# Ark of Bukhara > The Ark is the fortress-residence of Bukhara’s emirs, an artificial hill on Registan Square with walls 16–20 metres high. Inside are a Friday mosque, the coronation court, the throne hall and museum rooms. Foreign visitors pay **about 60,000 UZS** (unofficial), and it is open daily, roughly 9:00–18:00, later in summer. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara - City: [Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara), Uzbekistan - YesGo score: 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - Entry: ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreigners - With kids: Fine with kids - Entrance (foreign visitors): ≈ 60,000 UZS; sources from 2024 give 40,000 UZS - Hours: Daily ≈ 9:00–18:00; until 21:00 in summer, per Afisha.uz - Closed: Usually open every day; one directory lists Wednesday off - Payment: Cash in som is safest; foreign cards don’t always work - Time needed: 1–1.5 hours, up to 2 with all the museum rooms - Where: Registan Square, north-west edge of Bukhara’s old town - Coordinates: 39.77778, 64.41028 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 4 ha** — area inside the walls — once a town of palaces, mosques and barracks (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **16–20 m** — height of the walls above Registan Square, built on an artificial mound (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **1920** — bombed from the air during the Red Army assault under Mikhail Frunze, leaving much of it in ruins (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **789.6 m** — length of the outer walls (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **20+ m** — depth of occupation layers under the hill, with walls from the 4th–3rd centuries BC (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **713** — Arabs built the first mosque inside the Ark (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **18th century** — date of the two towers framing the ceremonial gate (source: English Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **Siyavash** — the Shahnameh hero said to have founded the citadel (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **‘Sandy’** — the meaning of Registan, the square below the west gate (source: English Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara) - **No. 602** — UNESCO number of the Historic Centre of Bukhara, which includes the Ark (source: Russian Wikipedia: Ark (Bukhara); English Wikipedia: Historic Centre of Bukhara) ## Ark of Bukhara entrance fee and how to pay Foreign visitors pay **about 60,000 UZS** (Uzbek som) — the figure most recent travel guides give. A 2024 Afisha.uz article listed 40,000 UZS for foreigners and 10,000 UZS for locals, so prices have moved. The Bukhara State Museum-Reserve doesn’t publish a price list online, so treat this as unofficial. The ticket desk is at the foot of the ramp by the gate. The ticket covers the grounds and the museum rooms. Photography and a local guide may cost extra — ask at the desk before you go in. Bring **cash in som**. Visa and Mastercard work at many hotels and some shops in Bukhara, but small desks like this one often take cash only. Bank ATMs in the old town and around Lyabi-Hauz dispense som, and bank exchange offices change US dollars and euros. ## Ark of Bukhara opening hours The Ark is open daily, roughly 9:00–18:00. Afisha.uz gives longer summer hours, until 21:00, and 18:00 in winter, with no day off. One older directory lists Wednesday as the museum-reserve’s closing day, but other sources don’t confirm it. All of these hours are unofficial. The ticket desk closes before the grounds do, so arrive at least an hour before closing. In summer, come in the morning — there’s no shade on the ramp or in the courtyards. > **Expect ruins behind a restored façade** From the square the Ark looks intact, but most of what stood inside was lost in the 1920 assault and the fire that followed. The gate, the ramp, the Friday mosque, the coronation court, the throne hall and the museum buildings survive or have been rebuilt; much of the rest is open ground. Don’t expect a Khiva-style palace — come for the walls, the emirate’s story and the view over the Registan. ## Is the Ark of Bukhara worth it? Yes, if you want to understand how Bukhara was ruled until 1920 — the throne court and the museum rooms tell that story better than anywhere else in town. It’s a 1–1.5-hour visit, or about two hours if you read every exhibit. If you’re short on time and not a museum person, the gate and walls are free to admire from the square, and your hour may be better spent at the [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret) and the [trading domes](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-trading-domes). A guide makes a big difference here: without the stories, several courtyards are just empty yards. ## What to see inside the Ark - **The gate and ramp** — two 18th-century towers with a gallery between them. A long covered ramp climbs past old storerooms and cells to the courtyards. - **The Friday mosque** — carved wooden columns and a painted ceiling. - **The coronation court and throne hall** — where emirs received envoys and were crowned. The emirs’ marble throne is still here. - **The Kushbegi’s court** — the offices and reception rooms of the emirate’s chief minister. - **The museum rooms** — archaeology, the history of the khanate and emirate, coins, manuscripts, court dress and everyday objects. - **The view** — from the walls above the gate you look over the Registan to the [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque) opposite. ## A short history of the Ark The Ark is the oldest structure in Bukhara. Excavations found more than 20 metres of occupation layers under the hill, with walls going back to the 4th–3rd centuries BC. Legend credits its founding to **Siyavash**, the Shahnameh hero who marked out his palace with strips of bull hide. By around 500 AD it was already the rulers’ residence. In 713 the Arabs built the first mosque here. The citadel was destroyed and rebuilt many times — Genghis Khan’s army took it in 1220 — and almost everything you see dates from the last three centuries. The last emir, Alim Khan, ruled from here until 1920, when the Red Army under **Mikhail Frunze** bombed the Ark from the air. Since the 1920s the surviving buildings have housed a museum, now part of the Bukhara State Museum-Reserve. ## How to get to the Ark of Bukhara 1. From Po-i-Kalyan square by the Kalyan Minaret, walk north-west along the pedestrian street — about 5 minutes to the Registan and the Ark gate. 2. From Lyabi-Hauz it’s about 15 minutes on foot, west through the trading domes and past Po-i-Kalyan. 3. From Bukhara airport (BHK), take a taxi with the Yandex Go app — about 15 minutes. Ask for ‘Ark’ or ‘Registan’; the old town is pedestrian, so you’ll be dropped at the edge of the square. 4. From the railway station in Kagan, 12 km away, a taxi takes about 25 minutes. 5. Enter through the west gate from Registan Square; the ticket desk is at the bottom of the ramp. The Bolo-Hauz Mosque is right across the square. > **What to wear** There’s a working mosque inside, so covered shoulders and knees are respectful and a light scarf is handy for women. Wear flat, comfortable shoes — the ramp is steep and the old stone is uneven and slippery. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Som in cash for the ticket - [ ] Allowed 1–1.5 hours, up to 2 with the museums - [ ] Arriving at least an hour before closing - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered for the mosque - [ ] Flat shoes for the steep ramp - [ ] Water and a hat in summer — the courtyards have no shade ## Ark vs Kalyan Minaret vs Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa | | Ark | Kalyan Minaret | Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | The emirs’ citadel | Minaret and Po-i-Kalyan ensemble | The last emir’s summer palace | | Best for | Walls, throne court, museums | Bukhara’s signature view | Early-20th-century interiors | | Time needed | 1–1.5 h | 30–45 min | 1–1.5 h | | Getting there | Walk from the old town | 5-min walk from the Ark | Taxi, out of town | With one day, pair the Ark with the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble next door. [Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/sitorai-mokhi-khosa) is worth a separate taxi ride if you want to see how the emirs lived after they moved out of the fortress. ## Bukhara’s historic sights compared Every historic site in Bukhara rated by YesGo. - [Lyabi-Hauz](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/lyabi-hauz) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Mir-i-Arab Madrasa](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/mir-i-arab-madrasa) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; usually no entry past the foyer - [Chor Minor](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/chor-minor) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free from outside - [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Trading Domes](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-trading-domes) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Ark of Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreigners - [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Square free, mosque ≈ 15,000 UZS - [Samanid Mausoleum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/samanid-mausoleum) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 20,000 UZS, under 7s free - [Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/sitorai-mokhi-khosa) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreign visitors - [Chor-Bakr Necropolis](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/chor-bakr) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 10,000–15,000 UZS ## Old Bukhara in half a day Start at the Bolo-Hauz Mosque and the Ark, walk to the Kalyan Minaret, then through the trading domes to Lyabi-Hauz for lunch. YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 2. [Ark of Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreigners 3. [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Square free, mosque ≈ 15,000 UZS 4. [Trading Domes](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-trading-domes) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 5. [Lyabi-Hauz](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/lyabi-hauz) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free ## Good to know Bukhara’s Registan is the open square in front of the Ark — the famous three-madrasa Registan is in Samarkand. The Zindan, the emir’s old prison, is a separate small museum just outside the fortress with its own ticket. ## Tips - Arrive at opening: tour groups turn up towards midday and the ramp gets crowded. - For the classic gate photo, step back across Registan Square so both towers and the wall fit in. - The Bolo-Hauz Mosque across the square is usually free (unofficial) and quiet in the morning — see it before the Ark. - Hire a guide at the gate: the stories of the emirs, Siyavash and 1920 are what bring the empty courtyards to life. - After the Ark, keep walking: the Kalyan Minaret is a five-minute walk from the gate — an easy next stop. - In summer, don’t plan the Ark for midday: the open courtyards and ramp get very hot. ## Questions ### How much is the Ark of Bukhara entrance fee? About 60,000 UZS for foreign visitors — an unofficial figure; 2024 sources gave 40,000 UZS. Uzbek citizens pay much less. Bring cash in som. ### What are the Ark of Bukhara opening hours? Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00, with longer summer hours (until 21:00, per Afisha.uz). No official schedule is published online, so treat these as unofficial. ### How long do you need at the Ark? 1–1.5 hours for the gate, mosque, coronation court and throne hall; about two hours if you go through every museum room. ### Is the Ark of Bukhara worth visiting? Yes, for anyone curious about the emirate — the throne court and museums are only inside. If you’re short on time, the gate and walls are free to see from the square. ### What is inside the Ark? A Friday mosque, the coronation court with the throne hall, the Kushbegi’s court and museum rooms on archaeology, the khanate and emirate, coins and manuscripts. Much of the rest is ruins from 1920. ### Can I pay by card at the Ark? Don’t count on it. Cards work in many Bukhara hotels and shops, but small ticket desks often take cash only. Carry som. ### How do I get to the Ark from Lyabi-Hauz? Walk west through the trading domes and past the Kalyan Minaret — about 15 minutes. From the airport, a Yandex Go taxi takes about 15 minutes. ### Is the Ark the same as the Registan? The Ark stands on Bukhara’s Registan Square. The famous Registan with three tiled madrasas is a different place, in Samarkand. ### Is the Ark good for kids? Yes — children usually enjoy the walls, gate and the climb up the ramp. A stroller is awkward on the steep ramp; a carrier is easier. ## How we checked We found no official price list or schedule from the Bukhara State Museum-Reserve, so the price and hours are marked unofficial. Prices differ: Airial Travel gives 60,000 UZS for foreigners, Afisha.uz gave 40,000 UZS in July 2024; we show the newer figure and mention the older one. Hours differ too: Airial gives 9:00–18:00; Afisha.uz gives 9:00–21:00 in summer and 9:00–18:00 in winter with no day off; Advantour lists 9:00–22:00 with Wednesday off for the museum-reserve. No other source confirms a Wednesday closure, so we treat the Ark as open daily. Card acceptance at the desk is not confirmed by any source, hence the cash advice. Dimensions, dates, the 1920 bombing and the Siyavash legend are checked against English and Russian Wikipedia. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Ark of Bukhara, Historic Centre of Bukhara - Russian Wikipedia: Ark (Bukhara) - Wikidata: Q4069358 - Afisha.uz: ‘8 sights in Bukhara for interesting walks’, July 2024 — prices and hours - Airial Travel: Ark Fortress & Bolo Hauz Mosque — foreigner price and hours - Advantour: Bukhara State Museum-Reserve — museum hours and closing day - Yandex Maps: Ark Citadel listing --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.