Description of the attraction
Lyabi-hauz is a square in the center of Bukhara, surrounded by several old buildings. All of them were built between the 16th and 17th centuries. In the past, there was a bustling market here, which was always crowded, thanks to the proximity of the main trade artery of the city. Now, instead of rows where fruits and Persian carpets were sold, small trees grow. In the center of the square there is a reservoir - hauz Nadir-Begi. It is a deep polygonal pond that was used as a water reservoir. It received water from numerous canals. After the 40s of the XX century, the house, deprived of water, was turned into a sports ground, and now it has been transformed into a fountain.
The first building that appeared on the Lyabi-hauz square was the Kukeldash madrasah - the largest in the region. It is located in the northern sector of the square. It housed a mosque, a classroom and cells for students. Opposite the madrasah there is a khanaka built by the vizier and khan's relative Nadir Divan-Begi and named after him. Khanaka is a cross between a monastery and a hotel where travelers usually stayed. This building is distinguished by its modest size and luxurious decoration in the form of mosaics and low turrets.
Literally three years after the appearance of the khanaka on the square, a caravanserai was built at the expense of the same vizier, Divan-Begi, which was later converted into a madrasah. This structure is devoid of features typical for madrasahs, for example, it does not have a study room and a mosque.
Another decoration of the square is the monument to Khoja Nasreddin.
