Faizabad Khanaka in Bukhara
The construction of Faizabad Khanaka in Bukhara (town suburbs) dates back to 1598-1599. It was built by the famous Sufi Mavlono Poyand-Mukhammad Ahsi (Ahsiketi) Fayzobodi, who died two years later (in 1601).
In the khanaka mosque, both daily fivefold namaz and Friday prayers were said. It was also the place of ritual meetings of Sufis and a temporary shelter for traveling dervish monks.
Faizabad Khanaka is a beautiful creation of its time. The large, high and bright hall gives the impression of being in a palace. Elegance and nobility fill the whole architecture of the building.
The mosque has a magnificent composition. Both sides of the central hall are connected with arch-domed galleries. A glance behind the mihrab (a niche that directs the prayers to face Mecca) shows several hudjras placed there in which dervishes who were going on pilgrimage to the holy places were accommodated. The cupola of the dome is adorned with spectacular two-color ganch carvings made in the "chapak" technique.