Historic Sights of Tashkent

Madrassah of Bukhara

2.1 Ulugbek Madrassah (1417)
Madrassah of Ulugbeg in Bukhara was the first of three madrassah, constructed at grandson of Amir Temur, Ulugbeg (died in 1449). The other two were constructed in Samarkand and Gijduvan. Construction was finished in 1420. The building has two floors of hudjras (rooms for pupils), audiences and mosque. Portal, two-storied loggias and angular turrets decorate the facade. Originally madrassah had four domes and four minarets in corners. In 1585 the facades were restored and decorated with majolica. Remarkable is the inscription on the entrance door: "Aspiration to knowledge is a duty of each Muslim man and woman". 
2.2 Madrassah of Abdulaziz-khan (1652)
Madrassah of Abdulaziz-khan was constructed in the middle of the 17^th century opposite to Ulugbeg Madrassah and surpassed it in scale and decor. Abdulaziz (died in 1681) was a member of Bukhara Astarkhanid dynasty (1601-1747). This is traditional madrassah with two floors of hudjras around the courtyard and mosque on the central axis. The high portal exposes pictures of fantastic birds flying to the sun. Stalactites fill up its arch. Mosaic with characteristic motif of blossoming bush in vase makes external decor. Under-dome stalactites, pendentives and paintings decorate the interior

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2.3 Khanaka and madrassah of Nadir Divan-Beghi (1620)

Khanaka was built first of Lyabi-Hauz ensemble. It was a place for staying and meditations of Sufis. This is a massive rectangular structure with cruciform hall under dome and hudjras in corners. The pool was built later. Nadir Divan-Beghi constructed caravanserai on its other side. At the opening of caravanserai, Imamkuli-khan (1611-1642) complimented his minister on construction of the building "for the glory of Allah" by advice of Sufi sheikhs. So, Nadir Divan-Beghi had to convert it into madrassah. Flying phoenixes decorate the reconstructed portal.
2.4 Kukeldash Madrassah (Kulba-Kukeldash) (1568-69)
Kukeldash Madrassah (Kulba-Kukeldash) dates from the 16^th century and relates to the period of Abdullah-khan II. This is one of the biggest Bukhara madrassah. It has one hundred sixty hudjras in two stories on perimeter of 2-aivan courtyard. One of the famous Central Asian writers of the 20^th Sadraddin Aini (1878-1954) studied there. Traditional facades are faced with majolica. The facade fronts Lyabi-Hauz. It contains entrance hall, mosque and darskhana. Stellullar plafonds from brick or stucco form original interior of madrassah.

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