Tomb of the Kings – Dakhma-i-Shahan
The Ferghana Valley is the fertile heart of Uzbekistan, the birthplace of outstanding people, poets and thinkers. The seat of government of the Kokand khans, there were 29 of them in total. Among the architectural monuments of Kokand, a unique ensemble occupies a special place - the family tomb of the Kokand rulers – Dakhma-i-Shahan.
According to historical information, the idea of building this architectural monument and mausoleum belongs to the great Uzbek poet Mokhlaroyim Nadira. Being the daughter of the Andijan ruler and the wife of Umarkhan, one of the last Kokand khans, Nodira possessed an outstanding mind and poetic gift, was a faithful wife, a loving mother, a just and wise ruler of a huge khanate. After her husband's death in 1822, Nodira decided to build a large architectural complex from the family tomb where her husband and his ancestors were buried, which would later become an important landmark of the region. This complex architectural complex, characteristic of the memorial architecture of the Fergana Valley, was named khazira.
The magnificent entrance portal of the mausoleum is decorated with mosaic patterns of glazed tiles, forming an artistic harmony of blue and light blue. The upper part of the portal is decorated with frames and patterns of compositions that we can see on Ferghana fabrics.
The door of the mausoleum, decorated with exquisite carvings, has inscriptions from the Holy Koran and verses from Ruler Umarkhan interwoven in Arabic script.
Inside the ensemble there is a small mosque and family graves. Every detail, from the doors and casement windows to the stone slabs, has a special artistic value. Prominent craftsmen in woodcarving and ganch worked on the decoration and construction of this mausoleum. The tombstones of the rulers are decorated with carvings, oriental ornaments and quotations from the holy Quran.
Also, on Nadira's instructions, Chalpak madrasah was built nearby. The mausoleum is decorated with a sprawling orchard and various floral arrangements.
