Samarkand

The most important sites in Samarkand during Uzbekistan travel are the following. The Gur-I-Amir Mausoleum is where Tamerlane, along with family members, lies beneath this structure. He had it built for himself made of a single block of dark green jade. The tomb was opened in 1941 and excavated. The entrance to the mausoleum is decorated with Arabic calligraphy and inscriptions, the latter being a common feature in Islamic architecture. Inside, the walls have been covered in tiles.  The Registan was a public square during the reign of Tamerlane for royal proclamations and public executions and possibly, the most awesome sight in Central Asia. It contains today, three madrasas (Islamic scholarly schools) of distinctive Islamic architecture. There is the Ulugbek Madrasa from 1420, the Sher-Dor Madrasa from the 17th Century and the Tilya-Kori Madrasa, also from the 17th century. The last has a pleasant, gardenlike courtyard and a mosque intricately decorated with gold.  The enormous Bibi-Khanym Mosque is one of the most important monuments in Samarkand. In the 15th Century, it was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world with its three domed rooms, covered galleries and an open courtyard. It was intended to gather the entire male population of Samarkand for Friday prayers. The interior courtyard contains a huge marble Koran stand. The Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis. Legend has it that the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was buried here. The Afrosiab Museum was built around one of Samarkand’s most important archaeological sites, a 7th Century fresco of the Sogdian King Varkhouman, discovered in 1965.