"Kukeldash" - Mysterious Madrasah of Tashkent (16th century)
Madrassa "Kukeldash" is located near the famous old bazaar "Chorsu". It seems to support the borders of the vast shopping area with its noble and peaceful view.
The madrasah was built in the 1570's by Darvish Khan nicknamed Kukeldash, the ruler of Tashkent. Darvish Khan carried out his activities as a region khan under Barak Khan from 1551 and under Abdullah Khan II in 1582.
It should be noted that in the middle of the 16th century, when establishing a strong Sheibanid rule in Maverannahr (in this, Abdulahan II played the main role), many mosques, madrassas, and other public buildings were built in order to show everyone the power of their authority and the prosperity of the country.
Noble, but ownerless "Kukeldash" madrasah
Madrasah "Kukeldash" was built according to all the canons of that time using majolica, painted tiles, which laid the facade walls. The height of the entrance portal is about 20 meters. On the entrance arch, there are ancient tiles and inscriptions of that time. Perhaps this is the little thing that has remained untouched mysteriously. After all, the building fell into decay many times. And during the years of Lashkar's bekler-beghi, the upper tier striped into bricks allegedly for erecting his own madrasah.
In the 20-30 years of the 18th century, the waqf management (property management) was in a difficult situation and the madrasahs were given to merchants and traders for a certain fee as a guest house. Not for its intended purpose it was used in the middle of the 20th century, when Soviet atheists conducted their teachings there.
So far, it has not been possible to find reliable documents on the history of the Kukeldash madrasah: what exactly happened in it for so many centuries and how it functioned.
Madrasah "Kukeldash" found the owners
Meanwhile, as it is not surprising, the "Kukeldash" madrassa retained its basic design, on the basis of which in the middle of the 19th century the building was reconstructed. In the 20th century, reconstruction and repair work has already been carried out by the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Today, "Kukeldash" is an outstretched beautiful two-tier structure, with minarets in the corners. Inside the madrasah, there is a green well-groomed courtyard around which on the first and second floors the cells (hujras) and carved balconies are adorned.
Finally, in the 21st century the madrasah "Kukeldash" teach students again. Craftsmen of painting and woodcarving are also located in some cells on the ground floor.
