Nogai Ishan Mosque

The mosque is named in honor of Sheikh Akhmet, a well-known religious figure in the region, an ethnic Nogai who came to these regions for the purpose of preaching and spiritual service. Sheikh Ahmet was highly respected by his fellow citizens and after his death became better known as Nogai-Ishan. The Nogai-Ishan mosque is considered the largest architectural monument of Sozak. The structure (dimensions 32×15) was built of baked bricks and wooden structures; the roof was covered with roofing iron. This object, rectangular in plan, consists of several interconnected rooms and an extension on the east side. The latter is designed as an aivan with a mihrab. The entrance portal with two side turrets has a very original character. The center of the building is a large prayer hall, decorated with plafonds with elegant colorful paintings. The architectural solution of the mosque in a peculiar and original way synthesizes the forms characteristic of the Central Asian cult architecture and original reminiscences of the European architectural tradition. In Soviet times, the mosque lost its direct functional significance, was given by the authorities to the club and underwent significant alterations. At present, the Nogai-Ishan mosque is a monument of republican significance and an important object of pilgrimage.