Nodirdevonbegi khanqasi

Nadir Divan-Begi Khanqah is a historical monument located within the famous Lyabi-Hauz ensemble in Bukhara. It was built in 1620, at the same time as the Lyabi-Hauz pond, by the statesman Nadir Divan-Begi. Originally, khanqahs served as residences and gathering places for dervishes and Sufi wanderers.

The building is a multi-room structure featuring a large central domed hall. The hall has entrances on three sides and a mihrab on the western side. Residential cells for dervishes were located in the corners of the building. Historical sources indicate that the khanqah also served as a madrasa, a mosque, and a shelter for travelers arriving from distant regions.

According to waqf documents, the khanqah contained 14 cells and was situated in the Mulla Shamsiddin quarter. Today, the building houses the Museum of Ancient Varakhsha and the History of Pottery Art, which is part of the Bukhara State Museum-Reserve. The museum was established in 1991 and reorganized under its current name in 2017.

Architecture

The khanqah is an excellent example of Central Asian architectural style. Its monumental portal, high arch, and corner towers give the structure an impressive appearance. Although some original tile decorations have survived, many parts were altered during later restorations, particularly during repairs ordered by the last Emir of Bukhara, Sayyid Alim Khan, between 1914 and 1916.

The building has a symmetrical layout measuring approximately 27.5 × 25 meters. It consists of an entrance iwan, a central hall measuring 11.2 × 11.2 meters, and two-story residential quarters on both sides. A circular staircase inside the corner towers leads to the roof. The large dome, decorative niches, and carved plaster screens once made the khanqah one of Bukhara’s most elegant religious buildings.