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Ak-Saray Palace
Just north of the centre, Timur’s summer palace has as much grandeur per square centimetre as anything in Samarkand. There’s actually little left except…
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Shakhrisabz
Shakhrisabz (Shahrisabz) is a small, traditional Uzbek town south of Samarkand, across the hills in the Kashkadarya province, and is a lovely drive from Samarkand with some spectacular views. This is Timur’s hometown, and once upon a time it probably put Samarkand itself in the shade.
In recent years the once charming centre of town was bulldozed and rebuilt as another of Uzbekistan's giant, empty plazas, with a few medieval buildings marooned in the antiseptic blandness. Despite the renovations, it’s an worthwhile day trip from Samarkand, and several agencies in Samarkand offer some interesting add-on hikes and homestays in the surrounding mountains.
Explore Shakhrisabz
- AAk-Saray Palace
Just north of the centre, Timur’s summer palace has as much grandeur per square centimetre as anything in Samarkand. There’s actually little left except…
- DDorus Siyadat
Timur finished the 3500-sq-metre mausoleum complex of the Dorus Siyadat in 1392 and at the time it may have overshadowed even the Ak-Saray Palace. The…
- DDorut Tilyovat
Facing Kok-Gumbaz is Dorut Tilyovat, the original burial complex of Timur’s forebears. Under the dome on the left is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Shamseddin…
- CCrypt of Timur
In the southeastern corner of the long-gone Dorus Siyadat is a bunker with a wooden door leading to an underground room, the Crypt of Timur. The plain…
- KKok-Gumbaz Mosque
This heavily renovated, large Friday mosque was completed by Ulugbek in 1434 in honour of his father Shah Rukh (who was Timur’s son). The name,…
- TTomb of Jehangir
The focus of the Dorus Siyadat mausoleum complex is the tall Tomb of Jehangir, Timur’s eldest and favourite son, who died at 22. It’s also the resting…
- SStatue of Timur
A huge of Timur stands in front of the ruins of the Ak-Saray Palace.
- AAmir Timur Museum
Housed inside the renovated Chubin Medressa on the eastern side of the square is this simple museum. Among the maps and models is a war drum, an…
- MMulk Ashtor Mosque
The Mulk Ashtor Mosque was built in 1904 but has roots leading back to the 14th century. It's just inside the old town at the end of a road southwest of…
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Shakhrisabz.
See
Ak-Saray Palace
Just north of the centre, Timur’s summer palace has as much grandeur per square centimetre as anything in Samarkand. There’s actually little left except…
See
Dorus Siyadat
Timur finished the 3500-sq-metre mausoleum complex of the Dorus Siyadat in 1392 and at the time it may have overshadowed even the Ak-Saray Palace. The…
See
Dorut Tilyovat
Facing Kok-Gumbaz is Dorut Tilyovat, the original burial complex of Timur’s forebears. Under the dome on the left is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Shamseddin…
See
Crypt of Timur
In the southeastern corner of the long-gone Dorus Siyadat is a bunker with a wooden door leading to an underground room, the Crypt of Timur. The plain…
See
Kok-Gumbaz Mosque
This heavily renovated, large Friday mosque was completed by Ulugbek in 1434 in honour of his father Shah Rukh (who was Timur’s son). The name,…
See
Tomb of Jehangir
The focus of the Dorus Siyadat mausoleum complex is the tall Tomb of Jehangir, Timur’s eldest and favourite son, who died at 22. It’s also the resting…
See
Amir Timur Museum
Housed inside the renovated Chubin Medressa on the eastern side of the square is this simple museum. Among the maps and models is a war drum, an…
See
Mulk Ashtor Mosque
The Mulk Ashtor Mosque was built in 1904 but has roots leading back to the 14th century. It's just inside the old town at the end of a road southwest of…
Guidebooks
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