Y alta is one of the most beautiful southern cities, in the vicinity of which rich and noble people liked to equip their summer residences at any time. To this day, many historical lush manors and luxurious summer houses have been preserved. One of the modern attractions of the city is the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara.
The owner of the eastern residence in Y alta
Y alta owes the appearance of a unique palace in oriental style to the emir of Bukhara, whose full name is Seyid-Abdul-Akhat-khan. The ruler was the seventh in the Mantyg dynasty, descended from Genghis Khan himself. For Bukhara, the emir is first of all a great reformer who eradicated slavery in the country. The name of Seyid-Abdul-Akhat-Khan entered the history of the Russian Empire forever. The emir warmly treated Emperor Nicholas II and his family, more than once donated personal funds for the construction of public buildings in Russia and the implementation of other projects. An interesting fact - Seid-Abdul-Akhat-khan became posthumously an honorary citizen of Y alta, in addition, one of thecity streets. It is believed that the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara appeared in the southern city precisely because of the friendship of its owner with the emperor of the Russian Empire. Nicholas II and his family spent a significant part of the summer in the Livadia Palace. Not far away, the Emir of Bukhara also acquired land for the construction of his own residence.
Construction of the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara
The construction of the main house of the southern estate of Seyid-Abdul-Akhat Khan began in 1907. The author of the project, architect Nikolai Tarasov, took into account all the wishes of the customer. Orientally richly decorated, the building remained refined and did not look overloaded with details. Kerch stone was used for its construction. The palace was completed in 4 years, after which Nikolai Tarasov, by order of the emir, added several more buildings to the complex. The residence is made in the Moorish style, the main building is two-story. Its architecture gracefully combines semicircular and rectangular shapes, the facades are richly decorated with carvings, stucco and other decorative elements. The palace of the Emir of Bukhara is crowned with domes, the cornices are framed with parapets. The windows have horseshoe shapes traditional for oriental architecture. A pompous staircase leads to the palace, which is “guarded” by sculptures of lions. According to surviving descriptions, the interiors of the residence were decorated in rich, vibrant colors. It is probably for this reason that calm, muted shades were chosen for the facade. Such an unexpected combination created a striking contrast.
South apartments story
The Emir of Bukhara called his residence Dilkiso, which means “captivating”, “charming” in his native language. In 1911, Seid-Abdul-Akhat-khan died, and the palace in Y alta, like many other property, was inherited by his son, Seid-Mir-Alem-Dzhan-Tyurya. A descendant of the Emir owned the apartments until 1917. After the revolution in the Russian Empire, the palace of the Emir of Bukhara was nationalized. In 1921, the Oriental Museum was opened in the luxurious main building of the complex. Three years later, the building was transferred to the he alth resort. Before the Great Patriotic War, the palace moved from one sanatorium to another several times. During the years of German occupation, the palace complex suffered significant damage. The rich park of exotic plants, planted under the emir, was almost completely destroyed. Of all the buildings, only the main building of the residence has been preserved. After the end of hostilities, the palace remained abandoned for a long time. Only in the 70s of the last century, restoration work began. The restored masterpiece of architecture was handed over to the Y alta sanatorium.
Construction status today
Since the early 1970s, the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara in Y alta has not been restored. This attraction looks impressive on old postcards and promotional photos. But many tourists are disappointed when they see it with their own eyes. The palace is in need of restoration. On the facade there is peeling paint, plaster is crumbling, decorative elements are lost in places, the interiors have not been preserved. Today the building occupieslibrary (8th building of the sanatorium "Y alta").
Where is the palace located, is it possible to get into it on a tour?
This attraction is considered one of the symbols of the city. And at the same time, organized tourist groups do not lead to it. The palace is located on the territory of the he alth resort. The eastern building is also visible from behind the fence, in order to get closer to it, you will have to personally negotiate with the guards. If you read the reviews of tourists, you can see that someone succeeds. But no one is allowed inside, except for the guests of the sanatorium. Where is this unique attraction located? The Palace of the Emir of Bukhara has the following address: Y alta, st. Sevastopolskaya, 12/43. From the city station to the sanatorium "Y alta" can be reached by buses number 5 and 13. Not far away is the Seaside Park - a favorite place for walking for many residents of the city and vacationers.
Interesting facts
Emir of Bukhara was an active man. During his summer vacation, he actively participated in the improvement of Y alta. A Russian cruiser was named after him, the construction of which he also sponsored. Once upon a time, the dome of the palace was crowned with a Muslim symbol - a crescent. This decorative element has not survived to this day. But if you are relaxing in Y alta during the new moon, you can take an original photo. Try to combine the top of the dome and the growing moon in the picture. This photo will be a real highlight of your vacation album.
