Kukeldash Madrasah is the largest madrasah and one of the most famous historical monuments of Tashkent. Situated in the historical heart of the city, it is located near Chorsu square and the Registan of Tashkent.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, this area housed the Kesh gates, one of the three city gates. The central architectural ensemble, Registan, was a prominent feature in every big city, known for its refined architecture, monumentality, and original design.
Kukeldash Madrasah was built in the 16th century (1570) during the reign of the Shaybanid dynasty by a vizier close to the Tashkent sultans Barak-Khan and Darwish Khan. The vizier was nicknamed "kukeltash," meaning "foster-brother of the Khan."
Constructed of baked bricks in the traditional madrasah style, it features a large courtyard surrounded by monastic cells (khujdras), a classroom (darshana), and a mosque. The façade boasts an elegant entrance portal nearly 20 meters high, two-floor balconies, and corner towers (guldasta).
The portal is adorned with remnants of decor, including majolica and glazed bricks. The madrasah windows have special sun-protective gratings (pandjara), featuring patterns that include the names of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad. Though repeatedly repaired and restored, the current appearance of Kukeldash Madrasah differs from its original design, yet it remains comparable in size and architectural significance to the medieval madrasahs of Bukhara and Samarkand.
Over the centuries, Kukeldash Madrasah has served various purposes. In the 18th century, it was a caravanserai for merchants, during which time the towers were destroyed. In the 19th century, it became a fortress for Kokand rulers. Numerous legends are associated with Kukeldash Madrasah, including its use as a place of execution and the presence of a holy pistachio tree growing on one of its domes.
The madrasah survived two major earthquakes in the 19th century, which partially destroyed the entrance portal, later restored in the 1960s. During the years of independence, the building was renovated to match its appearance in the 1880s.
Today, Kukeldash Madrasah is a magnificent two-storey building, serving as the centerpiece of Tashkent's Registan. It has regained its role as a spiritual institution, with muezzins calling believers to prayer, classes for students in khujdras, and religious services held in the right part of the building.
| Category: | Culture |
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| Address: | Madrassah Kukeldash, Beruni Avenue Relief Road, Shaikhontokhur District |
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