"Having called Muslims to prayer, Kalyan lived a different life..."
Secrets of the Great Kalyan Minaret (12th Century)
"He saw khans and kings, and the centuries did not break him"
Imagine a tower that no conqueror could break for almost 900 years. The great Kalyan Minaret, towering over the ancient city of Bukhara, is not just an architectural masterpiece. It is a silent witness to dozens of wars, the main landmark for the caravans of the Silk Road and a true centenarian who has survived entire eras.
The birth of a legend: 1127
Imagine: the year 1127 of our Lord. Mstislav the Great is ruling in Russia, and the Crusades are taking place in Europe. In distant Bukhara, ruler Arslan Khan has decided to build a structure that will be unparalleled.
According to legend, the craftsmen used an incredible mixture of alabaster and... camel's milk to build the foundation. This substance was supposed to give the building unprecedented strength. According to legend, an architect named usto Bako, having laid this sacred mortar, disappeared for two long years — just as long as the foundation needed to gain strength capable of holding the tower for centuries.
The name of this master is carved in stone today, as is the name of the khan who gave Bukhara this symbol. The name "Kalyan" is translated from Persian as "Great". And you only have to look up to understand that he deserves this nickname.
A miracle of engineering without a single repair
Imagine that you are standing at the foot of the tower: it goes up into the sky. And now the facts:
• Height: 46.5 meters (this is approximately a 15-storey building).
• Foundation: goes down 10 meters (the depth of a three-story house).
• Diameter: at the base — 9 meters, at the top — 6 meters.
• Stairs: To climb up, you need to overcome 105 narrow, spiral stairs.
That's not the most amazing thing. The main miracle is that for almost 900 years of its existence, the Minaret Kalyan has never been completely repaired!
A pattern that you will not see anywhere else
If you get closer, you will notice that the Kalyan Minaret looks like a huge oriental pie decorated with incredible pastries. Its entire surface is encircled by 12 unique decorative belts.
The patterns here are not just beauty. This is a kind of language in which the architect communicated with the world. The bricks are laid out in a complex geometric pattern, creating a play of light and shadow. From above, the tower is crowned by a rotunda (lantern) with 16 arched windows and a stalactite cornice — sharaf, which makes the minaret look like a jewel in the crown of Bukhara.
A story that even Genghis Khan bowed to
In 1220, the hordes of Genghis Khan razed Bukhara from the face of the earth. The city was destroyed, houses were burned, residents were killed. But when the great commander entered the square in front of the Kalyan Minaret, he raised his head to look at its top... and the helmet fell off his head.
Genghis Khan had to bend down to pick it up. However, he uttered a sacramental phrase: "I have never bowed to anyone, but this building is so grand that it deserves a bow." And he ordered that the minaret be left intact.
Thus, one of the most terrible conquerors in the history of mankind spared the Kalyan Minaret, and it stood for another eight centuries.
“The Death Tower” and the Flying Princess
Despite its beauty, the "Great Tower" had a dark nickname. In the Middle Ages, the Minaret Kalyan served as a place of public execution. Unfaithful wives, criminals and debtors were thrown from here, for which it was nicknamed the "Tower of Death".
But even this gloomy tradition has acquired an amazing legend. One day, the cruel shah got angry at his wife and ordered her to be thrown from the minaret. The wise goddess asked for the last favor: to wear all her dresses and skirts before she died. On the day of the execution, dressed in dozens of clothes, she boldly jumped down. The finest silks inflated like a parachute and gently lowered her to the ground right in front of the astonished crowd. Impressed by her courage and wit, the Shah granted her life.
How does a tourist feel?
When you get to Poi Kalyan Square, you literally freeze. Here you realize how small a person is in the face of History. Today, every tourist can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the tower and see Bukhara with their own eyes from a bird's-eye view.
Sunset on the background of the Minaret Kalyan is probably one of the best photo shoots of your life.
Don't miss the chance to see firsthand the building that the conquerors worshiped. Come to Bukhara and discover the Secrets of the Great Minaret Kalyan!
