The Registan contains three madrasahs (schools); the Ulugh Beg Madrasah (1417-1420); Tilya-Kori Madrasah (1646-1660) and the Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619-1636).

The Tilya-Kori Madrasah was built in the mid-17th century by the Shaybanid Amir Yalangtush. The name Tilya-Kori means 鈥榞ilded' or 鈥榞old-covered'; and the entire building is lavishly decorated with elaborate geometrical arabesques and sura from the Qur'an both outside and especially within. A magnificent turquoise dome rises over the left (western) side of the building; decorated inside with gilded Qur'anic inscriptions and delicate muqarnas hanging 鈥榮talactite' decorations. The interior of the madrasah comprises rooms for students with accompanying vestibules surrounding three-sides of a square courtyard; while a domed mosque occupies the fourth.

The dome rises in four stages. A rectangular plinth forms the primary prayer hall and rises above the madrasa walls. Next; two terraced octagonal tiers rise to support a high cylindrical drum. The dome's monochrome blue color contrasts pleasingly with the drum's polychrome decoration formed by bands of Arabic calligraphy taken from the Qur'an.