Khast Imam Complex (Hazrati Imam)

The Khast Imam Complex (Hazrati Imam) is the spiritual heart of old Tashkent, Uzbekistan, set around a pedestrian square on Zarqaynar and Qorasaroy Streets in the Hazrati Imom mahalla of the Olmazor District. It is named after Kaffal Shashi, a 10th-century scholar and imam, whose mausoleum anchors the ensemble. Visitors walk through a landscaped square lined with tiled buildings: the Tellya Sheikh Mosque, the Barak Khan Madrasa, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Moyie Mubarek Library-Museum and the modern Hazrati Imam Mosque with its tall minarets and blue domes. The complex combines Timurid, Shaybanid and contemporary Uzbek styles, and many of the carved wooden doors, glazed tilework and painted ceilings reward close attention. The courtyards are free to enter, while certain buildings and the museum charge a separate fee, reported at roughly 30,000 to 50,000 UZS. A visit usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Mornings are best, before tour groups arrive and well clear of Friday midday prayers when interiors may close to tourists. Modest dress is expected, with covered shoulders and knees, and women may be asked to cover their hair inside active mosques. Photographers favour the square from the entrance for symmetrical views of the minarets, and the Barak Khan Madrasa courtyard, where craft shops sell ceramics, suzani embroidery and miniatures, offers softer light. The nearby Center of Islamic Civilization can be combined with the complex for a longer day. Hazrati Imom metro station is the closest stop, and a Yandex Go taxi from the centre typically costs 20,000 to 35,000 UZS. The complex stays quieter on weekday mornings, and late afternoon light brings out the colour of the tilework. Visitors should remove shoes where required and speak quietly near worshippers.