HERITAGE SITE | CHOR-MINOR MADRASAH

• A rich Bukharian merchant of Turkmen origin, Khalif Niyazkul-Beg, used to undertake trade journeys to neighbouring countries during the early 1800’s. At that time Bukhara was far from the glory days of the Shaybanid dynasty and the general quality of building construction was quite low. Possibly inspired by a madrasah he had seen in Hyderabad, India, he managed to create a structure of lasting architectural interest that continues to delight visitors for its creative reinterpretation of time-honoured design principals. 

• The name ‘Chor Minor’ literally means ‘four towers’ and is well justified as the corners of the square-rectangular madrasah building are really decorated with four small minarets crowned with sky-blue cupolas, different in decors from each other, each of them having a different shape. Some surmise that the four different designs reflect the differences of the four world religions while others believe that it symbolises the ruling dynasties of the Samanids, Shaybanids, Karakhanids and Manghits.

• The four-turret building was actually just the darvozakhona (entrance gateway) to a large madrasah with student cells forming a rectangular, cozy courtyard, a summer mosque, and a library which held many valuable manuscripts.

• Unfortunately, the madrasah in its entirety does not survive. Only part of the portal with a hall used as a mosque and the four-minaret structure still remain.