It is impossible to imagine the beauty of Bukhara without a lighthouse for caravans of the Great Silk Road in the sandy sea - the Kalyan minaret. A real stone giant, almost 47 meters high, soared to the very sky in the 12th century. According to one legend, Genghis Khan bowed his head before this giant made of burnt brick to take a fallen helmet from the ground. Seeing this, Genghis Khan’s army decided that this was not an accident and repeated everything after the leader. At that moment, the fearless conqueror realized that for the first time in his life he was bowing his head to someone. To this day, the minaret attracts the attention of wanderers who set foot on this ancient land, becoming its symbol.
Another interesting legend is that Bukhara, like the fabulous Scheherazade, generously shares with guests. It is connected with the history of the construction of this architectural monument. The ruler at that time was Arslankhan from the Karakhanid dynasty, who decided to summon famous masters to the city and choose the best among them - the honor of erecting the minaret fell to Usto Bako. At first, everything went according to the plan conceived by the ruler: on the territory allocated for construction, Usto laid the foundation of the future stone giant, 16 meters deep. But - oh miracles! — after that the architect disappeared without a trace. The enraged Arslankhan ordered the fugitive to be found and executed, but all searches were in vain.
Usto Bako himself shed light on his mysterious disappearance, returning to the ancient city two years later as suddenly as he left it. Before starting the construction of such a tall architectural structure, it was necessary to wait until the foundation settled well.
Perhaps that is why the landmark was able to carry its pristine beauty through eight centuries and did not collapse. The walls of the ancient monument impress with the elegance of their geometric patterns, and the Kufic writings inscribed here “breathe” with the wisdom of centuries. And if you turn your gaze to the top of the monument, you can see stalactites of unprecedented beauty.
According to another local legend, many centuries ago, people condemned by the khan and unfaithful wives were thrown from the minaret, which was considered the Tower of Death. When the evil Shah decided to execute his innocent wife, she asked that her last wish be fulfilled before her death - to wear all her dresses. The people below froze when she jumped down. Whether it was true or not, they say that her outfits, inflated in the wind like sails, helped save her from imminent death.
The minaret today greets guests of modern beauty Bukhara with a call to prayer. Righteous Muslims offer their prayers to the Almighty in the mosque of the same name located next to the minaret, which was erected to replace the destroyed old one in the 16th century. The multi-domed gallery of the building is strewn with 288 domes, supported by 208 columns. The courtyard of the mosque is surrounded by four ivans - a place for travelers to rest in the summer heat and a kind of meditation during prayer.
Together with Canaan Travel, guests of Uzbekistan on their way to the ancient lands of Bukhara will be able to fully experience the special spirit of this place, recharge with its energy and see with their own eyes how beautiful and perfect the creations of architecture can be.