Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Building located in Tashkent, Tashkent Province, Uzbekistan
The Abulkasym Madrasa is a historic architectural monument in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, near Navoi Park and the parliament building, made up of a madrasa, a mosque and a khanqah. By the custom of the time, madrasas were named after whoever led their construction, and tradition holds that Abul Kasim, a prominent Tashkent notable, was behind this one. It holds a special place in the city's history: it was a centre of resistance to the Russian advance on Tashkent, and the peace treaty of 1865 was signed here after the Russian general Chernyaev took the city. After the October Revolution the building was closed, later used by a Tashkent toy factory, and fell into disrepair. It was only restored in the early 1980s and reopened in 1987. The student cells (hujras) around its large courtyard became workshops for craftsmen making traditional goods, wood carving, miniatures, embroidery, ceramics and engraved copper, so it is now one of the best places in Tashkent to watch Uzbek crafts being made and buy an authentic souvenir.
Wandering the courtyard and workshops is a pleasant, usually free visit; buy directly from the craftsmen with friendly bargaining. Allow an hour. It is central, near Navoi Park, so combine it with a stroll in the park and the nearby history museum. The workshops keep daytime hours, so go before late afternoon.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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