Historic Centre of Bukhara


World Heritage Identification Number: 602

World Heritage since: 1993

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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The Historic Centre of Bukhara: A Timeless Gem Along the Silk Road

The Historic Centre of Bukhara, located in modern-day Uzbekistan, stands as a testament to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Central Asia. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, this ancient city offers a unique glimpse into the region's history spanning over two millennia.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Bukhara, which is situated on the Silk Route, is more than 2,000 years old. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely intact. Monuments of particular interest include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of 10th-century Muslim architecture, and a large number of 17th-century madrasas.

Encyclopedia Record: Bukhara

Bukhara is the seventh-largest city in Uzbekistan by population, with 280,187 residents as of 1 January 2020. It is the capital of Bukhara Region.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 216 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 39.77472 , 64.42861

Image

Image of Historic Centre of Bukhara

© Euyasik, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures
220 km — Uzbekistan
Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz
222 km — Uzbekistan
Proto-urban Site of Sarazm
261 km — Tajikistan
State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv”
302 km — Turkmenistan
Itchan Kala
387 km — Uzbekistan

Country Information: Uzbekistan

Flag of Uzbekistan

Official Name: Republic of Uzbekistan

Capital: Tashkent

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 36,361,859

Population (2023): 35,652,307

Population (2022): 34,938,955

Land Area: 440,650 sq km

Currency: Uzbekistani soʻm (UZS)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Historic Centre of Bukhara are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Bukhara, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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