THE PALACE OF KHUDAIAR KHAN

The construction of the last Khan palace of Kokand lasted 11 years, from 1863 to 1873. It mobilisat as many as 16 000 workers and 80 craftsmen from Rishtan, Samarkand and other cities in the country. Five years later, the Russians destroyed the most. The building presented a large,-door breakthrough, named after the cities to which they led. Today you can reach the palace through a dallée path which climbs up to a monumental portal flanked by two fine turrets. The long facade of the building is entirely decorated with blue, yellow, orange and green glazed bricks, which owe a great deal to restaurateurs. The majoliques of the left wing were made by craftsmen from Namangan and Andijan, those on the right, who knew a new restoration at the time of our investigation by craftsmen from Kokand. All of the inner courtyards were also in work and the ambitine renovation program rebuilding the harem. Everything should be finished within four years. Meanwhile, the muséographiques parties remain open to the public. Originally, the palace had 7 courses and 114 pieces, or as many surahs as the Koran. There are now only 4 courses and 19 pieces, most of them transformed into museums. The visit usually begins by the left wing of the palace, where the former Khan reception room was located. It is decorated from the ground to the ceiling in the traditional Uzbek style. A model of the palace allows to see the harem (the khan had 43 women) that was destroyed during the Soviet takeover of Kokand. Admire the quality of the decorations. Most of the paintings are original. In the upper right you will notice a darker space: the original colours are not renewed. Guests contacted the reception room with a small room in the north, where the secretary of the Khan was located. The ensemble overlooks a sumptuous courtyard bordered by a magnificent th century iwan from a mosque built by Timur in Chakhimardan. On the east side, wooden poles supporting iwan are new. The original poles are exposed under the southern iwan, itself supported by columns of original wood. One can also dwell on the Charettes of Kokand and their oversized wheels, cord with the carriage of Mandalak, a rich German who came to stay in Kokand in the 19 th century. It was said that the khan appreciated that he was given the heads of his enemies and that they were smashed at the foot of one of the pillars of this iwan. Of these warlike customs, there are only two canons: the first, short and artistically wound, is a local production of the 1840 th century, the second, long and end, comes from China and was taken to the enemy during the war of against the Kashgar khanate. In the south-west corner of the courtyard, a small reception room hosted the secret Entretiens Khan talks. It is decorated with 114 different motifs, or as many pieces as the original palace. When it was transformed into a museum in 1925, various pieces were brought into this small piece, such as the 17 th Century Japanese and Chinese vases, or the Kaufman Chair. The other wings of the palace, particularly the one where European diplomats and dignitaries were received, were also turned into a museum. There are various archaeological discoveries from the valley, as well as interesting photographs of the construction of the Ferghana Canal or the search of the 47 tombs in the Pap village. Other spaces are devoted to weaponry at the time of timourids, but also exposes some rifles as well as two unusual French and Italian shields from the 1924 th century that were offered to the museum during an exhibition in. A second, then a third inner courtyard leads to the old mosque and other rooms decorated in traditional style. They are transformed into museums of history or crafts. One can see, among other things, a paper factory model and a reconstitution of a workshop as a jeweler. In the last room you can take a look at Khudaïar Khan's personal diary.

A souvenir shop is located in one of the pieces giving in the courtyard of the khan's sons. Iganbediev Abdousamat, head of the museum's history section, can help you visit traditional houses and stay in the living room. The museum director, Mansurova Manzurahon, can also help you if you are looking for accommodation.