Ark of Bukhara(fortress), Bukhara

Ark of Bukhara(fortress), Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Ark Fortress is a massive fortress located in the city of Bukhara and was initillay a citadel structure until it fell into the hand of the Russians. Today it is an important monument and a popular tourists attraction.Ark-Citadel is a residence of Bukhara khans. According to the last excavations it was determined the citadel was on this place from 4 century BC. For many years of building and destruction 20 meters height artificial hill was formed its upper layers were built over in the time of last bokharan emirs. The wooden part of Ark building was burnt down during the fire of 1920. The general planning is being reestablished by historical documents. Ark included the whole city consisting of closely accreted houses courts and yards with state institutions emir his wives and relatives and officials lodgings. Inside the trapeziform outlines of citadel walls the planning was right-angled with traditional cruciform crossing of main streets.Ark included emir lodging throe-room police department stables stores of clothes carpets utensils treasures armoury jail jewelers and other workshops mint place mosques mazars and other buildings.The first you can see it is massive fortress gates of Ark - portal with two-storey towers by sides from arch aperture and latticed architecture gallery on top. Behind it there is a musical pavilion built in 17 century two-coloured audience chamber surrounded by gallery. Here during a day there was performed a series of makoms it is a musical work through it people could know the time (it is tradition left from zoroastrizm time).