Kalyan Minaret, Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The Kalyan Minaret is a circular brick tower in Bukhara, Uzbekistan that narrows gradually from its 9-meter base to a pointed top, reaching a height of 48 meters. Its exterior showcases elaborate brick patterns, blue-glazed friezes, and ornamental details that create a layered visual surface.
The minaret was built in 1127 by ruler Mohammad Arslan Khan and later survived Genghis Khan's destruction of Bukhara when the conqueror ordered its preservation after witnessing its beauty. This act of mercy demonstrated that the structure possessed an appeal that transcended even conquest and warfare.
The minaret served as the focal point for the five daily calls to prayer, with muezzins using the 16 arched openings of the rotunda to project their voices across the city's rooftops.
The best views of the structure come from walking around its base from different angles to fully appreciate the brick patterns and decorative details. The minaret sits in an open plaza, giving visitors plenty of room to observe and photograph the tower without obstacles.
The tower earned the nickname Tower of Death because criminals were executed by being thrown from its top from the medieval period until the early twentieth century. Today this grim chapter exists as a sobering part of the tower's past.
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