🕌 Samarkand: 4 wonders of the ancient city
In the 10th century, Samarkand was the capital of a great empire, but now many can barely find it on the map. But the city's attractions are no less significant than the Eiffel Tower and other tourist attractions.
Registan
Registan is the name given to any square in the East. But the Samarkand Registan of the 15th-17th centuries is the most famous. There are three madrasahs on the square – Ulugbek, Shir Dor and Tillya-Kari. Inside them there are mosques and bazaars. In the evenings, the complex glows with bright colors and music plays. Entrance to the Registan is paid.
Timurid Mausoleum
Tamerlane is a very famous person throughout the East. The Timurid Empire covered all of Central Asia from Turkey to India. He was born on the territory of Uzbekistan, now the city of Shakhrisabz.
The tomb of the Timurid family began to be built after the death of Timur's grandson and heir to the empire, Muhammad Sultan. A year later, Timur himself died. He was buried in the still unfinished complex in 1405. And this is where the architectural idea of the Taj Mahal in India came from. You know him for sure!
Bibi-Khanim Mosque
Bibi Khanym was the name of Tamerlane’s beloved wife, the expression means “elder wife.” The complex began to be built after Amir Timur’s victorious campaign in India in the 14th century. In the center of the complex there used to be a large Koran. Locals believed that if a woman could not get pregnant for a long time, then she needed to come here to pray.
The size of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque is amazing – the entrance portal is 33.15 meters high and 46 meters wide. This is the height of a 10-story building. And such a “house” costs seven centuries! Stand at the entrance and just imagine how big the building is. And then walk away along the bridge and once again admire the towering complex from afar – there is an excellent view from there.
Ensemble of mausoleums of Shahi-Zinda
The amazing shades of blue will attract everyone with a beautiful Instagram feed. True, gorgeous photos will be taken against the background of the tombs, because Shahi-Zinda consists of mosques, madrassas and mausoleums.
It began to take shape in the 11th century. Today there are 11 mausoleums in the complex. New ones have not been built since the last century. You will see the tombstones of the wives and other relatives of Tamerlane, emirs and clergy. From the outside you won’t guess what an oriental fairy tale is inside. Be sure to stop by and be amazed by the richness of the colors and the shine of the ornaments.
Muslims visit this complex not only for aesthetic pleasure. In a Muslim's picture of the world, the pilgrimage to Shahi-Zinda is almost equated with Mecca! The thing is that, according to legend, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, Kusam ibn Abbas, is buried here. Can you imagine how important this place is?