Toqi Zargaron
The jewellers' dome.
Umid1108 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BeshevI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SAKRI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BeshevI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · TJADPhClass — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BeshevI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BeshevI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Enric — CC BY-SA 4.0
Domed covered markets at the crossroads of old Bukhara's streets, known locally as «toki», each once devoted to one trade and still packed with shops today. They lie on the way between Lyabi-Hauz and the Po-i-Kalyan complex, so every visitor passes through them. The largest and most complex is the Toqi Zargaron, the «dome of the jewellers», built in 1586-1587 under the Shaybanid ruler Abdullah Khan II. It held more than 35 workshops and shops for gold, silver and precious stones, and some of Bukhara's coins were probably struck there. Nearby are the Toqi Sarrafon, the «dome of the money-changers», the Toqi Telpak Furushon, the «dome of the hat-sellers», and the Tim of Abdullah Khan, a long covered arcade. Warehouses, caravanserais and shops once surrounded them, and they worked as markets until the mid-20th century. Wandering through is free; today they sell carpets, suzani, knives, copperware and jewellery. Prices are negotiable, and the mood is best in the morning or before sunset.
The jewellers' dome.
The long arcade.
In the shops.
Between Lyabi-Hauz and Po-i-Kalyan, old Bukhara
Ulugbek Madrasa, BukharaThe oldest surviving madrasa in Central Asia, built by Timur's grandson Ulugh Be1 minute walk4.5
Abdulaziz Khan MadrasaA madrasa built by Abdulaziz Khan (1614-1683) in 1652-1654, facing the Ulugbek M1 minute walk4.5
Po-i-Kalyan and the Kalyan MinaretBukhara's best-known religious complex, whose name means «at the foot of the gre2 minutes walk4.9
Magoki Attari MosqueOne of the oldest surviving mosques in Central Asia and one of the few buildings5 minutes walk4.1
Lyabi-Hauz squareThe square around one of Bukhara's few surviving pools, whose name means «by the6 minutes walk4.5Domed 16th-century markets, the largest being the jewellers' dome of 1586; wandering through is free and prices are negotiable.