Poi Kalon Complex Bukhara
If there is one image that defines the skyline of Bukhara then it has to be the Poi Kalon Complex and its magnificent Kalon Tower. Search online for Bukhara and the images that will pop up will be Poi Kalon square with its magnificent minaret. A trip to Bukhara in Uzbekistan is truly incomplete without seeing this.
What To See at Poi Kalon
This is the grandest Islamic religious complex in Bukhara and comprises three structures. Mir-i-Arab Madrasa is located on the left of the square while Kalon Tower is in the middle (slightly towards the right actually) and on the right side, we have the Kalon Mosque.
There are other tourist attractions nearby like the Madrasa of Emir Alimkhan, Toqi Zargaron, Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Abdullah Khan Madrasa, and Tim Abdulla Khan Trading Dome.
The area around Poi Kalon has restrictions on traffic movement and vehicles are not allowed. Tourists need to walk around the tourist areas however, battery-powered vehicles are available for usage at a cost.
Kalon Tower
Kalon Tower or Kalyan Minaret is one of the star attractions of this place. The inscription on the minaret informs us that the tower was designed by Bako and this was constructed during the reign of Arsalan Khan in 1127. However, there was a smaller minaret in this very place which had collapsed over time, and a decision was made to replace it.
To strengthen the foundation of the minaret a hole in the ground was dug and a mixture of bull blood, camel milk, and alabaster was used, which was left to harden for two years before continuing with the rest of the construction.
Traditionally, minarets next to mosques were used for the call of prayer which is essential in Islam. Apart from this the height advantage also let the general population be informed of any decrees by the then ruler of Bukhara.
During the siege of Bukhara by Genghis Khan in 1220, he was such mesmerized by this minaret that he decided to spare the fate of the tower by not ordering it to be destroyed.
During the Russian invasion of Bukhara by the Red Army in 1924, along with the Ark of Bukhara, this place also suffered damage from aerial bombardment and artillery fire. These were finally restored in the 1960’s and in 1997, further restoration was done to extend the life of the minaret and to reinforce its foundation.
In terms of architecture, the minaret rises to a height of 46.5 meters and at the base, the diameter is wider at around 30.43 meters and at the top, it is 9.7 meters. The tower is constructed with baked bricks joined by lime mortar. The foundation underground is more than 13 meters deep. There is a spiral staircase with which one can reach the topmost section of the minaret which has multiple lattice windows.
Mir-i-Arab Madrasa
On the left of the Kalon Tower is the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa which was built by Ubaydullah Khan who ruled this region between 1534 – 1539. He was the first Shaibanid ruler to make the city of Bukhara as his capital. The name of this madrasa is derived from Sheikh Abdullah Yamaniy who was popularly known as Mir-i-Arab or the Arabic Emir. He actually hailed from Yemen but moved to Samarkand and then to Bukhara and was the mentor to Ubaydullah Khan. Sheikh Abdullah Yamaniy died before the completion of the Madrasa and his son-in-law took the onus on its completion.
According to legend Ubaydullah Khan sold three thousand Iranian slaves to get the money to build the Madrasa. The construction of the building took place between 1536 – 1537 and was built on top of a previous structure the building is a massive structure with a beautifully decorated entry gate. The two-story building has around one hundred and fourteen rooms and continues to be a functioning madrasa (a place of religious learning). During the Soviet times, the madrasa was shut down and was again reopened in 1945.
Ubaydullah Khan and Sheikh Abdullah Yamaniy along with his family members are buried inside this Madrasa.
Since this is a functioning madrasa thus visitors are not allowed inside and one can see the interiors from the main gate and see inside of the madrasa from the lattice window.
Kalon Mosque
This mosque was originally built by Arsalan Khan the one who also built the Kalon Tower. The construction of the mosque started around the 12th century and over the centuries, it started expanding and finally concluded in the year 1514 when Bukhara was ruled by Shaibani Ubaidullah Khan. The next in line Abdulaziz Khan added on the decorations that can be seen on the main gate.
The main dome on the western side has a large blue dome and all the surrounding four sides are capped with 288 small domes.
This is the largest mosque in Bukhara and during Friday prayer it gets very crowded, so plan your trips accordingly. This is also a ticketed monument however some tourists have complained that the ticketing system seems to be arbitrary, sometimes applicable,e sometimes not.
Location Of Poi Kalon On Map
Vlog Of Poi Kalon
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