The Khoja Ilgor Mosque () is an architectural monument located in Rishtan (

Fergana Region Fergana Region is one of the regions of Uzbekistan, located in the southern part of the Fergana Valley in the far east of the country. It borders the Namangan and Andijan Regions of Uzbekistan, as well as Kyrgyzstan (Batken and Osh Regions) and ...

, Uzbekistan). It was built in 1905 and is constructed in the Islamic architectural style. The Hodja Ilgor Mosque is a typical example of the

Fergana Fergana ( uz-Latn-Cyrl, Fargʻona, Фарғона, ), () or Ferghana, also Farghana is a district-level city and the capital of Fergana Region in eastern Uzbekistan. Fergana is about 320 km east of Tashkent, about 75 km southwest of A ...

multi-column, frontally opened cultic building. It is currently a functioning mosque. Presently, it is included in the list of Uzbekistan's nationally significant cultural heritage sites.

History

The Hodja Ilgor Mosque was built in 1905 in Rishtan. The main construction work was carried out by father and son, the craftsmen Eshonkhon and Noribai, commissioned by Shokir Mingbashi. The mosque has a rectangular shape (40x13 meters), and the winter three-column hall is surrounded by a three-sided

iwan An iwan (, , also as ''ivan'' or ''ivān''/''īvān'', , ) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called , a Persian term for a portal projecting ...

. The cornice line has a three-step shape, rising towards the central axis where the

mihrab ''Mihrab'' (, ', pl. ') is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the ''qibla'', the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a ''mihrab'' appears is thus the "''qibla'' wall". ...

s are located. The mihrabs, in the form of lancet niches, are made in the western wall of the hall under the canopy. The faceted column bases are highlighted with geometric shapes, and elements are intricately processed. The harmony and variety of colors and patterns attract attention. Mature trees shade the adjacent area and create a picturesque landscape in which the mosque harmoniously fits. East of the mosque, an artificial reservoir (

howz In traditional Persian architecture, a howz () is a centrally positioned symmetrical axis Reflecting pool, pool. If in a traditional house or private courtyard, it is used for bathing, aesthetics or both. If in a sahn of a mosque, it is used for ...

) has been created in the park. The craftsmen paid great attention to the ceiling decoration. The ceiling paintings feature a clear, graphic, well-proportioned design and a rich color palette. The drawing almost completely fills the contours of the architectural element. The ceiling decor employs an extensive range of colors in painting lush vegetative patterns. However, the ceiling paintings primarily use blue, green, and red colors.

References

{{coord missing, Uzbekistan Mosques in Uzbekistan Religious buildings and structures completed in 1905