The Magoki Attori Mosque, which graced the beautiful image of magical Bukhara in the 12th century, is full of secrets. The history of this architectural monument of Uzbekistan goes back to the times of the Zoroastrians, the worshippers of the sun, whose temple used to stand on that place. Back then, the wonderful Sogdian civilization was flourishing on that land, whose people celebrated Nowruz and worshiped ancient deities, whose wooden and clay images they acquired in that temple. It was located in the centre of an oriental bazaar laden with food and all kinds of goods. According to the residents of this ancient city, the aroma of spices and medicinal herbs offered to travelers by merchants was coming from the mosque constructed on the place where the temple of the Zoroastrians used to stand.
It could go on like that until the end of the time, but when Islam arrived in Bukhara, the mosque turned into a place where righteous Muslims, Sufis, offered their prayers to Allah. Centuries later, Magoki Attori, a true architectural masterpiece made of burnt bricks whose exquisite carved patters embodied the wisdom of the East, fascinates travelers from around the globe who come to visit this ancient land. As a legend says, the beauty of this architectural monument was not lost during the centuries due to the burning sands of Bukhara. They hid the masterpiece of the art of building from the eyes of Genghis Khan.
To the 16th century, it remained hidden from the eyes of ordinary inhabitants of Bukhara as well, until its former beauty was restored by local masters. Nevertheless, as time went by, the earth of that ancient city located in the sea of sand that once had saved Magoki Attori from destruction, swallowed the masterpiece of architecture again. That time, it was restored only in the 1930s, and at the same time, several levels of Bukhara were found in its foundation.
Today, Magoki Attari, which means “the deep mosque”, invites travelers to forget about the thousand and one small worries of life and, having set their foot on the ancient stone steps leading down, take a stroll through history. Descending the massive steps steeped in the distant past, one can see the cultural layers of the 12th, 10th and 6th centuries with glazed ceramics and ossuaries of the Zoroastrians. The museum of carpet weaving located within the walls of the architectural monument allows the guests of Magoki Attari to immerse themselves into traditions and culture of the East.
Canaan Travel is ready to help the guests and residents of our sunny land to discover the secrets of the history of Magoki Attari, one of many amazing and beautiful attractions of ancient Bukhara.