Kukeldash Madrasah is a madrasah building in the historical center of Bukhara, erected in 1568-1569 under the Uzbek ruler Abdullah Khan II at the expense of his close associate and all—powerful Emir – Kulbab. For his close relations with the khans, the emir received the title of Kukeldash, which means “heartfelt friend“.
The largest madrasah in Bukhara has 160 cells on its territory – specially designated rooms for students intended for housing and recreation. There are no blank walls in the Kukeldash Madrasah, instead they have niches or balconies decorated with ganch.
Many believe that the Kukeldash Madrasah is part of the Lyabi-hauz complex, but the research conducted by archaeologists has shown that the madrasah is a separate structure.
One of the most prominent Central Asian writers of our time, Sadriddin Aini, lived and worked on the territory of the madrasah. Today, the northern part of the madrasah is the Sadriddin Aini Memorial Museum.
