We continue to wander through ancient Bukhara (Uzbekistan).
"Ark" is one of the oldest objects in Bukhara.
There was a legend that the fortress was built by Siyavash - the hero of folk epics.
He fell in love with Khan's daughter. Afrosiyab, so was the name of Khan, did not want his child to marry Siyavash. The court astrologers advised against it.
Afrosiyab demands to build a palace on the land the size of a bull's skin.
Siyavash did not lose his head, he cut the skin in thin strips and tied to make a rope. With the rope he girdled the area of the fortress. Now it is almost 4 hectares. What a long skin!
Ark is similar to Kremlin. The construction was build for protection against raids.
High, thick walls saved emirs, ministers, court staff - almost 3000 people.
The fortress couldn't protect Bukhara only twice. During the invasion of Genghis Khan and the Bolsheviks.
Then the red commander Frunze ordered to bomb the Ark from the airplane.
The last Emir of Bukhara was forced to flee. Perhaps part of the fortress was destroyed because of him. According to one version, he ordered to blow up the Ark.
"If I can't have it, no one can!"
They say he took all the valuables with him.
But the caravan of gold, silver and diamonds didn't manage to get to Afghanistan - the guards killed each other. One of them left and hid this wealth in one of the caves in the Gissar mountains.
Reminds me of the story about Ali-Baba.
Now "Po-i-Kalyan"!
This is the name of the central architectural ensemble of Bukhara.
It consists of a minaret, mosque and madrasa.
If you have been to Samarkand, you know that heart of the city is Registan.
But such public squares exist in other cities, including Bukhara.
On the square is a tall minaret Kalyan.
It was used in different situations - to call for prayer, to punish the criminals, and as a beacon.
Caravans at night were guided by its light. By the way, some more details about the last Emir.
In Bukhara he had a summer residence, at the entrance to which you will meet peacocks, the descendants of those that pleased the eye of the Bukhara Khan.
- Oh, it hurts! I mean, not painful, but it's sensitive!
The palace was designed by Russian architect Aleksey Benua.
The Emir was a friend of Emperor Nicholas II. Among his gifts is this fridge. Ice was on top.
Cold water flowed down the sides of the copper tubes It cooled everything inside.
For me personally is a mystery, where at that time in Bukhara it was possible to get ice.
I think it's time for a snack. Let's try an unusual samsa! Here you can find samsa, which is very different from others, that are served in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. For the first time I see such samsa.
It is called "Alazka" - the name of the area, which is located in the Bukhara region.
This is what it looks like. The shape is different and the dough is not puff.
It costs $0,3. The main difference is... that inside this samsa is a piece of tomato.
That samsa doesn't look appealing :D
As always, I'm in awe of the structures and how you presented. It's interesting that the Emir would blow up the Ark if that was true. Sounds selfish, no?
Pretty fridge and peacock! :D