Last Updated on: 12th June 2026, 05:45 pm
Bukhara is one of Uzbekistan’s top tourist cities, and for good reason. While there’s plenty to do and see within the city center, consider dedicating a half-day to visiting these lesser-known sites on Bukhara’s outskirts: the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, and the Chor Bakr Necropolis.
Following this guide to each location, you can learn more about reaching Bukhara and the best places to stay at the end of the article.
GETTING AROUND: All three sites featured below can be reached with the Yandex Go app.
Visiting together with another guest from my hotel, our first Yandex driver offered to take us to the remaining two sites for $30 USD. I’m not sure of the logic behind his offer, but we declined, and the total amount of our four Yandex rides for the day added up to less than $10.
So unless you’d like to visit the sites in the company of a local guide, you will be just fine getting around with ride hailing apps. Just be prepared to do a bit of waiting.
The Bahoutdin Architectural Complex
Situated about 10 km away from central Bukhara, the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex costs 15,000 som per person at the time of writing.
The complex is dedicated to Baha al-Din Naqshband (1318–1389), the founder of the Naqshbandi Movement, one of the largest Sufi Sunni orders. But you don’t need to be an expert on him to enjoy the eye-catching structures.
Shortly past the entrance, you’ll enter the main courtyard. One structure bordering it is the Khakim Kushbegi Mosque and its ornately carved wooden columns. And don’t forget to look up at the incredibly detailed ceilings.
Also nearby is the khanqah, a large hall for Sufi gatherings constructed in the 1540s.
While the structures at the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex span from the 14th to the 18th centuries, the complex underwent extensive restorations from the 1990s until 2010. That’s why a lot of the art appears so fresh.
Another highlight of the courtyard is the saqokhana, an elaborate quadrangular pavilion built over a well. Placed here in the 16th century, it stands out thanks to its colorful tiles in the traditional Uzbek style.
And nearby is the tomb of Baha al-Din himself, situated on a marble platform surrounded by marble lattice.
The complex was established shortly after Baha al-Din’s death and quickly became a pilgrimage site – except during the Soviet era, when pilgrimages were banned.
Interestingly, the Naqshbandi Order he led has spread to countries like India, Turkey, Syria, Egypt and even China.
The Naqshbandis emphasize the practice of the remembrance of Allah in complete silence. And similar to some Eastern traditions, they also emphasize mindfulness regarding one’s breath and thoughts.
The Naqshbandis, however, have long placed an importance on Sharia Law and have been considered a more orthodox alternative to other prominent Sufi sects.
Moving along through the complex, you’ll encounter a tall minaret erected in the 18th century in the style of traditional Bukhara architecture.
Around it are the Abdul Hakim Kushbegi Mosque, built in the 18th century as a prayer hall for women, and the Qorikhana, a ten-room Qoran recital hall from the 18th century.
Continuing on, you’ll encounter a large pool that used to serve as the main water source for pilgrims. It covers an area of 30 x 30 m and is 5 m deep, and is now home to a community of ducks.
Nearby the pool is a madrasa, a conference hall, and a necropolis that entombs some of Bukhara’s former rulers.
Another significant structure, the mausoleum of Bibi Orifa, lies at the far end of the complex. And to get there, you’ll have to walk down a long pathway lined on either side by tranquil gardens.
Though a fair number of local visitors were present during my visit, my companion and I were the only visible foreign tourists.
And considering how touristy Uzbekistan as a whole is getting these days, the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex felt refreshingly off the typical tourist trail.
Finally, we arrived at the Mausoleum of Bibi Orifa, Baha al-Din’s mother. This mausoleum even has its own minaret and pool. Baha al-Din’s aunt and children are also said to be buried in tombs here as well.
After double-checking that we hadn’t missed anything, we retraced our steps back to the entrance. All in all, expect to spend around an hour at the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex.
Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa
Our next destination, located about 6 km north of Bukhara, was Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, or ‘Palace of the Moon & the Stars.’
It was the country residence of the Emir of Bukhara from the late 19th century. At the time of writing, it costs 60,000 som to enter.
The part of Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa that survives today was built during the reign of the final Emir of Bukhara, Sayyid Mir Muhammad Alim Khan (1912–1920). But he would only get to enjoy it for a few years, as the Bolsheviks would soon arrive.
While the first structures were built in the 18th century by Emir Nasrullah Khan, nothing remains of these original buildings.
Walking through the elaborate entrance gate, you’ll enter a large courtyard known as the ‘Craftsmen’s Courtyard.’ Coppersmiths, carvers, goldsmiths, calligraphers, and other craftsmen worked here throughout the construction process.
Some of the region’s finest craftsmen were hired for the project, in addition to two Russian engineers. Accordingly, we can see a fusion of Russian and Uzbek aesthetics throughout the palatial complex.
The porches are beautifully decorated with intricate gold patterns laid upon a turquoise background. The outer walls of the palace, meanwhile, were decorated with stucco designs, while the courtyard is centered around a round fountain.
The main building houses the ‘Interior of the Summer Palace’ exhibit. Not only have the stunning wall decorations been maintained, but the furniture is set up as it would’ve been in the Emir’s time.
Most of the rooms are colorful, with the exception of the White Hall. The walls here feature beautiful white stucco niches displaying Chinese porcelain vases.
Next, you’ll find yourself walking through a large hall with vaulted ceilings, every centimeter of which has been decorated in geometric and floral patterns.
The craftsmen seemingly competed to outdo one another here. The result is gorgeously ornate, if slightly excessive.
Items on display here include a collection of 19th-20th-century palace furniture, a sculpture of Peter I, and various treasures belonging to the royal family on display in glass cases.
Supposedly, the octagonal room at the end was intended as a guest house for visitors. But today it houses an impressive collection of East Asian porcelain, with some dating back to the Ming Dynasty.
Another major building is the former harem, now a museum focused on traditional embroidery. On display are local robes, curtains, prayer rugs, and suzani, or traditional hand-embroidered textiles.
And then there’s also the elaborate ‘Viewing Platform.’ It was from here that the Emir would stand and watch his concubines bathe in the adjacent pool.
He would then make his pick for who he wanted to be sent to his room for the night. According to legend, he would express his preference by tossing an apple to the chosen woman.
In contrast to the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa seems to attract a lot of foreign visitors. But at our next and final destination of the day, we were pretty much the only people there.
The Chor Bakr Necropolis
Located several kilometers west of central Bukhara, the Chor Bakr Necropolis costs 15,000 som to enter at the time of writing.
It was established by Shaybanid ruler Abdulla Khan II in 1559. However, the memorial complex was built around the grave of a man named Abu-Bakr-Said, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who’d died in the 10th century.
He was also the founder of the Juybari Sayyid dynasty which long held a major influence over both religious and political life in Bukhara.
And three other prominent members of the dynasty – also named Abu Bakr – were buried here as well. That gives the necropolis its name, ‘The Four Bakrs.’
As you explore the complex, signage indicates which major figure and their families are entombed there, though you won’t find any biographical information. Most of the tombs I encountered dated from the 17th and 18th centuries.
This format is known as khazira, which comprises a walled open-air courtyard containing a set of tombs.
In contrast to the pristine nature of the two sites above, Chor Bakr has yet to be restored. It’s rather rough around the edges at the time of writing, but provides for an interesting contrast with many of Uzbekistan’s more popular sites.
With that said, some devout Uzbek Muslims make a stop at this necropolis before undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
After exploring a majority of the tombs, we finished by stepping inside the large mosque in the center. While it was established in the 16th century, unlike the surrounding tombs, its interior seems to have been recently refurbished.
We had to wait for a while for our final Yandex back to the city to come, but it was still around lunchtime by the time we returned. As such, this half-day trip can easily be combined with some sightseeing in the city center.
Additional Info
As mentioned, you can fairly easily and cheaply visit the sites mentioned above with the Yandex Go ride hailing app.
But if you’d prefer a local guide and to not have to wait around for a driver to show up, a private tour is another option. They don’t come cheap, but if budget isn’t a huge concern for you, consider this Bukhara Countryside Day Tour.
Not only is Bukhara one of Uzbekistan’s most captivating and immersive cities, but it also has some of the best value in regards to accommodation.
I stayed at Madina-Mehribon, a homestay type of accommodation located within a short distance from Chor Minor.
For a very reasonable price, I had a private room with my own bathroom, and a very hearty breakfast was included as well. For some reason, though, breakfast wasn’t served until 9:00 am. But it was good enough to make getting a bit of a late start worth it.
The main downside I dealt with was having to ask repeatedly to get the hotel registration slip from the family that runs it. (More on those shortly.)
Other highly-rated budget hotels include Shom Hotel with Terraca and Hotel Grand House Real Estate.
A popular midrange option is Oasis Boutique. And for those able to splurge, Caravansaray Rashid is one of the top-rated hotels in Bukhara.
Note that when visiting Uzbekistan, you’re supposed to collect little slips from each accommodation proving where you stayed and for how many nights. You may then be asked to show them when leaving the country.
A lot of hotel owners will tell you that the system is digitized now and therefore it shouldn’t matter anymore. There are also many cases where the officers won’t ask anything at all.
But the reality on the ground is that immigration officers are indeed still sometimes asking for the paper slips. And I’ve met some travelers who got themselves into trouble when they couldn’t provide them.
I entered and exited the country twice, and though I wasn’t asked anything during my first exit, I was asked during my second. Fortunately, I had them on me.
Generally speaking, Uzbekistan is one of the easier countries to travel through in Central Asia thanks to its rail network. You can easily book tickets online or via the official Uzbek Railways app.
Coming from Samarkand, you have the choice between either regular speed train (2.5-3.5 hours) or an express ‘Afrosiyob’ train (about 1.5 hours). Numerous trains leave throughout the day.
From Tashkent, the regular train lasts 6-8 hours, while the express train takes a little over four.
It’s also possible to travel between Bukhara and Khiva by train, with the journey lasting around 6.5 hours.
For those coming from Termez, the only option is a shared taxi. That’s what I did, and I paid 250,000 som, or about $20, for the journey.
But while I was told that the journey would last around seven hours, it actually took nearly twelve hours in my case due to various issues along the way. Note that it’s also possible to break up the Termez>Bukhara journey in the city of Qarshi.