Bolo Haouz Mosque, Friday mosque near Ark Fortress in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Bolo Haouz Mosque is a Friday prayer space next to the Ark citadel with a rectangular layout and two separate prayer sections. The summer prayer room is supported by twenty wooden columns, while the winter section has four interior columns and is accessed through large entrance portals.
The mosque was built in 1712 opposite the Ark citadel and served as a major prayer site for the urban population. During the Bolshevik period in the 20th century, additional wooden columns were added to strengthen the structure.
The mosque serves as a central prayer space for the Muslim community, particularly busy during Friday gatherings and Islamic holidays. It remains an important spiritual place for worshippers visiting the old city.
The prayer space sits on Registan Square and features multiple entrances that are easy to locate. The large entrance opening leads into the prayer hall, which extends across several levels within the complex.
The twenty wooden columns in the prayer room are each made from two joined trunks and display finely carved muqarnas patterns. The nearby hauz pool reflects the mosque, creating an interesting visual effect in natural light that often surprises visitors.
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