Chor Minor

About this attraction

Chor Minor, meaning "four minarets" in Persian, is the gatehouse of a madrasa that no longer stands. It was built in 1807 for Khalif Niyaz-kul, a wealthy Bukharan of Turkmen origin, during the Manghit dynasty. Its four towers are not working minarets: three were used for storage and one holds a staircase.

Each tower is topped with a dome covered in blue ceramic tiles and carries different decoration, which gives the small building a playful look. Inside, the main room follows the layout of a Central Asian mosque, and its dome gives it acoustics suited to Sufi dhikr ceremonies. One tower collapsed in 1995, and UNESCO provided emergency assistance. Chor Minor sits in a quiet lane northeast of Lyab-i Hauz, surrounded by small houses and shops, and is an easy short stop on a walk through the old town.

Where to pray

The main building is laid out as a mosque, but sources read do not say whether regular worship takes place. Modest dress is the norm in Bukhara's religious buildings.

Must see

The four differently decorated blue-domed towers and the small domed hall inside.

Location

Lane northeast of Lyab-i Hauz, Old Town, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Nearby

Within 5 km, nearest first.