Zindan Prison is located in the historical center of Bukhara, within the old city, near other monuments from the era of the Bukhara Emirate. It is one of the few surviving structures associated not with ceremonial architecture, but with the system of punishment and urban administration of past centuries. The name "zindan" in the countries of the East referred to a prison, often with underground or semi-underground помещения for prisoners.

The existing building is usually dated to the 18th century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was used for its original purpose, and later it was converted into a museum. The exhibition introduces visitors to how the prison system of old Bukhara was organized, what types of cells existed, and in what conditions prisoners were held.

According to historical records, up to forty people could be held in the Zindan at the same time. Different places of confinement were provided here, including rooms for debtors, a punishment cell, and a deep dungeon. Sources on the Bukhara Emirate mention punishments for debts, violations of public order, and failure to observe religious prescriptions, and supervision over some of these rules was carried out by an official known as the rais.

For tourists, the Zindan is interesting as a rare monument to the everyday history of Bukhara. It helps reveal not only the famous madrasas, mosques, and trading domes, but also the less visible side of life in the old city - judicial practices, the system of control, and the structure of city authority.