Kalon Mosque (R) -

The other main sight in Bukhara, and to my mind far superior to the rest, is the Kalon Mosque and Minaret complex.

For this one, I had to talk my way onto the top of a building under construction. — Kalon mosque and minaret on a beautiful Bukharan early nightfall.

As impressive as the minaret is now, think about how it would have looked to someone who saw it when it was built in 1127. It was said to be so impressive that as Genghis Khan razed the rest of Bukhara, he was so taken with the Kalon Minaret that he ordered his troops to spare it.

I'm a sucker for a pretty sky. — Kalon Mosque, just after closing time.

The mosque, while not as old as the minaret (see above re: Genghis Khan), is still impressive architecturally and large enough (I’m told) to hold 10,000 people.

Well, actually across the street. But then you cant see the mosque and minaret! — Daytime sales at the carpet market.

And I tweak the shadows and contrast a little. — At dusk, the ceramic vendors pack up.

As though that weren’t enough, just to make it a little more atmospheric the area surrounding the Kalon complex is filled with vendors and markets selling all sorts of ‘traditional’ Bukharan crafts.