Bukhara

Bukhara is one of the most magical and atmospheric cities of the Silk Road, a UNESCO old town so well preserved that it remains one of the most complete examples of a medieval city in Central Asia. Once a great centre of trade, learning and Islam, its compact centre is a captivating maze of madrasas, mosques, the soaring Kalyan Minaret that even Genghis Khan spared, ancient covered bazaars, caravanserais and a royal fortress, evoking the age of the Silk Road at almost every turn.

History

Bukhara's history goes back millennia, and with Samarkand it was the heart of Persian culture in medieval Central Asia until the fall of the Timurids, a leading city of the Samanid, Karakhanid, Khwarezmian and Timurid states. By 850 it was the Samanid capital, where New Persian flourished, the poet Rudaki praised the city and Imam Bukhari was born, and under the Samanids it became a great intellectual centre of the Islamic world, famous for its libraries; the Samanid Mausoleum and the Kalan Minaret survive from these centuries. The Mongols devastated it under Genghis Khan in the 13th century, it recovered under the Timurids, became the capital of the Uzbek Khanate of Bukhara in the 16th century, and its historic centre is a World Heritage Site (Wikipedia, Bukhara).

What to look for

• The Kalyan Minaret and mosque - the great minaret and its mosque.
• The Poi Kalyan and Lyabi-Hauz - the grand square and the pool plaza.
• The covered bazaars - the domed trading bazaars.
• The Ark Fortress - the massive ancient royal citadel.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather, avoiding the fierce summer heat and cold winter; the old town is atmospheric year-round, and the tree-shaded Lyabi-Hauz plaza is a pleasant spot in the warm evenings.

What to expect

It is more intimate, atmospheric and less monumental than Samarkand, with the appeal being the concentrated, walkable medieval townscape and its living bazaars rather than a single showstopper. It is touristy in the centre, with many souvenir sellers in the old trading domes. It is easily reached by train. Its beautifully preserved Silk Road old town, though, is enchanting.

Nearby

Samarkand and the desert city of Khiva are linked by rail and road.

Key facts