Fayzabad Khanqah

The Fayzabad Khanqah, constructed between 1598 and 1599, stands as a testament to the architectural and spiritual heritage of Bukhara. This remarkable structure was built by the renowned Sufi Mavlono Poyand-Mukhammad Ahsi (Ahsiketi) Fayzobodi, who passed away just two years after its completion in 1601. The Fayzabad Khanqah served dual purposes: it was both a mosque for the five daily prayers (namaz) and Friday prayers, and a khanqah, a place for Sufi rituals and the temporary residence of dervishes.

The architectural brilliance of the Fayzabad Khanqah is evident in its grand design. The central hall is as large, high, and light-filled as a palace, exuding refinement, elegance, and nobility. This hall is flanked by two wings of through arched galleries, each topped with domes, creating a harmonious and majestic space. Behind the mihrab, which indicates the direction of Mecca, lies a three-storey building of khudjras (cells) that served as the living quarters for the dervishes.