The largest pond became the main element of an ensemble - Lyabi khauz, which means "at the pond", at the center of Bukhara. The right-angled pond (46 x 36 meters) stretches from the east to the west, buried in the verdure of century-old trees. Its edges are arranged in the form of the descending staircase made of massive blocks of yellowish limestone.

The ensemble comprises three monumental structures: Kukeldash Madrasah in the north, Khanaka in the west and Nadir divan-begi Madrasah in the east.

In the picture: Lyabi Khauz & Kukeldash Madrasah.

The central square around the big pond still today holds some of the magic of the past. Old men sipping tea sitting on tapchans at the Chaikhanas or playing backgammon right by the water, vendors selling sunflower seeds, children playing in the sun, the ever smiling Hodja - most well known Sufi - riding on his bronze donkey.