The portal muqarnas
Painted honeycomb.
Faqscl — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ymblanter — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Panpanchik — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tim Griffin — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Faqscl — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Viaggiamocela — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Spartak22 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A madrasa built by Abdulaziz Khan (1614-1683) in 1652-1654, facing the Ulugbek Madrasa, more than two centuries its elder; together they form a paired ensemble east of the jewellers' bazaar. It is part of Bukhara's historic centre, a World Heritage Site. It is a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture, decorated with mosaics, relief glazed tiles, carved marble, painted plaster, carved wood and gold leaf. Its outer portal and courtyard portals are clad in blue and yellow tiles, this bright yellow being used for the first time in Bukhara, with well-known motifs such as the «vase of happiness». Its finest feature is the painted muqarnas deep in the portal, hanging like an ornate honeycomb. Parts of the outer decoration look unfinished, because the khan was deposed before the work was done and the architect abandoned the project. It has winter and summer mosques, and fireplaces, an innovation in its day. Today it houses souvenir, fabric and carpet shops, and its portal and courtyard can usually be seen without a ticket. It is a few steps from the Toqi Zargaron dome and the Po-i-Kalyan complex.
Painted honeycomb.
In the tiles.
The khan was deposed.
Facing the Ulugbek Madrasa, old Bukhara
Ulugbek Madrasa, BukharaThe oldest surviving madrasa in Central Asia, built by Timur's grandson Ulugh Be1 minute walk4.5
Bukhara Trading DomesDomed covered markets at the crossroads of old Bukhara's streets, known locally 1 minute walk4.7
Po-i-Kalyan and the Kalyan MinaretBukhara's best-known religious complex, whose name means «at the foot of the gre3 minutes walk4.9
Magoki Attari MosqueOne of the oldest surviving mosques in Central Asia and one of the few buildings4 minutes walk4.1
Lyabi-Hauz squareThe square around one of Bukhara's few surviving pools, whose name means «by the5 minutes walk4.5The khan was deposed before the work was done, so the architect stopped and parts of the façade were left undecorated.