Ko‘kaldosh madrasah

                      12.04.23.

  Day 8.

  Ko‘kaldosh madrasah. 

 Hello to everyone😊🙋🥰

I want to cover our practice today in my blog. Today's practice was also in a very good mood, because the weather was open and sunny. Before we left for today's destination, our teacher Inobat Zoirovna checked our diaries and our address today is the Kokaldosh madrasa.

 This madrasah is luxurious and beautiful, decorated with various patterns. We got some information about him. According to the information we have acquired, in Bukhara, near the famous historical complex Lyab-i Hauz, the well-known architectural monument Kukeldash Madrasah is located (built in 1568 - 1569). It is the largest Bukhara madrasah and one of the largest ones in Central Asia. It was built during the reign of Abdullah-Khan II and was funded by Bukhara governor Kulbab who ruled the city under several khans and managed to maintain good relations with all of them. For his close relationship with the khans the governor was given the title Kukeldash, which was one of the highest standings in the khan’s court and meant ‘a milk brother’. Later the madrasah was named after him.

Many people believe that Kukeldash Madrasah is part of Lyab-i Hauz complex, but it is wrong: archaeological excavations and research proved that the madrasah is a separate structure that bears no relation to Lyab-i Hauz.

Kukeldash Madrasah was also a unique building of its time in terms of architecture. Virtually all the madrasahs then had the similar design of a solid rectangle with a large decorated portal and a courtyard. Kukeldash Madrasah has no solid walls. Instead, they are walls with niches and balconies with stucco ornaments. There are 160 hujra cells in the madrasah, filling the both floors along the perimeter of the spacious courtyard.

Kukeldash Madrasah was built by the best master craftsmen of its time. The decorative vaults feature stucco arches in numerous combinations. The mosaic of the front gate was made without glue or nails. The main entrance is covered with mosaics showing beautiful geometric decorative patterns.

The madrasah has several times changed its purposes during its history. Besides its main purpose of an Islamic school, it was used for a number of different needs. In the 18th c it was used even as a caravanserai.

The madrasah still remains in good condition despite the fact that once the portal was heavily damaged by an earthquake and was fixed with just iron braces. During the reign of Bekler-Beg its second floor with blue domes was dismantled for bricks. Thanks to the efforts of enthusiastic master restorers who took the reconstruction initiative, the madrasah was given back its original appearance. Now the building is again under reconstruction, which is to be completed by 2020.

Sadriddin Ayni, an outstanding Central Asian poet and writer of the modern times, lived and worked in the madrasah. He died in the mid-20th c, and the northern part of the building houses his memorial museum now. It shows his belongings and some of the manuscripts.

Kukeldash madrasah enters into the composition of the architectural complex Lyabi-Hauz. The madrasah was built in 1569 on Abdullah Khan's initiative. The constructed madrasah became the symbol of strong state during the governing of Abdullah Khan II.

“Kukeldash” literally means “foster brother”. In hierarchy of the power, inherited from Genghis Khan the word “kukeldash” marked one of the more important court positions. The organizer of Kukeldash madrasah was the authoritative Emir named Kulbaba. He was keeping his post of kukeldash for the period of several khans of Shaybanid Dynasty. Emir Kulbaba Kukeldash facilitated Abdullah Khan II during his rise to power. According to the sacred tradition of the election of the Khan, each new Khan was raised on the canvas of white skin. Only four most influential people in the society could pull the cloth. Emir Kulbaba was among those who enthroned Abdullah Khan.

Kukeldash madrasah in Bukhara is the biggest madrasah. Its size is 80 x 60 meters. Kukeldash madrasah was erected in compliance with traditional scheme of Central Asian boarding school. The madrasah has 160 khudjras (cells), located in two stores on perimeter of two iwans (arched room) yard. The traditional facades of the madrasah are adorned with majolica.

The main facade of Kukeldash madrasah is turned to Lyabi-Hauz pool – artificial pond, round of which the architectural monuments are placed. The facade has a hall, mosque and darskhana (room for classes). The interior of the madrasah is interesting for its diversity of compound star-shaped plafonds made of baked bricks or ganch (mix of clay and gypsum). Kukeldash madrasah inside seems to be cramped, because it is piled with paths, ladders and nooks. But the decor in two halls remained in a good view. The dome overlap of the paths, which lead from gates to the yard of the madrasah is impressing. The hall-door is one of the masterpieces of Bukhara wood carving. The leafs of the door are covered with ten-rays star-shaped girih (set of five tiles used for decoration buildings in the Islamic architecture) with filigree ornament in fillings. 

It is certainly known that in Kukeldash madrasah in the late XIX century a prominent Central Asian writer Sadriddin Ayni studied. Over its history, Kukeldash madrasah performed many different roles: it served as a caravanserai and defensive fortress, and even the place of execution. Today in one section of the madrasah there is a museum dedicated to writers Sadriddin Ayni and Jalol Ikromi. The other part is the art-restaurant where you can taste the delicious Uzbek cuisine.

The construction of Kukeldash madrasah first of all is the expression of Bukhara style, restrained nobility and the synthesis of architectural forms. Having booked tours to Uzbekistan and planned your trip to Bukhara with the assistance of Peopletravel Company, you will see with your own eyes the beauty of the monument.

The Kukeldash Madrasah was built in the 16th century, shortly before the creation of Labi Haouz in Bukhara. Construction took almost a year, but an impressive building was created during that period. It is one of the largest madrasahs in Central Asia. Kulbaba, the emir of Bukhara, who was lucky enough to stay in power during the reign of several khans despite frequent feuds and struggle for the throne, was given the highest title at the court, “Kukeldosh”, which literally means “a close relative by mother’s milk”, something like “a milk brother”. Due to respect he had earned and good relations with all the khans ruling those lands in his lifetime, he was able to get approval for the construction of a madrasah with his money. As a result, the madrasah was named after him — Kukeldash. Later Labi Haouz, a famous place in Bukhara, was constructed near the madrasah. However, it would be a mistake to believe that the haouz and madrasah form a single complex because these buildings are quite different.

The uniqueness of the madrasah lies in its architecture. In a radical departure from the type of courtyards closed by walls that was usual for that time, the Kukeldash, on the contrary, is characterized by rather open and cheerful architecture. Instead of high walls, there are two levels of balconies in the form of outwardly directed ogival niches. There were 160 hujras available for students for rest and studies. They are located on two floors, along the entire perimeter of the courtyard.

See you in the next blogs, goodbye...❤✨🥰