A Tour of the Most Beautiful Mosques in Uzbekistan
Travelers to Uzbekistan are sometimes surprised to discover that the country is home to some of the most beautiful mosques in the Islamic world. Despite being a relatively small nation, Uzbekistan has a rich historic legacy of arts and culture, and its many stunning mosques not only serve as important examples of traditional Islamic architecture, but also reflect the varying cultural influences that have shaped the country over the centuries. Read on to take a tour of seven of the most picturesque mosques in Uzbekistan.
Baland Mosque, Bukhara
The Uzbek city of Bukhara is home to many of Uzbekistan’s most beautiful mosques — which is perhaps not surprising when you consider that the historic center of Bukhara is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s 16th century Baland Mosque is one of the oldest. Made up of two prayer rooms, one for winter and one for summer, the Baland Mosque is modest in size, but beautifully detailed. Located inside the mosque’s main structure, the winter prayer room is adorned with frescoes, mosaics, and elaborate gilding. The iwan, or entrance, is located outside and serves as the summer prayer room. Its walls are decorated with intricate wooden muqarnas, a kind of ornamented vaulting common in Islamic architecture.
Chor Minor, Bukhara
With its distinctive blue ceramic domed towers crowning its honey-colored stone façade, Chor Minor is one of the most recognizable mosques in Bukhara. Also known as the Madrasah of Khalif Niyaz-kul (madrasa or madrasah being the Arabic term for any kind of secular or religious educational institution), Chor Minor was built in 1807 by a merchant from Turkmenistan. Its four towers are designed differently from each other and decorated with unique motifs that reflect four major world religions. It is this particular architectural feature that gives the mosque its name: Chor Minor means “four minarets” in Persian. Another distinguishing feature of Chor Minor is its hexagon-shaped lobby.
Po-i-Kalyan, Bukhara
This stunning religious complex is built around Bukhara’s ancient Kalyan minaret; indeed, the name Po-i-Kalyan means “foot of the great.” One of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Kalyan minaret is a huge vertical pillar that dominates the historic center of Bukhara; constructed in 1127, the minaret is the oldest structure in the complex. About four centuries later, the Kalyan Mosque was built adjacent to the minaret. Topped by a large blue tiled dome, the mosque features a gorgeous inner courtyard with beautiful mosaic tilework encircled by a gallery with more than 200 traditional pillars. Shortly after the mosque was built, construction was completed on the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, the final building in the Po-i-Kalyan complex that is still in use today.
Magok-i-Kurpa Mosque, Bukhara
While most mosques seem to be reaching for the heavens, the Magok-i-Kurpa Mosque hides a unique secret under its relatively unassuming façade: a second story located almost entirely underground. Accessible by a staircase from the iwan, or front entrance, this lower story means that the mosque is much larger than it appears at first sight. The clue to this mosque’s subterranean character lies in its name: Magok-i means “in the hole” or “in the subsoil.”
Bolo Haouz Mosque, Bukhara
Standing in Registan Square opposite the Ark of Bukhara, the Bolo Haouz Mosque is a place of prayer fit for a king, quite literally: built in 1712, Bolo Haouz served as the official place of worship for the region’s royalty for many years. Some of the mosque’s most eye-catching features include the 20 intricately carved and decorated wooden columns that support the roof of the 12-meter-high iwan; the iwan’s beautifully painted ceiling, which reflects strong influences of Persian art and architecture; and the decorative minaret, which was added in 1917. The courtyard of the mosque features an octagonal pool that inspired the mosque’s name: Bolo Haouz means “the mosque of the Bala Lake.”
Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand
At the time of its construction in the 15th century, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand was one of the largest and most spectacular mosques in the Islamic world. Built by the conqueror and emperor Timur in honor of his wife Bibi-Khanym, the mosque was a highly sophisticated architectural achievement, featuring tall minarets, decorative bright blue domes, and exquisite marble carvings. Above all, the mosque is most remarkable for its sheer scale and size: originally, it was built to be large enough for the entire male population of Samarkand to gather for Friday prayers.
An earthquake in 1897 left part of the mosque in ruins, but a strong rebuilding campaign over the last few decades has largely restored it to its former glory. Today, many people visit the Bibi-Khanym for a glimpse of its best-known attraction: an enormous marble Quran stand in the courtyard that dates back to the era of the mosque’s construction.
Minor Mosque, Tashkent
Not all of Uzbekistan’s most beautiful mosques are centuries old. Built in Tashkent in 2014, the Minor Mosque is a lovely example of a contemporary interpretation of traditional Uzbek style. The mosque is built of white marble and features a unique circular prayer hall with an intricately decorated mihrab (a prayer niche in the wall), two white marble minarets, and a bright blue dome.
