Poi Kolyan Complex

Poi Kolyan is a grandiose historical ensemble in the central part of Bukhara. It includes the tall Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah and Alim Khan Madrasah. “Poi-Kolyan” is translated as “the foot of the great”, this name was given in honor of the Great Kolyan Minaret, the oldest and largest minaret in Central Asia. From a giant tower, almost 46 meters high, a loud adhan was heard every Friday. The minaret Kolyan was built by the skilled architect Usto Bako in 1127. A round staircase of 104 steps leads to the lantern, the top of the minaret. Climbing it, you have an unforgettable view of the panorama of the city.

An interesting fact: the Kalon minaret, after completion of construction, stood for 900 years without repair and reconstruction. This is the highest building in Bukhara. There is a legend among residents that the basis of the solution, fastening the foundation of the minaret and its bricks, is camel milk, from which the solution acquired an unprecedented strength.

Kalyan Mosque

This is the second largest mosque in Uzbekistan after the Samarkand Bibi-Khanum. Kalyan Mosque was built in the XII century, but was barbarously destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan. In 1514 it was restored, and it became a shrine for all Bukhara people. Every Friday, up to 10 thousand parishioners could pray in the mosque. Kalyan Mosque is built like open mosques with a rectangular courtyard surrounded by cells. You can enter the building from 7 different entrances. At the end of the courtyard is the portal of the main hall of the mosque, followed by a dome decorated with blue glaze. The outer dome stretches upward, proudly rises above all the buildings of the city and literally rests against the emerald sky of Bukhara. The remaining parts of the mosque are built in the form of a gallery, on the strong columns of which 288 domes rest. Passing under the arches of this massive arcade you will feel the peace and mystery of everything that happens. The walls of the mosque are "framed" with exquisite ornaments and mosaics; golden painted words from the holy book of Muslims - Quran.

Madrasah Miri Arab

Opposite the Kalyan Mosque is the Miri Arab Madrasah. Sheikh Mir-i Arab, the spiritual leader of the Sheybanids, is considered its author. He had a huge influence not only on Ubaidullah Khan, but also on all members of his family. Having sold more than 3 thousand Persian captives, the khan donated the proceeds to his confessor for the construction of a madrasah. In those days, it was obligatory for the khan to "share" his tomb with a religious head. In the center of the tomb is the tombstone of Khan Ubaidula, at his head is the tomb of Miri-Arab, a little further buried Muhammad Kasym - mudarris (senior teacher). In addition to the tombs, the madrasah building includes a hall that was used as a mosque and lecture hall, and 114 cells (according to the number of suras in the Qur'an). Of particular beauty are the courtyard portals of the madrasah located on the longitudinal and transverse axes of the building. When decorating the building, carved mosaics and colorful paintings were used. On the territory of the Soviet Union, Mir-Arab was the only religious educational institution.