The pointed spire and crescent from the minaret of the Orenburg Caravanserai formed a metal structure composed of two parts. The first part is a pointed spire topped with a crescent, the symbol of Islam. The second part is a bowl-shaped base for mounting the structure on the minaret roof. Both parts are hollow inside and are decorated with gold paint.

The Orenburg Caravanserai (in Bashkir — “Karuanharai”) is a historical and architectural ensemble located in the city of Orenburg. It was built between 1837 and 1846 using voluntary donations. The building housed the headquarters of the Bashkir-Meshcheryak army commander, hotels for the Bashkirs and Mishar Tatars who came to Orenburg for services and private purposes, as well as a workshop and school for the Bashkirs.

The historical and architectural complex includes the Bashkir People’s House and a mosque. The architect Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov was inspired by a traditional Bashkir village, with the eight-corner mosque serving as the dominant feature of the ensemble.

In 1865, the Caravanserai became the residence of the Orenburg governor, serving in that capacity until the revolution of 1917. It housed apartments and offices for the head of the Orenburg Governorate, government offices, a commission for the division of Bashkir lands, a printing house, and the editorial office for the Orenburg Newspaper. After the revolution of 1917, the main building of the Caravanserai served as the residence of commissars of the Provisional Government and the Orenburg Council of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. Later, it was transferred to the authorities of the newly formed Bashkir Republic.

During the Soviet period, the building was not used for its intended purpose. It changed owners several times. In 1932, a club was opened in the mosque and 22 years later, a planetarium.

The Caravanserai was returned to the Muslims in 1993. Currently, it houses the Muslim religious association “Caravanserai”. Despite some temporary changes, the Caravanserai has retained its original appearance. The complex consists of the main building, a mosque, and a minaret.