Bukhara - Baland Mosque

The Baland Mosque in Bukhara: a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture

The Baland Mosque in Bukhara impressively represents the innovative power of architecture at the end of the Navoi era and in the first decades of the Uzbek Khanate. Its name ‘Baland’, which means ‘high’, is derived from its elevated position on a massive stone foundation, which gives the mosque a lofty and respectable presence.

Historical classification and location
South of the city park and the Kosh madrasah, hidden in the winding alleyways of Bukhara’s historic residential neighbourhoods, lies this mosque, which is more than five hundred years old. The Baland Mosque traditionally served as a neighbourhood mosque and was a place of worship and community for the residents of the neighbourhood. Despite its modest size, it impresses with its refined construction and rich interior decoration, which is a unique example of the region’s craftsmanship.

Architecture and structure
The oldest part of the building is a rectangular winter building enclosed by an L-shaped columned aivan, which serves as a summer mosque. The wooden columns with stalactite capitals resting on marble bases and the ornately decorated aivan ceiling were built in the 19th century and replaced earlier constructions. The aivan, an open porch supported by columns, offers protection from the sun and is a central element of Central Asian mosque architecture.

The wood carving of the ceiling
A particular highlight of the Baland Mosque is the suspended ceiling, which is considered a masterpiece of woodcarving. It is decorated with geometric ornaments and skilfully carved wooden domes give the room a unique atmosphere. The wooden ceiling panels have a star-shaped stalactite recess in the centre, which refracts the light in an impressive way and bathes the room in a soft semi-darkness.

Interior design: Kashin mosaic and Kundal technique
The small inner hall houses a richly decorated mihrab, which marks the direction of prayer towards Mecca, as well as an ornately crafted wooden pulpit, the minbar. The mihrab and the wall panels are decorated with finely carved Kashin mosaics in blue-green colours. The walls of the mosque are decorated with multi-coloured paintings in the kundal technique, an elaborate decorative technique that creates the impression of elaborate tapestries through the use of gilding and floral ornaments.

Arabic inscriptions and symbolism
Arabic inscriptions in intricate Sülüs script contribute to the spiritual atmosphere of the room. These calligraphic elements, often verses from the Koran, are skilfully integrated into the ornamental patterns and serve not only as decoration, but also as a constant reminder of the faith and religious values that the mosque represents.

Proportional scheme and spatial composition
The composition of the interior design follows a harmonious scheme of proportions: below a frieze is a panel, above which are large and small panels that alternate and are surrounded by rectangular frames. Each of these frames is filled with unique mosaic patterns. The centre section of the wall is dominated by a lancet-shaped panel decorated with floral patterns. Above the frame is a narrow inscription field bordered by a moulded string – an interplay of shapes and patterns that is characteristic of the Baland Mosque.

Guzar mosques: an architectural style
The architectural concept of the Baland Mosque reflects the style of the Guzar mosques, which served as neighbourhood mosques in Bukhara. This style is characterised by the cubic volume with a flat suspended ceiling and the aivan, which is supported by richly carved wooden columns. The artistic splendour is mainly concentrated in the interior of the mosque, where the decoration of the ceiling and walls unfolds an incomparable colourfulness.

Ornamentation and colour scheme
The wooden ceiling panels are intricately carved and feature a star-shaped dripstone recess in the centre. The hexagonal tiles of the wall panels are decorated with ornamental paintings in gold, giving the room a special elegance. In the Baland Mosque, the painterly decoration of the walls achieves an extraordinary brilliance. Its unrivalled interior design has served as a model and source of inspiration for generations of architects.

The Baland Mosque is a remarkable example of Islamic architecture in Central Asia, which impresses with both its architectural sophistication and its rich interior decoration. Even today, the Baland Mosque is considered an outstanding example of the masterful synthesis of architecture and decoration in Central Asian architecture and attracts visitors from all over the world who want to experience the beauty of this historical treasure.