Islamic Architecture. Bukhara.

Translating to 'above the pool' which refers to the artificial pond just in front of the 20-pillar islamic building, it is also known as 'the 40-pillar mosque' because the building is beautifully reflected in the pond.

In ancient times, the region often suffered from water shortages, so these ponds acted as a water source for the public to gather drinking water.

However, the stagnant water in these ponds were the cause of pestilence and disease so were shut down under Soviet rule in the 20th century.

Built in 1712, under the instruction of the Emir, the site is now a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What lies within will remain a mystery as the doors were well and truly locked shut.

Legend has it that the Emir attended for Friday prayers to show to his subjects that he was but an ordinary man.

The columns are decorated with colored muqarnas, a common architectural feature throughout the muslim world

The minaret is a recent addition, well recent being the begining of the 20th century

Chor Minor, or the Madrasah of Khalif Niyaz-kul, is but a historic gatehouse for a now-destroyed Madrasah

The towers of Chor Minor are not actually minarets, but simply decorative towers, three of them were used for storage, the fourth has a staircase leading to the top floor. Not offering much of a view, I can assure you.

Although they are topped by blue ceramic tiled domes they all have different motifs, to reflect the four religions known in Central Asians.

Islamic, Buddhist, Zoastrian and Christian motifs are all somewhere in the mix

In 1995, one of the four towers (front left)collapsed due to subsistence, emergency assistance was granted by UNESCO under the World Heritage Fund $50k to be precise was given to the project.

The collapse resulted in the entire structure, becoming unstable, but hey we all know how the authorities behave don't we? No explanation was offered as to their "disappearance from the list of historic sites" on the tourist trail. The building was repaired and rebuilt but with concerns from UNESCO that "poor quality cement and steel" were used in the restoration.

I guess 50k split between brown envelopes doesn't leave much left. We all know how authorities behave, don't we?

_{Thanks for visiting my page, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. this is Stephen aka, @grindle, happily retired, travelling the world snapping away. My weapon of choice is currently a Nikon Z6(2). Unless stated all images are shot by me (©@grindle) all text is mine, based on various info sources. NOT AI generated. If you like my blog, it would be very much appreciated if you upvote and follow me. Also please feel free to drop a comment.}

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