course, stunning architecture: all this is included in our program. It is important for me not only to tell you about the history and culture of the 2500-year-old city, but also to show how people live, create, think, and feel here.
What to Expect
Voluminous and colorful route
In 4.5 hours, you will see UNESCO World Heritage sites located in the historical center and interesting museum exhibits.
- Refined mausoleum of the Samanids - the family tomb of rulers of Central Asia (9-10 centuries). You will learn why this mausoleum is compared to pagan temples and ancient observatories.
- Mausoleum Chashma-Ayub and Water Museum. This mausoleum of strict architectural form with the healing spring of St. Job is a place of pilgrimage for representatives of different religions. You will feel its energy, and in the museum located here, you will learn about the water supply of the Bukhara oasis.
- Ensemble of Kosh-Madrasah, consisting of two paired educational institutions - the madrasah of the outstanding astronomer Ulugh Beg and the madrasah of the ruler Abdulaziz Khan. We will examine them and discuss why medieval Bukhara was attractive for obtaining Islamic education.
- Mosque "forty columns" Bolo-Hauz, where until 1920 the last emirs of Bukhara performed prayers. We will talk about the features of its architecture.
- Viewing platform Bukhara Tower (water tower of Shukhov from 1927) will give you a panorama of the historical center.
- Ark Fortress - the majestic and mysterious residence of the emirs of Bukhara. I will reveal why its layout resembles the constellation Ursa Major, whether there is a secret passage under the citadel, and what happened to the treasury of the last emir after the 1920 revolution.
- Main ensemble of the center Poi Kalyan with the Miri-Arab madrasah, the tallest minaret, and the largest mosque in the city. Against the background of these monuments, my stories will help you understand the power of the medieval capital.
- Ensemble of Lyabi-Khauz, including cult objects and the famous reservoir associated with the name of the folk hero Khodja Nasreddin, about whom the residents of Bukhara are ready to talk for hours. You will hear about this extraordinary person and the favorite place of the townspeople.
Furthermore, on the way, we will not miss the unique ancient "mosque in a pit" Magoki Attari, stroll through the winding streets of Bukhara's mahalla, and reach the oldest functioning synagogue in Central Asia dating back to the 16th century.
Bukhara - the city of creative and hospitable people
This theme, without which the character of Bukhara cannot be understood, runs throughout the tour. A kaleidoscope of bright fabrics, painted dishes, golden embroidery, and decorations will whirl you in medieval trade domes and caravanserais of Sayfuddin.
One of the highlights of travelers on my walks is the opportunity to see the real life of Bukharians, not a prepared program for tourists. For example, we peek into the workshops and watch the work of gold embroiderers, chat with an artist, and visit a family living in a historical house.
Organizational Details
- The tour is on foot - so you can better feel Bukhara
- I suggest visiting the mausoleum of the Samanids, the Water Museum in the Chashma-Ayub mausoleum, two madrasahs, and the Ark Fortress. All of this is optional; entrance tickets are paid separately (from 10 to 15€ per person for all objects).
- If you wish, we will stop at cozy tea houses and coffee shops for reflection, snacks, and lunch (paid separately)
