Writer: Helena Bergström
Bukhara was the last stop on our train journey through Uzbekistan, and it was also the very best. Bukhara is a great city. Besides seeing a wide range of sights here, it is also a nice place to hang out…
By train from Samarkand to Bukhara
We traveled through Uzbekistan by train, which is a convenient way to travel around the country. High-speed trains run between the main destinations terribly modern and comfortable. You can buy an additional ticket eticket.railway.uz and then just follow! On board there is a toilet, where snacks and all other services you need are served. Here you can read about the first three stops of our train journey through the country:
The train from Samarkand to Bukhara took about 1 hour by high-speed train. Then we arrived in beautiful Bukhara!
Check into a hotel in the city center
We checked into the hotel Caravan squarewhich is a relatively simple hotel. There is a reception and breakfast service, but overall there is not much service. For us it was fine though – the best part was that it was a short walk to the old town and all the sights.
Bukhara – a city that you can discover on foot
Bukhara is a fantastic city to explore on foot or on your own. What we especially like, besides all the historical sights, is that it is a very walkable and pleasant city.
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You will find almost everything within walking distance, whether historical sites, markets or restaurants. The old historic city center is also completely car-free.
In the old town you will find UNESCO heritage, shopping and dining options. Peter brought his drone up (permit required!) and a small group of young, curious Uzbeks came to watch. “Can the drone see my father?” one of them wondered… Great guys!
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In the historic car-free part of the city there are usually a bunch of cats hanging around too…
Bukhara in the evening
It is very safe to move around Bukhara, regardless of the day of the week or time of day. In the evening, many of the historic buildings are illuminated and the atmosphere becomes very cozy.
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Guidance to the biggest sights
One of the days in Bukhara we had a guide who showed us around. On the one hand, you can move easily independently – it is both safe and easy in terms of distance – but on the other hand, a guide can of course assist you with a lot of good and interesting information about the places you see.
The Ark of Bukhara Fortress
Our guide first took us to the fort Ark of Bukharawhich is very interesting to visit.
The fortress was built in the 5th century AD and served as a military structure, but also housed a settlement. Royal courts have been held here, and in the surrounding area there are places such as the throne room, the court and the mosque, as well as several smaller museums.
Shukhov Tower
In the vicinity of the fort is located Shukhov Towera Soviet water tower that supplied Bukhara with water until 1975. Today the tower has been restored and serves as a tourist attraction, with a café, restaurant and observation deck.
Complex Po-i-Kalan
One of the biggest sights in Bukhara is the complex PI creditlocated in the middle of the old town. The complex consists of three parts: the Kalan Mosque, the Kalan Minaret and the madrasa, that is, the historic Islamic educational institution Mir-i-Arab.
Ulugbek Madrassa and Abdulaziz Khan Madrassa
There are two more important madrassas in the area, and these are directly opposite each other: Ulugbek Madrassa And Abdulaziz Khan Madrassa. The older of these two, Ulugbek Madrassa, was built in 1417 during the Timur dynasty and is the oldest madrassa in all of Central Asia. Both are very beautiful, filled with decorations and blue-green mosaics.
The mosque It was Hauz
The mosque It was Hauz was built in 1712 and has a unique architecture, which makes it different from other mosques in Central Asia. The mosque is included in the city’s UNESCO heritage and is incredibly beautiful in its own special way.
Lyabi Hauz Square and Madrassan Nadir Devanbegi
One of our absolute favorite places in Bukhara is Lyabi Hauz Square – a charming pond surrounded by beautiful mattresses and cozy outdoor seating.
Right next to it you can spy the mattress Nadir Devanbegibuilt in 1622-1623 and is notable for the fine bird motifs on the front. The fact that animals are depicted on Islamic religious buildings is generally unusual and in this case can be explained, among other things, by the fact that the building was originally intended as a caravanserai, i.e. a guesthouse for business travelers.
Ismail Samanis Mausoleum
Another interesting sight is Mausoleum of Ismail Samanis. This cemetery tells the story of the Samanid dynasty, which ruled Persia and Central Asia in the 8th and 9th centuries, and is interesting because it illustrates the transition between pre-Islamic and Islamic architecture.
Chorus minor
In Bukhara you don’t want to miss spying on the special building Chorus minor. This is actually nothing more than a historic gatehouse, which once led to a now destroyed madrassa. However, the building is very beautiful and there is the idea that the four towers are supposed to symbolize four different religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Islam.
Delicious meals in Bukhara
After all, as a tourist in a city you cannot just look at the sights; you have to eat too! We were able to have some nice meals at a restaurant in Bukhara. We had lunch at, among other things Chayxana Chinarwhich turned out to be a very cozy place.
We ate several good dishes here bichaka kind of fried knots, in this case filled with spinach and skewers of chicken or beef.
Another day we ate the national dish plov at a restaurant just outside the center (Muhammadali Osh markaz). Plov in Bukhara is a bit different from plov in Samarkand and we actually liked this variant, which included raisins, a bit better. The bread, as usual in Uzbekistan, was very tasty!
Crafts, art, music and dance…
In fact it is So there is much more to tell about our visit to Bukhara… namely the crafts, art, music and dance! I realize this report is going to be way too long if I try to include all of this… so I’ll be back soon with a slightly more colorful post. Don’t miss it!
Read more about Bukhara and Uzbekistan
Are you curious about Uzbekistan? We have visited this fantastic and fantastic country three times and have many reports and tips. Feel free to read our guide to Bukhara or click on the image below to find all our reports from Uzbekistan!
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