Historical and Cultural Places

Salokkhona gate

Buxoro viloyati | A.To‘qay ko‘chasi

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Salokkhon Gate (Uzbek: salokkhona darvozasi) is a fortress gate, restored in its former location. It was first built in the second half of the 16th century, during the reign of the Uzbek ruler Abdulla Khan II, in what was then the capital of the Bukhara Khanate. It was installed in the southeastern part of the Bukhara fortress wall.

Sallakhona Gate, also known as Mir-Mas'ud Gate, was one of the historic gates of Bukhara. It served as an important entrance to the city and was the route used by pilgrims traveling to the shrines of renowned Islamic scholars and saints, including Yusuf Qarabaghi, Shams al-A'imma al-Kirdari, Abdullah Sabzamuni, and Ghaws al-A'zam.

The gate was built between 1540 and 1549 during the reign of the Shaybanid ruler Abdulaziz Khan, together with the city's defensive wall. At that time, a mausoleum, mosque, pond, well, and guest rooms for pilgrims were also constructed nearby, although these structures have not survived to the present day. Historical references to the gate can be found in waqf documents dating from 1683–1684.

Architecture

The gate is approximately 11.1 meters high and 21 meters wide, with walls about 1.5 meters thick. Its upper section consisted of 21 decorative crenellations, while the corner towers contained guard rooms for city defenders. Through this gate, travelers entered Bukhara and continued toward the city's famous trading domes, including Toqi Sarrofon, Toqi Telpakfurushon, and Toqi Zargaron.

The gate suffered serious damage during the Soviet assault on Bukhara in 1920. As part of a large-scale restoration project, Sallakhona Gate was reconstructed and restored to its historical appearance in 2009 by master architects Muzaffar Mirzayev and Sharif Rahimov.