Historic Centre of Bukhara

Historic Centre of Bukhara

The Historic Centre of Bukhara is located approximately 450 kilometres southwest of the capital, Tashkent. In 1993, UNESCO inscribed it as a cultural heritage site on the World Heritage List. The city of Bukhara houses palaces, mosques, and other structures built by various dynasties, earning it the nickname “City of Museums.”

Bukhara was founded in the 1st century BC, situated in the low-lying irrigated valley of the Zarafshan River, facing the Shahrud Canal, and located on an oasis along the Silk Road. It lies 15 kilometres from the railway line that traverses the Black Sea region and 250 kilometres from Samarkand. Historically, Bukhara was a centre of religion and trade, and is now the capital of Bukhara Province in Uzbekistan. Located on the Silk Road, Bukhara has a history of over 20,000 years and is an exemplary medieval city in Central Asia where the majority of its buildings have been well preserved. Notable landmarks in the Historic Centre of Bukhara include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, an architectural masterpiece of Muslim design from the 10th century, as well as a collection of buildings from the 17th century—all of which are well worth visiting.