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Uzbekistan🇺🇿 | attractionsHazrati Imam ComplexUthman Quran, Barak-Khan portal, working mosque | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Hazrati Imam Complex
👍 Recommendedattraction ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

This is Tashkent’s religious center: working mosques, a 16th-century madrasah and a library holding one of the oldest known Qurans, all around one paved square, and entry to the courtyards is free. The complex sits in the old town (Old City), northwest of the center, a short ride from the Chorsu bazaar. Go around 8 or 9 a.m. and you share the paving with worshippers and a few school groups, not tour buses. The Barak-Khan Madrasah and Tilla Sheikh Mosque are the draw, and the Quran manuscript is a real jolt. Expect some pushy souvenir sellers in the madrasah cells, and the mosques may close to visitors during prayer times. It's modest in size, no sprawling ruin. History lovers and photographers will enjoy it most; anyone wanting adrenaline or a full-day outing will be bored fast.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 attraction in UzbekistanWhat makes this attraction worth visiting

Come for the Uthman Quran, one of the oldest surviving copies of the text, kept in the Muyi Mubarak Library Museum. Even if manuscripts are not your thing, the size of the pages and the story of how it traveled to Tashkent make it a standout among Central Asian relics. The second reason is the architecture. The tiled portal of the Barak-Khan Madrasah, the domes of the Tilla Sheikh Mosque and the two 54-meter minarets of the new Hazrati Imam Mosque give you Timurid-style and later Uzbek tilework without the heavy crowds of Samarkand’s Registan. It also works as a milestone: this is the spiritual heart of the capital, where Islam is lived rather than staged. You can watch men arriving for prayer, hear the call echo off the courtyard walls, and get a calmer, more local read on Uzbekistan before heading to the famed Silk Road cities.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Uthman Quran (Muyi Mubarak Library Museum): A huge parchment manuscript traditionally attributed to the third caliph Uthman. It sits under glass in the library museum, and the scale of the pages is the thing you remember.
  2. Tilla Sheikh Mosque: A working 19th-century mosque with turquoise domes and a quiet interior of carved wood and painted ceilings. Dress modestly and be respectful during prayer times.
  3. Barak-Khan Madrasah: A sixteenth-century religious school with a tiled entrance portal. The former student cells now hold craft shops selling ceramics, knives, and embroidery.
  4. Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum: The tomb of the early scholar Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, a modest domed building that gives the complex its oldest layer of history.
  5. Muyi Mubarak Madrasah: A smaller courtyard building with its own minaret,
… read more 👉
  1. Uthman Quran (Muyi Mubarak Library Museum): A huge parchment manuscript traditionally attributed to the third caliph Uthman. It sits under glass in the library museum, and the scale of the pages is the thing you remember.
  2. Tilla Sheikh Mosque: A working 19th-century mosque with turquoise domes and a quiet interior of carved wood and painted ceilings. Dress modestly and be respectful during prayer times.
  3. Barak-Khan Madrasah: A sixteenth-century religious school with a tiled entrance portal. The former student cells now hold craft shops selling ceramics, knives, and embroidery.
  4. Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum: The tomb of the early scholar Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, a modest domed building that gives the complex its oldest layer of history.
  5. Muyi Mubarak Madrasah: A smaller courtyard building with its own minaret, where the library collection is housed alongside old manuscripts and printed books.
  6. Imam Al-Bukhari Islamic Institute and the minarets: Viewed from the plaza, the newer minarets frame the old buildings and give the best photographs at dusk.
  7. Courtyard craft stalls and tea: Stop for green tea in the quiet corners and watch artisans at work.
  8. Hazrati Imam Mosque: The newest and largest building in the complex, built in 2007, with two 54-meter minarets that dominate the square.
Allow about one and a half to two hours for everything, longer if you linger in the library museum.
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Things to do around Hazrati Imam Complex

Heart of Old Tashkent Bazaars and Sacred Treasures

Heart of Old Tashkent Bazaars and Sacred Treasures

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🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Spring (April to May): Highs of 18 to 27°C (64 to 81°F), rose gardens in bloom and clear skies for photographing the blue domes of Tilla Sheikh Mosque. Rain falls in short bursts, and tour groups start filling the square.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F) with over 14 hours of daylight. The square empties by noon, so go right after opening or near sunset, when the sandstone glows.
  • Autumn (September to October): Highs of 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F) and dry air. This is the busiest season, and hotel rates in Tashkent rise about 10 to 20 percent.
  • Winter (November to March): Temperatures range from -3 to 10°C (27 to 50°F), with 9 to 10 hours of daylight. Crowds vanish, prices drop, and the tilework looks sharp against gray skies.
Friday midday brings worshippers to the mosque, … read more 👉
  • Spring (April to May): Highs of 18 to 27°C (64 to 81°F), rose gardens in bloom and clear skies for photographing the blue domes of Tilla Sheikh Mosque. Rain falls in short bursts, and tour groups start filling the square.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F) with over 14 hours of daylight. The square empties by noon, so go right after opening or near sunset, when the sandstone glows.
  • Autumn (September to October): Highs of 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F) and dry air. This is the busiest season, and hotel rates in Tashkent rise about 10 to 20 percent.
  • Winter (November to March): Temperatures range from -3 to 10°C (27 to 50°F), with 9 to 10 hours of daylight. Crowds vanish, prices drop, and the tilework looks sharp against gray skies.
Friday midday brings worshippers to the mosque, so visit the library and museum areas on another day.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The Old Town district of Shaykhontohur, where the complex stands, is the most convenient base, with a handful of guesthouses and hostels within a 5 to 15 minute walk of the square. Streets around Chorsu Bazaar, about 1.5 km away, suit backpackers best: the market sells cheap lunches, the Chorsu metro station links you to the rest of the city, and the lanes are busy with locals until late evening. Social hostels cluster here, so finding travel partners for onward trips to Samarkand or Bukhara is easy.

For a livelier evening scene, look near Amir Temur Square and Mustaqillik Maydoni in the center. … read more 👉
The Old Town district of Shaykhontohur, where the complex stands, is the most convenient base, with a handful of guesthouses and hostels within a 5 to 15 minute walk of the square. Streets around Chorsu Bazaar, about 1.5 km away, suit backpackers best: the market sells cheap lunches, the Chorsu metro station links you to the rest of the city, and the lanes are busy with locals until late evening. Social hostels cluster here, so finding travel partners for onward trips to Samarkand or Bukhara is easy.

For a livelier evening scene, look near Amir Temur Square and Mustaqillik Maydoni in the center. You pay a little more, but restaurants, cafes and the Tashkent metro are all close, and the area feels safe after dark. The Minor and Mirabad districts are quieter, with family-run guesthouses and homestays that include breakfast. All three areas have good connections to Hazrati Imam by metro and short taxi rides.
Best hostels in Uzbekistan


Best quality hotels in Uzbekistan

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A realistic budget for visiting Hazrati Imam Complex and covering a day in Tashkent is US$31 to 56 per person. Entry to the square and courtyards is free, so spending depends mostly on beds, food and museum tickets. Prices are quoted in US$ but paid in Uzbek som.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Complex entryUS$0The square, Barak-Khan Madrasa exterior and mosque courtyards are open without a ticket.
Museum and libraryUS$1 to 3The Muyi Muborak Library, which houses the Uthman Quran, charges a small fee. Photo permits cost a little extra.
Accommodation (high season)US$10 to 25Dorm beds cost US$10 to 15, while private guesthouse rooms start around US$25.
FoodUS$6 to 12Plov, lagman and samsa at canteens and bazaar stalls cost US$2 to 4 each.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Metro rides cost under US$0.30. Yandex
… read more 👉
A realistic budget for visiting Hazrati Imam Complex and covering a day in Tashkent is US$31 to 56 per person. Entry to the square and courtyards is free, so spending depends mostly on beds, food and museum tickets. Prices are quoted in US$ but paid in Uzbek som.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Complex entryUS$0The square, Barak-Khan Madrasa exterior and mosque courtyards are open without a ticket.
Museum and libraryUS$1 to 3The Muyi Muborak Library, which houses the Uthman Quran, charges a small fee. Photo permits cost a little extra.
Accommodation (high season)US$10 to 25Dorm beds cost US$10 to 15, while private guesthouse rooms start around US$25.
FoodUS$6 to 12Plov, lagman and samsa at canteens and bazaar stalls cost US$2 to 4 each.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Metro rides cost under US$0.30. Yandex Go taxis from the center cost US$1.50 to 4.
Souvenirs and teaUS$2 to 5Craft stalls sell ceramics and pots of tea for a few dollars.
Total Daily BudgetUS$31 to 56Per person, per day, in high season.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan 1.5 to 2 hours for the complex itself. That covers the square, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Barak-Khan Madrasa and the library with the Uthman Quran. Add another hour if you wander the nearby Chorsu Bazaar, and 3 hours in total makes a comfortable half-day.
Yes, because the square and courtyards are free and the library costs only US$1 to 3. You get some of the best blue-domed architecture in Tashkent, plus the 7th-century Uthman Quran on display. Visit early and you will often have the square nearly to yourself.
Take the metro to Chorsu or Gafur Gulom station, then walk or ride 10 to 15 minutes to the complex. A taxi from central Tashkent via Yandex Go takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs US$1.50 to 4. Buses also run along Zarqaynar Street, and the whole trip from Amir Temur Square takes about 30 minutes.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Most people photograph the domes and leave. Walk into the Barak-Khan Madrasah cells instead and talk to the craftsmen, because that is where the old quarter feels alive. Bring small bills and your patience.

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The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Uzbekistan. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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