Not a driving day today. Walked around Bukhara absorbing all the sights before it got,just too hot – 36*C ! It certainly has a long and interesting history.

Bukhara – The Holy City

The name of Bukhara,originates from the word “vihara”‘ which means “monastery” in Sanskrit. Bukhara lies west of Samarkand and was once a center of learning renowned throughout the Islamic world,particularly in the development of Sufi approach to philosophy,religion and Islam .

Bukhara is an Ancient settlement with a history that goes back to the early centuries A.D.The 4th c BC conquest by Alexander the Great

In 1220 Bukhara was conquered by Mongols of Genghis- Khan ,this brought to an end a period of great economic growth

Bukhara and Khiva were always in conflict and both developed individually because of their rivalry

The Kalyan minaret,was built in 1127,it is 9 meters in diameter at the base ,with a height of 46 meters.It has stood for 800 hundred years now without once needing repairs. Criminals were reputed to be thrown from the tower!!
On the left hand side of the square where the Kalyan minaret stands,the MIRI- ARAB MADRASAH,was built in 1535-1536.

THE ARK : A royal town within a town,is Bukhara’s oldest structure,occupied from 5th century right up until 1920,when it was bombed by the Red Army.
Outside ,in from of the fortress,is medieval Bukhara’s main square ,the REGISTAN,a favourite venue for executions,including those of the British officers Stoddart and Conolly ,both of whom were beheaded in the square in 1842

In the 16th century ,Bukhara became the capital of a large Central Asian State
From 1924 Bukhara was part of Soviet Uzbekistan.
Bukhara is approaching the age of 2500