MASJIDI KALON

The Kalyan Mosque (“Great Mosque”) is an architectural monument in Bukhara. It was built on the site of earlier congregational mosques dating from the eighth–ninth and twelfth centuries, as confirmed by archaeological excavations carried out in and around the mosque courtyard. The present structure was completed in 1514 during the reign of the Shaybanid ruler Ubaydullah Khan of Bukhara. Today, the mosque is included in the National Register of Immovable Objects of Material and Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan.

History

The original core of the Kalyan Mosque was constructed in the twelfth century during the rule of the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan. The construction of the present mosque was completed in 1514 under Ubaydullah Khan, who also ordered major restoration work on the eastern main portal.

In 1542, a marble inscription bearing the decree of Abdulaziz Khan exempting the people of Bukhara from taxes was installed in the arch of the main entrance. The inscription was created by the calligrapher Nuriddin Muhammad ibn Mirshaykh al-Puroni.

The mosque forms part of the Po-i-Kalyan architectural complex, which also includes the Kalyan Minaret, the Miri Arab Madrasa, and the Amir Alim Khan Madrasa.

The main façade is distinguished by its monumental portal and decorative wall arches. Parts of the original decoration have survived and have been restored. Beneath the façade covering, researchers discovered six-sided decorative tiles associated with the master craftsman Boyazid Puroni, as well as a fifteenth-century ornamental border.

In the early twentieth century, an octagonal pavilion was built according to the historical appearance of the mosque under the initiative of the master builder Usta Shirin Murodov.

In 1935, the mosque was used as a grain warehouse, while Friday prayers were held at the Miri Arab Madrasa. In 1997, in celebration of Bukhara’s 2,500th anniversary, the mosque underwent extensive restoration by decree of the first President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Today, the mosque remains active as a place of worship.

In the past, sixteen windows located in the upper section of the structure were used to observe the surrounding area.

Architecture

The mosque has a rectangular plan measuring 127 × 78 meters. A vast courtyard is surrounded by domed covered galleries. The structure contains 288 small domes supported by 208 columns. Later, square bases were added to the columns, enhancing the monument’s impressive appearance.

Each side of the courtyard is marked by a richly decorated portal. The eastern main portal stands out for its monumental scale and magnificent ornamentation.

The mosque has seven external entrances. Spacious iwans are located both outside and inside the main eastern gate. The portal arch, the gallery above it, and the faceted side arches are decorated with glazed tiles and bricks. The finely crafted stucco arches are particularly noteworthy.

The main portal leads to the khanqah-maqsura located opposite the courtyard entrance. Its high drum and blue dome are visible from a great distance. Beneath the inner dome are sixteen small arches executed in the traditional qolibkori technique.

The mihrab decoration is regarded as a masterpiece of ceramic art. It bears the name of the master craftsman Boyazid Puroni and the date 1514.

A small pavilion stands in front of the main portal; its twentieth-century construction involved the renowned master builder Usta Shirin Murodov.