Mir-i Arab Madrasa, Bukhara (must see)
The Mir-i Arab Madrasa is an integral part of the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble located in the heart of Bukhara. This ensemble includes three significant structures: the 12th-century Kalyan Minaret, the 16th-century Kalyan Mosque, and the Mir-i Arab Madrasa.
The name "Mir-i Arab" translates to "Prince of the Arabs" and pays tribute to Sheikh Abdullah Yamani of Yemen. Sheikh Yamani gained prominence as the spiritual leader of Bukhara's Muslim community. He served as a pir (spiritual adviser) to several Khans and was ultimately laid to rest within the madrasa, which now bears his name.
The architects of the Mir-i Arab Madrasa would have been familiar with numerous contemporary examples in Central Asia, such as the Ulugh Beg Madrasa in Samarkand. The Mir-i Arab Madrasa adheres to similar design principles. Its two-story facade is adorned with glazed mosaic faience tiles, a decorative treatment popularized during the Timurid era. However, unlike the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, the Mir-i Arab Madrasa features squat and heavy corners, giving it a fortress-like appearance.
The interior of the madrasa consists of numerous small cells called hujras, which serve as student dormitories. Lecture halls and a large domed room in the northwest corner house the cenotaph of Sheikh Yamani and the graves of devotees and family members. A domed mosque occupies the same position on the south side. Both domes are raised on high drums and decorated with turquoise tiles and muqarnas-style vaulting, creating a captivating visual display.
The name "Mir-i Arab" translates to "Prince of the Arabs" and pays tribute to Sheikh Abdullah Yamani of Yemen. Sheikh Yamani gained prominence as the spiritual leader of Bukhara's Muslim community. He served as a pir (spiritual adviser) to several Khans and was ultimately laid to rest within the madrasa, which now bears his name.
The architects of the Mir-i Arab Madrasa would have been familiar with numerous contemporary examples in Central Asia, such as the Ulugh Beg Madrasa in Samarkand. The Mir-i Arab Madrasa adheres to similar design principles. Its two-story facade is adorned with glazed mosaic faience tiles, a decorative treatment popularized during the Timurid era. However, unlike the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, the Mir-i Arab Madrasa features squat and heavy corners, giving it a fortress-like appearance.
The interior of the madrasa consists of numerous small cells called hujras, which serve as student dormitories. Lecture halls and a large domed room in the northwest corner house the cenotaph of Sheikh Yamani and the graves of devotees and family members. A domed mosque occupies the same position on the south side. Both domes are raised on high drums and decorated with turquoise tiles and muqarnas-style vaulting, creating a captivating visual display.
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Mir-i Arab Madrasa on Map
Sight Name: Mir-i Arab Madrasa
Sight Location: Bukhara, Uzbekistan (See walking tours in Bukhara)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bukhara, Uzbekistan (See walking tours in Bukhara)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Create Your Own Walk in Bukhara
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bukhara is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bukhara Shopping Tour
Bukhara, 鈥渁 jewel of the Silk Road鈥�, has been a commercial city since ancient times. Shopping here can still be a memorable experience for those keen to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Central Asian trade.
Bazaars are the heartbeats of Bukhara. Historically, these domed venues were located at crossroads, to facilitate passing commerce, and dealt in a variety of goods. There,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Bazaars are the heartbeats of Bukhara. Historically, these domed venues were located at crossroads, to facilitate passing commerce, and dealt in a variety of goods. There,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Bukhara Introduction Walking Tour
Alexander the Great reportedly stated that "a carpet from Bukhara is worth a kingdom!" One and a half millennia after him, Ibn Battuta, a 14th-century Moroccan traveler, described this splendid city as "a meeting place of the nations and a market of the world."
Centuries on, the pearl of modern-day Uzbekistan, Bukhara, is still very much the place capable of leaving a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Centuries on, the pearl of modern-day Uzbekistan, Bukhara, is still very much the place capable of leaving a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles