Lomography

Baschnja - Abandoned Water-Tower Buchara
written by wil6ka on September 19th, 2008 (3 votes)

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Uzbekistan is a fantastic country with several ancient cities, which were once part of the legendary silk road. One of them is Buchara. But I am not so much a historic site-checker, if you know what I mean. I rather go for the undiscovered urban places that hold a certain arcane quality.

I was quite surprised to find such a venue just opposite the famous ark, which is a kind of Islamic fortress. This place is an old abandoned water-tower. I only found it after I asked Sascha, a 16 year old wise guy and friend, about his favorite site in town. He told me that it is a water-tower, which formerly had a restaurant at the top with a great view onto the cityscape. But now it is all left to the doves and rust. But funny enough some gypsies, sitting on the foot of the tower, asked us for an entrance fee. So it depends if someone sits at the tower or not whether you have to pay or not. But maybe they remove the stairways when you are up, if you don’t pay. So better don’t gamble with them. The lift is broken and you have to walk a very tight spiral staircase for about 40 meters, but it could be higher or lower. I am very bad in estimating things. First you get to a level, which is full of bird shit, after taking another little stairways you are up at the top.

The roof has been blown away and there are no traces where a possible water-tank would have been. With approximately 50 degrees regularly in the summer you would need the water but you could spare the roof. As so you shouldn’t miss to bring a bottle of water with you, because you will need it. I love the scratches and the graffiti there. Everybody left his mark on an urban playground. You feel almighty while standing at the top. It is beautiful, it is free, it is far off of anything touristy and adjacently it is quite dangerous. But this adds some curry to the ploff. The way down is a bit hazardous and you really get in trouble, when someone is in line. but that what it all is about, right? You will find the spot opposite to the infamous arka!