The Registan Square

Registan can be truly regarded as one of the most spectacular architectural ensembles of Central Asia, which is situated in the heart of Samarkand city. The ensemble has a breathtaking view from three geometrically accurate located medressas on a square. The word "Registan" descends from a Persian origin meaning "sandy place".

Ulugbek Observatory

Ulugbek Observatory. To all appearances, Ulugbek was more known as an astronomer than a governor. And indeed, Ulugbek was more interested in exploring stars instead of lands. His observatory was well equipped in the medieval world attracting the world's leading scientists and it became a center of progress and a place of heretical idea. "Where knowledge begins, there religion ends" was the slogan of his teacher Qozi Zoda Rumiy. With respect to this belief, it was often disputed if God existed.

Shakhi Zinda

Translated as "Alive Shah" from Persian, Shakhi Zinda is named in honor of Kusam Ibn Abbos, Prophet Mohammed's cousin, who is believed to bring Islam to this soil. Besides, the burial place and the building are the most ancient. Shakhi Zinda is also a place of pilgrimage, so dress modestly to visit.

Bibi Khanum Mosque

An enormous parochial mosque faces north east of Registan. Even if in ruins it has not lost its majestic panorama. The legend goes that Bibi Khanum, a chinese wife of Tamerlane, decided to surprise her spouse who was gone to India during 1398-1399. Conversely, she shocked him with a love kiss on architect's neck. The architect fell madly in love with her and refused to complete construction of the building if she would not let him kiss. Timur got terribly enraged and ordered to bring him alive or dead. However, he took advantage of a high minaret, climbed it and vanished to Persia The mosque was finished shortly before Timur's death.

Guri Emir Mausoleum

Timur, his two sons and also two grandsons, including Ulugbek are buried in Guri Emir, Persian "Emir's Tomb". Timur's burial place (a whole stone block made from dark - green nephrite) is at the center of Guri Emir. Before his death he whispered "Only a stone and my name on it". This biggest greenstone was brought from a mountain district of Chinese Turkistan (by Mongolian princess), and according to another story, Ulugbek himself brought it in 1411.

Other historical and architectural monuments of Samarkand

The ancient settlement of Afrosiyab (the 8th c. BC, the 13th c. AD)
Hazret-Hyzr Mosque (1399-1404)
Medressa of Ulugbek (1417-1420)
Shir-Dor Medressa (1619-1635/36)
Tillya-Kari Medressa (1647-1659/60)
Chorsu, bazar dome (the end of the 18th c.)
Rukhabad Mausoleum (1380)
Ok Saroy Mausoleum (1470)
Gur-Emir Mausoleum (1404)
Namazgoh Mosque (17th c.)
Ishrat-Khona Mausoleum (1464)
Ensemble of Hoji Akhror (the 15th-20th c.)
Chupon-Ata Mausoleum (1430-1440)
Hoji Abdi Darun Mazar (holy place of burail) (15th-19th c.)