Historical and Cultural Places

Ibrahim Okhund Madrasah

Buxoro viloyati | Mehtar Ambar ko‘chasi

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The Ibrahim Akhund Madrasah was built in the historical center of Bukhara in 1858–1859 at the expense of the Uzbek ruler Nasrullah (1827–1860). The main capital is the Madrasah of Kukaldash, which is located on Mehtar Ambar Street in the Ibrahim Okhun-Kukaldash neighborhood. The madrasah is two-story and consists of 38 cells.

Ibrahim Okhund Madrasah was built in 1858–1859 in the Oybibi Inoq (Oybinok) quarter of Bukhara during the reign of Emir Nasrullah Khan. The construction was financed by the scholar Mulla Mir Ibrahim Kashgari, also known as Ibrahim Okhund.

The madrasah originally consisted of 32 student cells and one classroom. Several income-generating properties, including a bathhouse, shops, and commercial premises in different parts of Bukhara, were endowed to support its activities. Historical waqf documents related to the madrasa have survived and bear the seals of Emir Nasrullah Khan and the chief judge of Bukhara.

After the establishment of Soviet rule, educational activities at the madrasa ceased. In 1995, the Varakhsha Archaeological Museum was opened in the building, displaying archaeological discoveries from the ancient city of Varakhsha. Today, the monument serves as a tourist attraction and museum.

Architecture

The madrasa is a two-story structure built of baked square bricks and contains 38 cells (hujras). In the 19th century, together with the Oybinok Mosque and Muhammad Nabi Madrasah, it formed an independent architectural ensemble. The building remains an important example of late Bukhara religious architecture.