Magoki Attori Mosque and Carpet Museum

Very small mosque, but it’s one of the most antique in Central Asia

This is the Magoki Attori Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, one of the city's oldest surviving mosques, dating back to the 12th century. The structure underwent renovations in the 16th century, combining elements of pre-Islamic and Islamic architecture. It is notable for its intricate brickwork and decorative carvings. Before the Islamic period, this site was reportedly a Zoroastrian temple, highlighting its long-standing religious significance. Today, it stands as an architectural monument under state protection, reflecting Bukhara's rich and layered history.

The Magoki Attori Mosque and Carpet Museum was a fascinating stop. The mosque’s architecture is stunning, and the carpet museum provided a detailed insight into the intricate craftsmanship of local weavers. If you are muslim only then you can go inside

While the museum may not captivate everyone without a deep interest in carpets, the building's stunning architecture alone is well worth the visit.

A very old mosque in ruins and sadly in neglect today, add to it the shops for souvenirs that have taken over. There is entry fee which is just not worth paying and visiting inside unless you intend to pick up some souvenirs

Magoki Attor Mosque (12th-16th c), an ancient mosque of Bukhara. The construction of Magoki Attori mosque in 714, the oldest in Bukhara, is associated with the name of the Arab Sheikh, Governor of Khorasan, Qutayba Ibn Muslim – one of the first people who brought Islam to the territory of Central Asia. The mosque's name dates back to pre-Islamic times. At that time, there was a pit (Magok) at this place. In addition, a bazaar was located on the mosque's site, where, before the establishment of Islam, Zoroastrian idols, medicinal herbs, and spices—attoron—were sold. In order not to drown out the area's history, the mosque, built on the site of the destroyed temple of the Zoroastrians, was named Magoki Attori. The building is rectangular with an area of 12 by 7.5 metres, west of the famous Lyabi Hauz square. The original portal is framed on the flat roof by two octagonal drums, which are also equipped with octagonal domes. The lower portal is richly decorated with an ornament of custom-carved and layered brick tiles. The Magoki-Attori mosque is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the historical centre of Bukhara. Today, the mosque houses a carpet museum.

Extremely extremely cool mosque. Over the years it was used as a Zoroastrian temple, a Buddhist temple, a Christian church, and a mosque. If you look carefully at the details you will see evidence of each culture’s influence on the building.

Sacred through the ages. The Magoki Attor, the "Pit of Herbalists", is Bukhara's oldest sacred site. Archaeological excavations have shown that a religious building has always stood here over the centuries. The oldest remains are of a pagan temple (could this have been the temple where the legendary Prince Mach encouraged people to buy idols?), which once housed a Buddhist shrine, and from the 5th century a Zoroastrian fire temple, built on in turn again in the 9th century it was replaced by a mosque. It is believed that until the construction of the first synagogue, the Jews held their religious services here. The current mosque is a mishmash of styles as the building has suffered a lot over the ages. The "pit" where the mosque stands is in fact the street level of 12th century Bukhara. Do not miss this small mosque when visiting Bukhara!