Chor Minor is one of Uzbekistan’s most unusual madrasas. It features four towers, each crowned with a small blue dome. They gave the monument its name, which translates from Persian as “Four Minarets.” However, the towers are not traditional minarets and were never used to call people to prayer. Three of them were used as storage rooms and the fourth contained a staircase leading to the roof.

The decoration of the towers is one of the madrasa’s most striking features. Each has its own distinctive pattern. Some of the symbols are associated with different religions, including a Christian cross, a fish, and a Buddhist prayer wheel.

History of Chor Minor

The madrasa was commissioned by Khalif Niyazkul, a wealthy merchant and patron. The building was completed in 1807, when Bukhara was ruled by Emir Haydar of the Manghit dynasty.

Originally, Chor Minor was not a standalone building but a part of a much larger complex. It included the madrasa, a mosque, courtyard, and various utility buildings. Numerous hujras (student cells) surrounded the courtyard. Nearby was a howz, a traditional water reservoir. Only a small part of the original complex has survived to the present day.

Chor Minor Today

Today, Chor Minor stands among the residential streets of Old Bukhara. A howz and several other elements of the original complex are located nearby. The monument itself has been restored and some lost sections have been reconstructed.

Chor Minor is modest in size and cannot rival Bukhara’s grandest monuments in scale or opulence. Its charm lies elsewhere. Its unusual architecture, intimate setting, and enigmatic decorative details give it a character all its own. This madrasah offers a quieter and more intimate glimpse into Bukhara’s architectural heritage.

Other tourist attractions near Chor Minor:

• Oybinoq Mosque
• Minor Mall
• Sitora Park
• Buxara Sports Complex
• Lab-i Hauz Ensemble
• Museum of Bukharian Jews
• Carpet Museum
• Khoja Gaukushan Ensemble
• Ahmadjon Caravanserai
• Bozori-Kord Hammam
• Taki-Telpak-Furushon Bazaar
• Bolo-Hauz Ensemble
• Samanid Mausoleum