Barak Khan Madrasa

Barak Khan Madrasa stands on Khast Imam Square in the Olmazor District of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and forms one side of the Khast Imam ensemble in the Old City. The madrasa dates to the 16th century and is named after Suyunidzhkhan, known as Barak Khan, a Shaybanid ruler of Tashkent who is buried in the mausoleum beside it. Its facade is covered in blue and turquoise tilework, with a tall arched portal and a courtyard ringed by small domed cells. In the present day the cells function as craft workshops and shops selling ceramics, suzani embroidery, wood carvings, miniature paintings, scarves and souvenirs, so visitors can combine architecture with browsing. The courtyard is free to enter, and shops are typically open from about 09:00 to 18:00. Part of the building has also been used as the offices of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, which means some areas are not open to the public. A visit takes around 30 minutes, longer for those who stop to talk with artisans or buy crafts. Morning is the best time, when light is soft and tour groups have not yet arrived. The courtyard offers good photographs of the tilework and of the dome-topped cells, and the portal is best framed from the centre of the courtyard. The madrasa sits a short walk from the Khast Imam Complex entrance, so it fits naturally into a visit to the wider square, which also includes the Tellya Sheikh Mosque and the Moyie Mubarek Library-Museum. Prices at the shops vary and polite bargaining is common for crafts. Visitors should dress modestly, as the site is part of an active religious complex, and avoid photographing worshippers or artisans without asking.