Historical and Cultural Places

Hazrati Imam Gate

Buxoro viloyati | Abu Havs Kabir ko‘chasi

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Until the 8th century, the Hazrati Imam Gate was called Darvozai Nav (New Gate). Later, in honor of the famous Bukhara saint and scholar Abu Hafs Kabir Bukhari (767-832), it was also called "Darvazai Imam." According to the historian Narshakhi, the tomb of Abu Hafs Kabir is located on the hills near this gate.

Hazrati Imam Gate is one of the historic gates of Bukhara. Until the 8th century, it was known as Darvozayi Nav (“New Gate”). Later, it became known as Darvozayi Imam in honor of the famous Bukharan scholar and saint Abu Hafs Kabir al-Bukhari (767–832), whose burial site is believed to be located near the gate.

The gate was also called Haqroh (“The Road of Truth”), as many people passed through it to visit Abu Hafs Kabir’s shrine seeking guidance and solutions to their problems. Due to the saint’s respected religious opinions, he became known as the “Imam who fulfills needs,” and the road leading to his shrine was called the “Path of Truth.” In different historical periods, the gate was also known as Darvozayi Ma'bad.

Architecture

The gate was rebuilt during the Shaybanid period in the 16th century. It originally measured about 11.6 meters in height and 13 meters in width, with walls 1.5 meters thick. The upper part of the gate was decorated with 31 crenellations, while its three-story towers contained guard rooms.

Historically, shops selling equipment for carts and horses stood near the entrance, while workshops, warehouses, and a public well were located nearby. The road passing through the gate connected Bukhara with Samarkand and Tashkent.

Restoration of the gate began in September 2009. Traditional construction methods were used to strengthen the foundations, including layers of stone, reeds, and limestone. The reconstruction was carried out by master architects Muzaffar Mirzayev, Ma’mur Mirzayev, and Ma’ruf Mirzayev, preserving the historical appearance of this important monument.