The Poi Kalyan (Пои Калон), or “Foot of the Great,” is the majestic and historical heart of the holy city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. This magnificent architectural ensemble is dominated by the city’s most iconic landmark, the Kalyan Minaret, and is considered the spiritual and architectural centerpiece of the old city. For centuries, it has served as the main congregational mosque and a premier center for Islamic learning. The complex, consisting of the towering minaret, a grand mosque, and a functioning madrasa, creates one of the most sublime and perfectly proportioned squares in all of Central Asia. It is a key part of the Historic Centre of Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Name and Address

• Name: Poi Kalyan Complex. The name translates from Tajik/Persian to “Foot of the Great,” referring to its position at the base of the Kalyan Minaret.
• Address: Located in the historical center of Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

How to Get There

The complex is the central landmark of Bukhara’s old city and is easily accessible.

• By Foot (Highly Recommended): The old city of Bukhara is compact and best explored on foot. The Poi Kalyan Complex is within a short and pleasant walking distance from most hotels and other major sites like the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble and the trade domes.
• By Taxi: Taxis are readily available and can drop you near the square, as the immediate area has traffic restrictions.
• Visitor Tip: The complex is stunning at any time of day, but a visit in the late afternoon offers beautiful golden light for photography. It is also essential to return at night when the monuments are spectacularly illuminated, creating a completely different and magical atmosphere.

Landscape and Architecture

The architecture of Poi Kalyan is a harmonious and grand ensemble that showcases centuries of Bukhara’s history, centered around its ancient minaret.

• The Square: The complex is arranged around a large, open public square. This space was once the city’s main crossroads, a site for royal proclamations, public executions, and commerce. Today, it serves as a grand plaza that perfectly frames the three monumental structures.
• Kalyan Minaret: The undisputed focal point is the Kalyan Minaret (Great Minaret). Built in 1127 by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan, this colossal, 47-meter-high circular tower is a masterpiece of baked brickwork. It is adorned with 12 intricate ornamental bands, each with a unique geometric pattern. Incredibly, it has survived for nearly 900 years, famously impressing even Genghis Khan, who spared it while his Mongol hordes destroyed the rest of the city. For centuries, it was also known as the “Tower of Death,” as criminals were executed by being thrown from the top.
• Kalyan Mosque: Facing the square is the monumental Kalyan Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia, capable of holding up to 12,000 worshippers. The current structure was completed in the 16th century on the site of an earlier mosque destroyed by the Mongols. Its vast, open courtyard is surrounded by a stunning gallery of 288 domes supported by 208 pillars. The grand entrance portal and the main prayer hall are adorned with brilliant blue mosaic tilework.
• Mir-i-Arab Madrasah: Directly opposite the mosque stands the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah (1536). With its two large turquoise domes, it creates a perfect architectural balance with the mosque in a classic kosh (paired) arrangement. It is one of the few madrasas in the post-Soviet region that has remained a functioning Islamic college, adding a living, spiritual dimension to the historic site.

What Makes It Famous

Poi Kalyan is famous for being the quintessential symbol of holy Bukhara, a perfectly preserved architectural ensemble that embodies the city’s enduring spiritual and cultural legacy.

• The Iconic Kalyan Minaret: The minaret is the defining symbol of Bukhara. Its incredible age, architectural perfection, and the legend of it being spared by Genghis Khan make it one of the most famous monuments on the Silk Road.
• A Complete Architectural Ensemble: It is renowned for being a complete and harmonious religious complex, combining the functions of a minaret for the call to prayer, a massive congregational mosque for worship, and a madrasa for education.
• Spiritual Heart of Bukhara: For nearly a millennium, this square has been the religious center of the city. The Mir-i-Arab Madrasah’s continued operation makes it a living center of Islamic learning, not just a historical monument.

Differences from Other Wonders

The Poi Kalyan Complex offers an experience that is distinct from other major sites in Uzbekistan and beyond.

• A Minaret-Dominated Ensemble vs. a Madrasah-Focused Square: While both Poi Kalyan and Samarkand’s Registan Square are grand ensembles, their focal points differ. The Registan is defined by the balanced grandeur of its three massive madrasahs. In contrast, Poi Kalyan is utterly dominated by the verticality and ancient authority of its single, much older minaret, which gives the entire square a different sense of scale and history.
• Living Religious Center vs. Museum Complex: Unlike the madrasahs of the Registan, which now function as museums and craft shops, the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah at Poi Kalyan is still an active seminary. This gives the complex a living, breathing spiritual atmosphere that is less palpable in more purely historical sites.
• Subtle Brickwork vs. Overwhelming Tilework: While the mosque and madrasa feature beautiful tilework, the dominant structure—the Kalyan Minaret—is a masterpiece of terracotta art, with its beauty derived from intricate, unglazed brick patterns. This offers a different aesthetic from the dazzling, all-encompassing blue tilework that defines Timurid architecture, such as that of the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum.