In addition to the fascinating Kok-Gumbaz Mosque in Istaravshan, the city also boasts the Chor-Gumbaz Mosque, meaning «Four Domes,» which dates back to 1903. This mosque is situated near the northwestern edge of Istaravshan, close to the burial site of Eshoni Mavlono, who was renowned for his spiritual work. Architecturally, the building is a memorial mosque, crowned with wooden domes measuring 5 by 5 meters and supported by a wooden column.
Experts date this structure to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a fact corroborated by an inscription on the ceiling that reads «1321 year of the Hijra,» which translates to 1903 in the Gregorian calendar. It was during this period that the mosque underwent its first renovation, during which luxurious arabesques were added, and the wooden ceiling parts were richly decorated with intricate paintings, revealing the exact year of the renovation.
In the early 21st century, as Istaravshan celebrated its 2500th anniversary, the mausoleum underwent further restoration. In the courtyard, where the mosque’s caretaker likely resides, there is a dry hauz (pool) and an ancient chinar tree embedded in the wall.
The most intriguing aspect of the Four-Domed Mosque is its interior, where each dome is uniquely different. Of particular interest is the upper left dome, adorned with six-pointed stars. While these stars are likely of purely Islamic or folk origin, it’s worth noting that Istaravshan, historically known as Old Ura-Tyube, once had a Jewish community. In many cases, Central Asian Jews did not have synagogues and would often pray in mosques, suggesting a shared cultural and religious space.
