Chor-Minor Madrasah

 

Chor-Minor Madrasah (‘madrasah of four minarets’) is located in the northeast of Bukhara. The four minarets of the madrasah symbolize the four cardinal points.

The madrasah features elegant and nontraditional shapes; it is not large and yet looks grand. It was built in 1807 at the instigation of a rich Turkmen merchant, a horse and carpet trader Caliph Niyazkul-Beg. According to historical records, after visiting The Taj Mahal in India Caliph Niyazkul-Beg developed a strong desire to build something like this fascinating building back in his kingdom. He summoned architects and astronomers and set two conditions for them to fulfill while they would be constructing the madrasah following his sketches: it was to be located on one of the Silk Roads so that the Turkmens who traveled along it stopped at the building; and the design was to show that all the parts of the world are as equal as all the people of the world are, since all live on the same earth, breathe the same air and enjoy the same sky. The Caliph Niyazkul-Beg’s desire was satisfied. Chor-Minor Madrasah was constructed on the Silk Road and its chartak or darvozakhona entrance block had four minarets symbolizing, besides the cardinal points, the Samanids, Shaybanids, Karakhanids and Manghits. Each of the minarets has a unique shape and decoration. Some people believe that the four different designs of them reflect the differences of the four world religions. Some of their elements, for example, are clear images of Buddhist prayer wheels or Christian crosses. Between the minarets there is large dome symbolizing the same sky and one God for all.

The first floor of this outstanding architectural monument had a hexagonal lobby. The second floor had a square guard room where passages inside the minarets ran from. The interior walls and the dome were decorated with inscriptions of religious maxims in Arabic. Some of them still survive. Added on to the sides of the building, there were student cells forming a rectangular courtyard. There was also a library with a lot of valuable manuscripts in it on the second floor.

Unfortunately, the madrasah in its entirety does not survive. Only part of the portal with a hall used as a mosque and the four minarets are still remaining. The dome over the hall allowed using it as zikrkhona prayer room where Sufis could hold their ritual ceremonies.

Photos:

view all photos »»

© Copyright © Central Asia Travel.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the copyright owner.

«« go back to the top »»

TOUR ORDER

×

Tour name *

Full name *

Citizenship

Phone number * 

Telegram  

E-Mail * 

Number of
participants: 

Accommodation on the route:



Preferable form of communication:

Comments, wishes on the program:

Inserting your personal data in this form you give your consent to the processing of your personal data

Book a guided tour

×

Sightseeing tour name *

Full name *

Citizenship

Phone number * 

Telegram  

E-Mail * 

Number of
participants: 

Preferable form of communication:

Your comments and suggestions:

Inserting your personal data in this form you give your consent to the processing of your personal data



Send to a friend

×




Search on the site

Whats new on the site