The luxurious Palace of Khudayar Khan is the main architectural and historical attraction in Kokand. This once gigantic complex, which was and is still called the Pearl of Kokand, was the residence of the last Kokand Khan, who spared no expense in building and decorating his home.

It may seem that the palace was built many centuries ago but it isn’t so true. The construction began in the 19th century and ended in 1871. It was an incredibly ambitious project that was completed successfully. The whole complex is designed in the same style. The central facade is decorated with splendid gates and four minarets.

The Palace of Khudayar Khan, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, will amaze you with its luxurious appearance and stunning interiors in the preserved halls: mosaics and decorative carvings, expensive furniture, and the finest wall paintings. Hundreds of artisans and 16 000 workers worked hard to please the rich and demanding Khan.

The result was more than a mere palace: it was a fabulous jewelry box with seven courtyards and 119 rooms. The most beautiful ones were the throne room and the reception hall. After all, it was here that all the most important meetings took place. And the guests were supposed to be delighted by the Khan’s wealth and power.

Khudayar’s private chambers were less luxurious, however, they were just as expensive in decoration because only the best materials were used. On the walls, you could often see quotes from ancient philosophers and excerpts from the Koran. Parts of the palace that belonged to his wives and children had a sophisticated decoration remarkable for its finesse and lightness.

Of all this splendor, only two courtyards and 19 rooms have survived to our day. But even this is enough to represent the enormous scale of the entire complex. Today, there is a local history museum displaying ancient artifacts that you can use to study the exciting history of this beautiful building.