Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble

Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble

One of the central squares of the city of Bukhara, an architectural ensemble created in the XVI – XVII centuries. The square is formed by the buildings of the Kukeldash Madrassah, the Nadir Devon-Begi Madrassah and the Nadir Devon-Begi Khanaka, around the Nadir-Begi khauz- reservoir is rectangular shape measuring 46 by 36 meters and a depth of up to five meters. The walls of the khauz are formed by stone steps.

In the Middle Ages, Lyabi-Khauz was a lively commercial area, this was facilitated by the proximity to the main shopping street with its trading domes and the extreme crowding of buildings in Bukhara, so Lyabi-Khauz was simply one of the few open spaces. The Lyabi-khauz ensemble is located in the south-eastern part of the Shakhristan of Bukhara, near the central shopping street of Bukhara, on the site close to the Lyabi-khauz there are Tok-i Telpak Furushon and Nugai caravan-saray. The area is an irregular polygon, in the eastern part of which is the madrassah Devon-Begi, in front of it, on the western side – the khanaka of Devon-Begi, so they form a kosh. On the central axis of the kosh from the west is Bola-Khauz, and to the east – a monument to Khoja Nasreddin. The entire north-eastern part is occupied by the impressive Kukeldash Madrassah

Kukeldash Madrassah

In the northern part of the square there is the Kukeldash Madrassah. This is the oldest building on the square, it was built in 1568-1569 by Kulbaba Kukeltash-the official Abdulla Khan II. Madrassah is a rectangular structure measuring 86 by 69 meters and includes a mosque, darshana (lecture room) and 160 cells-hujra. The planning of the madrasah is unsuccessful – due to the lack of internal portals of the hujra in the courtyard, the building gives the impression of tightness.

Hanaka Devon-Begi

Khanaka was built simultaneously with the house in 1619-20 by Nadir Devon-begi, uncle and vizier of Imamkuli Khan. Khanaka is small in size, cross-shaped, with a central domed hall, around which are two hajras. On the edges of the main facade are the turrets, the façade itself is decorated with a mosaic, on the sides it is lined. The side facades are decorated with arched entrances and systems of smaller arches.

Devon-Begi Madrasah

Madrasa Divan-Begi is located in the eastern part of the Lyabi-hauz, on the same axis as the khanaka and khauz. The madrassah was built in 1622-23 by the vizier of Imamkuli Khan Nadir, as a caravanserai, but later it was converted into a madrassah. It differs from the layout, which is completely unlike the typical layout of the madrassah – there is no mosque and lecture hall. The facade of the building is decorated with a mosaic panel.