Uzbekistan - Bukhara - October 2022

It was a long bus trip to Bukhara, in part due to road condition.  It was still under constructions or being resurfaced. Thus the 260 mile journey Khiva - Bukhara seems to take all day.  We traveled southward, through part of Kyzylkum desert, passing many cotton fields. 

Cotton field by the side of the road

Our friends from Salt Lake City and Chicago had never seen a cotton field before.
Happy picking!

 

Natural river border Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan in the Kyzylkum desert

Our hotel in Bukhara is inside the historic city, walking distance to all of tourist attractions of the old city.

The famous Nordir Devonbegi Madrassa (circa 1622 -1623) around the corner of our hotel, Devon

Nordir Devonbegi Madrassa entrance - There are shops and cafes inside. It  holds cultural events like fashion show and musical performance in the evening.

Present day madrasah across the street from Devonbegi madrasah park.

Bronze monument to Hodja Nasreddin (on a donkey)- a popular photo op location in the old city of Bukhara, in front of Devonbegi Madrassa.
 

Itinerary for Bukhara first day.

Samanid's Mausoleum, considered one of the iconic examples of early Islamic architecture. Also known as the oldest funerary building of Central Asia structure. It has intricate geometric designs in the brickwork.

Ceiling inside the mauseleum, with circular dome, mini domes, pointed arches and elaborate portals, columns.

Chashma Ayub - The Spring of Holy Ayub near Samanid's Mausoleum.

View of the Ayub complex

An impressive minaret on our walk toward the Ark Fort

Twenty Column Madrassa (including the reflection from the pool)

Entrance to the Ark Fort

Outside of the Ark Fort

Poi Kalinin complex

The Great Minaret in the complex where Genghis Khan bowed his head. A reservoir is on the left of the minaret.

 

Caravanserai - now restaurant. There are shops and stalls selling tourist trinkets, suzani, carpets, embroidery inside.

  

The top of trading dome (two storks on the nest)

Trading domes - 1st dome for jewelry, 2nd dome for hats, 3rd dome for money exchange.

First trading dome - jewelry

Second dome - Hat trading

The fashion show @ Nordir Devonbegi Madrassa in the evening while having tea in the courtyard of the complex. 

Nordir Devonbegi Madrassa at night

We spent our last morning in Bukhara outside of the old city. The  attractions were the Naqshbandi Memorial Complex, Emir's Summer Palace and Chor Minor Madrassa.

Itinerary for second day in Bukhara

Bahauddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex

 

Courtyard of the memorial complex

Sacrifice animal pond

"Eight gates to heaven" design

Naqshbandi Complex 

Bobi Islom Gater - facing outside

Bobi Isom gate in the Naqshbandi complex

Emir's Summer Palace - chosen because the meat last longer in the summer here.

Summer Palace of Emir - The Courtyard - Russian architecture

The Tea House - now served as a museum

Guest Hall - Emir's Robes in exhibit cases

Emir's Summer Palace - The Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (A Star Similar to the Moon)

Emir's house where he and his wife and concubines lived.

The carved arbor on the shore of the pond served as a summer mosque, the only wooden mosque in Uzbekistan 

Chor Minor Mosque - 19th century. Storks and nest are artificial.

We returned to our hotel very briefly to freshen up before walking to the host family for the home cook "plov", a tradition main dish in Uzbekistan.

Plov cooking in the outdoor oven at the host family

Having "plov" at the host family, a delicious tradition family meal for lunch.

To conclude our visit to Bukhara, we had a group dinner at Maroqand Premium Restaurant outskirt of the old city. The food was tasty and the VIP  banquet room was elegantly decorated. 

Chicken, beef and lamb - main dish at Maroqand Premium 

Group dinner at Maroqand Premium restaurant.