BUKHARA - THE ARK

The Ark of Bukhara is a massive earthen fortress, initially built and occupied around the 5th century AD, as all of a military structure, a town and a royal court.  It fell to Russia in 1920. 



The ceremonial entrance into the citadel is architecturally framed by two 18th-century towers



 Inside is a museum 



 royal courtyard for receiving dignitaries and making pronouncements



and, these days, dressing up and pretending you're an emir...


 Lots of visitors are locals 


and the museum has some beautiful exhibits




 Next door is the Bolo-Hauz mosque






Then a long walk to the Kalon mosque, with is collosal square containing the 45m high Kalon minaret







The enormous mosque contains many columns supporting a roofed exterior, and a large open oblong inside. The functioning part of the mosque is limited to one corner, and we're just in time for a call to prayer









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