SAEDNEWS: The Four Minarets, a photogenic remnant of an old school in the heart of Bukhara, stands as a distinctive symbol of the coexistence of different religions and cultures, crowned by its four decorative towers.
According to Saednews, Photogenic Chor Minor, tucked among the winding lanes between Pushkin and Khoja Nurobod, looks more reminiscent of Indian architectural styles than traditional Bukhara architecture. The structure is the surviving gateway of a religious school built in 1807, although the school itself has long since disappeared. Its name means “Four Minarets” in Tajik—although the four towers are not actually minarets, but decorative architectural elements.
For 4,000 Uzbek som, visitors can climb to the rooftop and stand almost level with its charming towers. The souvenir stalls opposite the monument also sell interesting memorabilia, from Soviet-era objects to black-and-white photographs of Bukhara before the revolution.
Chor Minor, also known as the Khalif Niyaz-Kul Madrasah, is the gateway to a vanished madrasah and one of Bukhara’s most distinctive attractions. Located in a lane northeast of the Lyabi-Hauz complex, the monument is recognized as an important cultural heritage site and a notable stop on tours of Uzbekistan.
Despite its unusual exterior, the interior follows the classical traditions of Central Asian Islamic architecture. Some believe that the four towers represent four major world religions—a theory that becomes intriguing when examining the building’s decorative details, which include Buddhist wheel motifs, fish, Christian crosses, and Islamic patterns.
“The great central dome represents heavenly unity and God, while the four imposing towers come together beneath its shelter.”
The structure was commissioned by Khalif Niyaz-Kul, a wealthy merchant of Turkmen origin from Bukhara, during the 19th century under the Manghit dynasty. Although Chor Minor is often assumed to be the gateway to the madrasah behind it, the building actually served both religious and residential functions.
The attached madrasah was demolished many years ago, but Chor Minor has survived. Its unusual design has made it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Bukhara.
The peculiar exterior of Chor Minor creates a fascinating contrast with its more conventional Central Asian Islamic interior. The dome produces distinctive acoustics, making the building an atmospheric setting for Sufi devotional practices involving recitation, chanting, and music.
The residential rooms on either side of the structure have partially collapsed, leaving only parts of their foundations. Interestingly, many historic “madrasahs” primarily functioned as student dormitories rather than places where formal classes were held.
Chor Minor is also known locally by the evocative nickname “The Crown of Bukhara.”
Four symbolic towers: A distinctive architectural landmark unlike any other in Bukhara.
A Sufi atmosphere: Experience the remarkable acoustics beneath the dome.
Historic souvenirs: Browse old photographs and Soviet-era memorabilia at the nearby stalls.
A hidden corner of Bukhara: Explore the quiet lanes surrounding one of the city’s most unusual monuments.
Chor Minor is more than a historic monument; it is a story told through turquoise-tinted brick and distinctive towers. Each of its four towers evokes a different chapter in Bukhara’s long history—from the traditions of Sufism to the bustling world of the Silk Road.
If Bukhara were a book, Chor Minor would be its poetic introduction. Visit around sunset, when the shadows of the four towers seem to write four lines across the evening sky.
Discover Bukhara through Chor Minor—not just through a map.
