Chorsu (Samarkand)

Chorsu is a historical monument building located in the central part of the city of Samarkand (Uzbekistan), northeast of the Registan Square and ensemble, on Islam Karimov Street, built at the expense of Emir Shakhmurad of Bukhara. It currently serves as a museum and gallery.

Along with other architectural and archaeological historical monuments of Samarkand, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The name Chorsu literally translates from Persian as four paths/roads.

Under Emir Shakhmurad, in 1785, the current building was built, which was named Chorsu, because of the four entrances to the domed building. The walls of the building are shaped like prisms, which have 12 corners. The building has one large central dome and four small domes, which are located above the entrances of the building. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the building was used by merchants and merchants of clothing, hats, medicines, books and other things. There were also shops and small shops of merchants around the building.

Starting from the Soviet period, the building was turned into a monument building, and it sold only souvenirs and small everyday items. In 2005, the shopping dome was completely renovated, while a three-meter layer of soil was removed to restore the full height of the building. Currently, the Chorsu shopping dome also has the status of a monument building, and is used as a museum and fine art gallery. Many famous Uzbek and foreign artists and sculptors exhibit their works in Chorsu.