Shopping domes of Bukhara

Bukhara is known to the world not only for its mosques, the Ark fortress and the majestic Kalyan minaret, but also for its commercial domes, which stretch from Lyabi House to Miri Arab Madrasah. A long time ago, in the XVI century, under the Sheibanid dynasty, Bukhara became the capital, and the unprecedented growth of the city began, and since it was located on the Great Silk Road, bazaars and shops filled the intersections of major roads even more. Centuries have passed, and currently only four trading domes have been preserved.

Toki-Sarrofon Trading Dome

A dome rises very close to the Labi House, under which a road intersection passes. There are shops scattered around it. Once upon a time, one of the largest currency exchanges in Central Asia was located here: merchants from India, China, and other countries exchanged money with money changers, who were called sarrafs. Hence the name of the trading dome. But centuries later, you can only buy carpets, shawls and other souvenirs here.

Telpak Furushon Shopping Dome

A little to the north of Toki Sarrafon is the large shopping dome Telpak Furushon. It is a massive complex with a hexagonal orientation. Shops selling knives, jewelry, musical instruments and various souvenirs are concentrated under the spherical dome. Nearby there is a medieval forge where you can see how knives and other tools are made. Once, books were sold here, and the trading dome was called Kitab-Furushon ("kitab" translates from Uzbek as "book"). But gradually, shops selling hats took the place of books, and later the hat trade gave way to souvenirs made by local artisans.

Tim Abdullakhan's Trading Dome

This trading dome is significantly different from its counterparts. It is not located at an intersection, but along the street; it is an enclosed space in which it is always cool. The light in Tim Abdullahan comes from small windows and holes in the domes. For centuries, carpets and fabrics have been traded here, and today you can buy a colorful carpet, a beautiful patterned shawl or a piece of Bukhara fabric.

Toki-Zargaron Trading Dome

It is the largest trading dome in Bukhara. It is the northernmost, and is located very close to the Poi Kalyan complex. The dome of the Toki-Zargaron is distinguished by the fact that it is stretched upwards and has reinforcing ribs. The name Zargaron is associated with the word "zargar", which can be translated as "jeweler". Once there were 36 jewelry workshops-shops selling a wide variety of jewelry. In addition, Toki-Zargaron was the very first of Bukhara's trading domes. Today, you can buy jewelry, shawls, and various home accessories here: Bukhara door handles, bells, horseshoes for luck, and much more.