Caravanserai Rabat Malik

Caravanserai Rabat Malik is located between Bukhara and Samarkand. This once magnificent palace was built in the XI century and is one of the valuable monuments of oriental architecture in Central Asia. The palace was built by order of Shams al-Mulk Nasr ibn Ibrahim from dynasty of Karakhanids. Until the XIII century, Rabat Malik was the country residence of Karakhanid dynasty. During archaeological excavations were found fragments of residential buildings, mosques, hammams and stables. Palace was divided from inside into three parts: on the south side were utility rooms, on the north - living quarters, and the third part covered the central part of the palace. The northern part of Rabat Malik is distinguished for its rich decoration. In the center of residential complex was a domed rotonda, surrounded by galleries. The entire surface of the rotonda was decorated with ornamental stucco finish and glazed terracotta. The central part of the palace had been isolated from the other parts and looked as an octagonal hall decorated with columns and arches.

Today Caravanserai Rabat Malik is the only extant monument of Karakhanid dynasty with a partially restored main portal of the palace.

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