
The Ark of Bukhara
Ark of Bukhara · Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The thousand-year-old palace of the Emirs of Bukhara, imperial memories within rammed-earth walls.
Antes de ir · Know before you go
- Don't touch the exhibits in the museum
- in the old residential quarter, ask the owner's permission before photographing doorways.
Este artículo está «Sin verificar». Consulte los avisos oficiales sobre precios, horarios y fechas.
Culture
Cultura y costumbres
Contexto cultural
Archaeologists date the Ark of Bukhara back to around the 5th century. It was the palace, administrative centre and military fortress of Bukhara's rulers, with palaces, mosques, prisons and workshops inside. Badly damaged in fighting in 1920, the surviving part is now a museum displaying royal life and ancient weapons. From the high walls you can look out over the whole old city — the starting point for understanding Bukhara's history.
Costumbres locales
- The fortress museum has many galleries, so a guided tour is recommended. Locals often bring children here for history lessons
- give way to school groups.
Religión y creencias
- The court mosque inside the fortress is still used for prayer, so keep quiet
- the fortress itself is the site of a secular palace with no special religious restrictions.
Etiquette
Normas y tabúes
Normas que se aplican aquí
Uzbekistan: change money only at official outlets
- Change money at official exchange points, and get cash in big cities before heading to smaller places
- Changing money on the black market
Black-market currency exchange is illegal.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Uzbekistan travel advice
Uzbekistan: always carry your passport
- Carry your original passport at all times
- Leaving your passport at the hotel
The law requires you to carry it; police check often, and you may be fined or arrested if you don't.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Uzbekistan travel advice
No lo haga DON'T
- Don't touch the exhibits in the museum
- in the old residential quarter, ask the owner's permission before photographing doorways.
Lo que aprecian los locales DO
- Locals like to climb the walls to watch the sunset over the old city
- the craft market at the foot of the fortress sells Bukhara knives and embroidery.
Plan your visit
Información práctica
Consejos de viaje
Summer temperatures in Bukhara often exceed 40°C, so visit in the morning and carry plenty of water. The Ark and the Po-i-Kalyan complex are within walking distance and can be seen on the same day.
Eat nearby
Qué comer cerca
Imprescindible
- Plov
- Tandir-roasted lamb
- Samsa
Plov, tandir roast lamb, samsa, manty, shurpa
| Dónde comer | Restaurants on the west side of the old town outside the citadel; back to the Lyab-i Hauz dining area |
|---|---|
| Normas en la mesa | No eating, drinking or noise in the fortress or mosque area |
| Precio orientativo por persona | UZS 60,000–110,000 ≈ CNY 33–61 |
| Consejos | The sun is strong when climbing the citadel, so drink plenty; if visiting with the Kalon on the same day, plan just one plov lunch. |
Los precios son orientativos a octubre de 2026, no presupuestos exactos; en zonas con tipos de cambio muy variables solo se da un intervalo aproximado en yuanes.

Ravi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Fotos

Adam Harangozó · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fuentes y notas de verificación
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