Trading Domes in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Trading Domes

Medieval Bukhara was known as a business city receiving merchants from Central Asia, Iran and India, Russia and China. Central streets served as markets, each of which specialized in different product. So, domed and multi-arched buildings were constructed in squares and crossroads to make sale more comfortable. They were named 'tok' - arch, dome. Three of those constructions are still safe. These are: Toki-Zargaron (dome of jewelers), Toki-Sarrafon (dome of moneychangers) and Toki-Tilpak-Furushon (dome of headwear sellers). Architecturally and functionally Tim of Abdullakhan belongs to 'Toks'. It is a large multi-dome trading construction for silk sale.