Kalta-minor Minaret

There are several intriguing legends associated with the Kalta-Minor Minaret. One story tells of workers murmuring near the construction site, leading Muhammad Amin Khan to order the capture and live burial of the strike leader, Matyakub, in the tower’s foundation. Another legend suggests that the ruler of Bukhara, upon learning of the grand minaret’s construction, offered the architect a higher position to build an even taller minaret. When Muhammad Amin Khan discovered this, he planned to kill the architect, who managed to escape, leaving the tower unfinished. These legends, however, are just stories, and the construction ceased precisely after the khan’s death.

Even after more than a century, the Kalta-Minor Minaret continues to amaze with its size and unique decoration. The minaret is entirely covered with glazed tiles and majolica, which remain as bright and vivid as they were in 1855. This intricate decoration captures the imagination and highlights the architectural brilliance of the period.