NOBLE BUKHARA OASIS CITY

Dengan Nama Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Mengasihani

Assalamualaikum,

Bukhara is one of the oldest cities of the Central Asia with a thousand years of history. It is also considered as the holiest place of the region. The historic center of Bukhara contains numerous mosques, madrassahs and caravanserais, and has been listed by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. Old city with its astounding monuments, living quarters with labyrinths, hospitable people and tempting offers of merchants make Bukhara as one of the highlights of your trip to Uzbekistan. You will find here very unique sights of the region, from the first Friday mosque built in Central Asia to the Palace of the Last Emir of Bukhara.
Bukhara probably has not changed much in two centuries. Many sightseeing places of Bukhara are located in the old part of the city and you will need at least two days to look around. There are also many religious places around Bukhara , approximately 30 kms far from the city.

ABDULLAZIZ MADRASSAH

One of the largest buildings of mid-17th century is the madrassah which was raised by Abdullaziz-khan ibn Nadr-Muhammad ibn Jani Beg Khan in 1651, with the clear intention to surpass all his predecessors on the throne in terms of richness architectural decoration. The madrassah of Abdullazizkhan at first glance is similar to the standing in front Ulugbek  madrassah. But Abdullaziz Khan Madrassah is larger in overall dimensions (50x67m – outside dimensions; yard – 28x35m). Particular attention is paid in Abdullaziz Khan madrasas, to interior decoration.

Bahouddin Naqshband Memorial CompleX

The architectural ensemble of Bahouddin, located kilometers north-east of Bukhara, in the old village Qasr-i Arifan arose from the mazar of this sufi. He had been forming for five hundred years, but it is known very little about its early history.  The first buildings near the Bahauddin mazar appeared, probably soon after the death of the sufi. Their remains, covered by later buildings were found during the architectural and archeological investigations.

Chashma-Yi Ayyub

Muslim shrine (mazar) is located on the northwestern suburbs of Bukhara.  The complex of buildings built here in the 15th – 16th centuries includes ziyarat-khana (room for the ritual ziyara), chilla-khana (room for forty-day retreats), gur-khana with imaginary Ayyub tomb, a sacred well (chashma, bulak) with fresh water, probably spring by origin.  According to the local legend, the water cures skin diseases. Around the complex until recently there has been a large cemetery.

                                   ISMAIL SAMANI MOSOLEUM

The Ismail Samani Mausoleum is one of the outstanding examples of world architecture. According to written sources, the mausoleum was built in 902-907 as a family tomb of one of the branches of Samanid dynasty (10th century).  The building was constructed by Isma’il Samani over the grave of his father, and later he was buried here himself. Entrance located on the east side is a main one.

Khoja Abdalkhalik Al-Gijduvani Complex

The complex is located in Gijduvon (approx. 50 km north –east of Bukhara). It is formed around the tomb of the famous Sufi sheikh, the founder of the independent school of mysticism in the region of Central Asia ‘Abdalkhalik ibn’ Abdaldjalil al-Gijduvani (died in 1180 or 1220). His father was considered an authoritative faqih, bore the title of honorary sobriquet Abduljalil and erected its origins to Imam Malik ben Anans (713-795).

MIRZO ULUGBEK MADRASSAH

It is known that by the order of Mirzo Ulugbek, three madrassahs were erected: in Bukhara (completed in 1420), in Samarkand (completed in 1422) and in Gijduvan (completed in 1433). All of them are with some similarities, but differ according to the plan, size and design of the facades.

Mirzo Ulugbek madrassah in Bukhara

The Ulugbek madrassah in Bukhara is one of the earliest of the buildings, the donator of which was Mirzo Ulugbek (1394-1449). It was completed in 1417. It is not known whether he was present at the opening of this madrassah in Samarkand. Ulugbek, according to historian Abdurazzak as-Samarkandi, visited his madrassah in month Zu-l-qa’da (November 1419) during the trip to Bukhara.

                                           Pa-yi Kalan

he Pa-yi Kalan (“foot of the Great [minaret]”) is an architectural ensemble centered around the Arslan –khan minaret (1127-1129) and consists of the Friday Mosque Kalan/Kalyan (the foundation of 12th century, it was rebuilt in the 15th century and the beginning of the 16 th century) Mir-I ‘Arab (1527-1536) and the madrasa of amir ‘Alim-khan (1914-1915).

  

Bukhara Old City

 

 It is located right behind Lyabi-Khauz, in the open space. “Chor–Minor” is translated as “four minarets”. This name is well justified: the corners of the square-rectangular madrasah building are really decorated with four small minarets crowned with blue domes, different in decors from each other.

Each of the four minarets is of a different shape. The towers’ décor elements are believed to reflect the religious-philosophical understanding of the world’s four religions. At least, it is easy to see that some elements look like a cross, a Christian fish, and the Buddhist prayer wheel.

In front of the madrasah building there is a patio, with a centrally occupied small basin – hauz, lined with stone blocks, and several hujrs adjacent to the madrasah sides. 

Bukhara.  7J perjalanan dengan keretapi ke barat Uzbekistan daripada Tashkent. Bersempadan dengan Turkministan dibarat.  Merentasi padang  pasir   tandus yang gersang dengan pemandangan perkampungan morden dan usang.  Usang disini bermaksud rumah-rumah tradisi yang dibina dengan menggunakan tanah liat. Tiada bandar-bandar besar ditemui kecuali Samarkhad. Cuaca kering dan panas tetapi suhu berada dalam lingkungan 18C.

Ketika ini Uzbekistan merupakan musim buah-buahan. Anggur berjuntaian boleh dikatakan disetiap buah rumah dengan dipagari pokok-pokok pears dan apple disekeliling. Diladang pula berbagai jenis tembikai khusus dari spesis rock water melon bertaburan diatas tanah. Gandum, kapas dan tanaman jagung menghiasi bumi yang tandus dikawasan berair.

Ternakan bebiri, kuda, kaldai adalah pemandangan biasa dimana adanya penempatan manusia.  Jalan raya dan keretapi adalah dua pengangkutan utama untuk sampai ke Bukhara.  Pengangkutan udara disediakan bagi yang mampu dan ingin memendekan perjalanan.

ZBA sampai di Bukhara lebih kurang jam 3pm.  Stesyen keretapi berada jauh diluar bandar Bukhara lebih kurang 12km dan 30M perjalanan dengan teksi atau kereta sewa atau mini bus. 

Awas dan berhati-hati semasa tawar menawar kenderaan.  Perhentian bas berada 120M diluar stesyen.  Pengangkutan paling murah dan tidak perlu tawar menawar.  Walau bagaimana pun tidak semua bus akan sampai kedestinasi hotel yang ditempah. Semasa catatan ini, Bus No 46 melewati kawasan perbandaran Bukhara. Perlu diingat bahawa perbandaran Bukhara terbahagi kepada dua. Old City dan New City.  Semua tempat-tempat bersejarah dan

menarik termasuk hotel-hotel terletak di Old City.  Secara rambang untuk memasuki old city adalah satu kepayahan dan masalah.  Memang sukar dan amat sukar untuk mendapatkan nevigasi kerana tiada guide yang boleh dijadikan panduan.  Cara terbaik, mahu tidak mahu teksi adalah pilihan terbaik agar tidak membuang masa walaupun mereka merupakan belukang yang hebat menelan pelanggan.
Komunikasi adalah satu masalah besar semasa berada di Asia

Tengah.  Tulisan pada papan tanda juga menjadi masalah sebab mereka menggunakan bahasa Uzbek dan Russia. Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris dan pertuturan amat sukar selain menggunakan bahasa isyarat.  
ZBA menginap diRumi Hotel dikawasan  old city yang bersempadan dengan new city yang menempatkan hotel-hotel mewah.  Hotel sederhana yang lengkap dengan kemudahan dan sarapan pagi yang terbaik. Untuk ke old city center dari sini cuma

sekitar 200M tetapi melalui kawasan penempatan penduduk rumah-rumah tanah liat  yang complicated.  Walau bagaimana pun dengan bantuan penduduk tempatan, ini adalah lokasi terbaik untuk kesemua tujuan.  
Bukhara memang hebat disegi tamadhun yang dibina ratusan tahun dahulu.  The Great Silk Road membuka jalan kepada segala-galanya.  Islam berkembang  megah dengan kelahiran para alim ulama yang tiada tandingannya.  Al Imam

Muhammad Ismail Bukhari dilahirkan di Bukhara tetapi meninggal dan dimakamkan di Samarkhand.  Sebagai pencinta Islam ZBA amat kagum melihat madrassah-madrassah yang dibina mereka dan kesan peninggalannya keagungan zaman itu masih kekal sehingga kehari ini.  Alhamdulillah.
Bukhara wajar dan wajib dilawati.  ZBA menghabiskan masa 4H/3M disini dengan penuh bermakna.  Pulang membawa seribu kenangan dan pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan. Dalam perjalanan pulang ZBA melewati satu lagi kota bersejarah didalam keagungan The Great Silk Road iaitu Samarkhand.

WELLCOME TO SAMARKHAND