Historical and Cultural Places

Toqi Telpakfurushon

Buxoro viloyati | Haqiqat ko‘chasi

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Toqi Telpakfurushon (Persian: Toqi Telpakfurushlar) is an architectural monument in Bukhara. A domed building designed for the production and sale of headwear. According to waqf documents, it was built at the intersection of five streets connecting from different directions (1570–71). The building was named after such names as choharsoki Akhanin, Toqi kitobfurushon, Toqi Khoja Muhammad Parron.

Toki Telpak Furushon (Persian: “Dome of the Cap Sellers”) is one of Bukhara’s historic covered markets, originally built for the production and sale of traditional headwear. The monument was constructed in 1571 during the reign of the Shaybanid ruler Abdullah Khan II and is included in the National Register of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites of Uzbekistan.

History

Built near an important crossroads of the old city, Toki Telpak Furushon was one of Bukhara’s busiest trading centers. During the Middle Ages, merchants sold fox and beaver fur hats, turbans, skullcaps, and other traditional headwear here. Over the centuries, the market was known by several names, including Chaharsuyi Ohanin, Toki Kitobfurushon, and Toki Khoja Muhammad Parron. It was also associated with booksellers and bookbinders, whose workshops operated under the dome.

The market became famous not only for headwear but also for books, handicrafts, and various commercial activities. Today, the monument continues to function as a marketplace, housing handicraft workshops and souvenir shops. It was restored during the years of Uzbekistan’s independence.

Architecture

Toki Telpak Furushon was built of baked brick, wood, stone, and ganch (decorative plaster). The structure is distinguished by its large central dome, which unites five streets converging at a single point. The main hall has a hexagonal layout and is covered by a massive dome with windows that provide natural light and ventilation.

The dome has a diameter of approximately 38 meters, while the hall reaches a height of about 10 meters. Smaller domes cover the entrances connecting the surrounding streets. Today, the market still displays traditional Uzbek skullcaps (doppi), embroidered caps, and other handmade products, preserving its historical trading tradition.