Juma Mosque

Juma masjidi

A distinctive mosque with neither dome nor porch. Its vast hall is supported by more than 200 carved wooden columns, some dating back to the 10th–11th centuries.

Juma Mosque (the Friday Mosque) sits at the center of the inner town. It was first built in the 10th century, and the current structure was rebuilt in 1788–1789. It is quite unlike the large-domed mosques common in Central Asia. Its exterior is plain and low, while inside is an open hall of roughly 55 × 46 m. The flat roof is supported by more than 200 wooden columns arranged like a forest, and two skylights let light pour in from above, creating a quiet, mysterious atmosphere. Each column's shaft and capital is carved differently, with flowers, vines and Arabic calligraphy. About 20-odd of the columns are believed to be original from the 10th–11th centuries, brought from older sites such as the ancient city of Kat. The rest were mostly carved after the 18th century. The column bases rest on stone plinths to prevent rot and damp. The minaret beside the mosque is about 33 m high and can be climbed for an extra fee. Admission is included in the combined inner-town ticket. Getting there: located midway along the inner town's main east-west street, about 5 minutes on foot from the West Gate. Note: keep quiet, and do not touch the wooden columns. Women must cover their hair and arms.

Juma Mosque

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