Jarkurgan Minaret

The Jarkurgan minaret, located in the medieval village of Charmangan, stands out for its distinctive fluted design. Constructed in 1109 by the architect Ali ibn Muhammad Serakhsi, the minaret was originally a two-tiered structure, but only the lower tier remains intact today.

The surviving portion of the minaret features a striking shaft adorned with 16 semi-circular columns. These columns are skillfully fluted, resembling the branches of a fir tree that spread outward at the base and converge towards the top. At its full height of approximately 20 meters, the minaret terminates in a horizontal design. The shaft was originally embellished with inscriptions from the Qur’an, although these were left incomplete. Additionally, there was a decorative band with intricate patterns that has since been lost.