Ark Citadel
Ark Citadel is the most ancient citadel in Bukhara.
The Ark citadel was erected on the Registan square and is the symbol of haughtiness, power, and greatness.
Once, the famous leather lash was hung on one of the walls of the citadel. Kamcha (as it was known) was the symbol of power throughout the Bukhara Emirates.
The Ark citadel was erected on the Registan square and is the symbol of haughtiness, power, and greatness.
Once, the famous leather lash was hung on one of the walls of the citadel. Kamcha (as it was known) was the symbol of power throughout the Bukhara Emirates.
The history of the citadel hides legends and secrets. Scientists still could not find out the date of its construction. However, at this level, they think that the citadel is several thousand years old.
The fortress itself may date from the reigns of the Mangyts (18–20 centuries) and the Ashtarhanids (17th century).
Research by architects brought to the conclusion that the citadel was built on the remains of an ancient population, which now rests 20 meters deep.
The Ark was built with the help of local and imported slaves.
The Ark accommodated rulers, poets, philosophers, and scientists of Uzbekistan, such as Omar Khayam, Avicenna, Rudaki, and many others.
At that time, three thousand people lived here. Handicrafts workshops, living houses, treasury houses, and storehouses of clothes and arms also functioned.
By its construction, the Ark looks like a right-angled irregular shape. The perimeter of the walls is equal to 789.60 meters, and the area inside the citadel is 3.96 hectares. The height is approximately 16–20 meters.
Boost to the gates, which look like ramps. It leads you through an indoor and long corridor to the Jome mosque. Along the corridor, you will see specialized rooms for water, sand, and prisoners.
Each hall had its own name, depending on purpose. The room for sand was called "reghana," for water, "obhana," and the prisoners’ room was called "kanahana".
The western part of the citadel was for the throne hall – "kurinish-hona", the yard of the emir’s prime minister, "kushbegi-bolo", the stable yard, "sais-hona" and the yard for greetings, "salom hona". Each construction was built separately and belonged to different times and dynasties.
There is a mosque, "Childuhtaron," and a khanaka, Battol-Gozi, in the northern part of the fortress.
However, the eastern part of the ark was destroyed in the 1920s and is not yet restored. Today, the fortress functions as the Bukhara State Museum-Park of architecture and art.
While visiting the museum, you can get closer to the history and nature of Bukhara province and attend the exhibition "Monuments of Scripts".
Our travel agency, «Orient Mice», provides you with pleasure, transport and expert guides who will show you not only Uzbekistan's cities but also the amazing stories about the architectural monuments of Bukhara.
The fortress itself may date from the reigns of the Mangyts (18–20 centuries) and the Ashtarhanids (17th century).
Research by architects brought to the conclusion that the citadel was built on the remains of an ancient population, which now rests 20 meters deep.
The Ark was built with the help of local and imported slaves.
The Ark accommodated rulers, poets, philosophers, and scientists of Uzbekistan, such as Omar Khayam, Avicenna, Rudaki, and many others.
At that time, three thousand people lived here. Handicrafts workshops, living houses, treasury houses, and storehouses of clothes and arms also functioned.
By its construction, the Ark looks like a right-angled irregular shape. The perimeter of the walls is equal to 789.60 meters, and the area inside the citadel is 3.96 hectares. The height is approximately 16–20 meters.
Boost to the gates, which look like ramps. It leads you through an indoor and long corridor to the Jome mosque. Along the corridor, you will see specialized rooms for water, sand, and prisoners.
Each hall had its own name, depending on purpose. The room for sand was called "reghana," for water, "obhana," and the prisoners’ room was called "kanahana".
The western part of the citadel was for the throne hall – "kurinish-hona", the yard of the emir’s prime minister, "kushbegi-bolo", the stable yard, "sais-hona" and the yard for greetings, "salom hona". Each construction was built separately and belonged to different times and dynasties.
There is a mosque, "Childuhtaron," and a khanaka, Battol-Gozi, in the northern part of the fortress.
However, the eastern part of the ark was destroyed in the 1920s and is not yet restored. Today, the fortress functions as the Bukhara State Museum-Park of architecture and art.
While visiting the museum, you can get closer to the history and nature of Bukhara province and attend the exhibition "Monuments of Scripts".
Our travel agency, «Orient Mice», provides you with pleasure, transport and expert guides who will show you not only Uzbekistan's cities but also the amazing stories about the architectural monuments of Bukhara.
