The Andijan Mosque complex was constructed between 1884 and 1892, with interruptions until 1902, on the site of a partially ruined country mosque (namazgah) at the initiative of a local benefactor, Mahmud ‘Ali-bay. The restoration of the building was carried out by craftsmen Isa-khan and Mavlono, who aimed to preserve the appearance of the former mosque.
The area of the complex covers approximately two hectares and includes several key elements, among which is a minaret standing 27.5 meters tall. The well-preserved structure features an entrance with a spiral staircase located on the northwest side. The door is decorated with intricate carvings. Inside the minaret, there is a spiral staircase leading to the upper platform. A rectangular marble slab with an inscription is placed on the minaret, divided by horizontal lines. The inscription contains information about the construction, the benefactor, and a fragment from the Quran (61:13), as well as the name of the carver, Bahadir Khoja. The script is mixed, utilizing both the Nasta'liq and Naskh styles. The inscription and patterns on the marble slab have been damaged over time and through unsuccessful restorations in the past, making full reading difficult.
The body of the minaret is adorned with terracotta tiles featuring relief patterns. At the top of the minaret, there is stalactite decoration (sharafa) with eight arched openings, partially covered by a lattice screen (panjara). Between the arches is a relief geometric pattern based on the swastika—a symbol of peace characteristic of ancient Turkic peoples.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album Architectural epigraphy of Uzbekistan. Andijan.
The main sponsor of the project is the oilfield services company Eriell-Group.
