Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan

Shakhrisabz - Tamerlane’s Hometown

Timur’s hometown Shakhrisabz is a small town south of Samarkand. By the time of birth of Timur on 9 April 1336 at the village of Hoja Ilghar, 13 km to the south from Kesh (former name of Shakhrisabz), Kesh was ruled by the Barlas clan, Mongols of the Chaghatai khanate, turkicised by their long stay in the fertile Kashkadarya valley.

Using his Barlas lineage, Tamerlane gathered a band of followers, who helped him to become from a sheep-rustler to the lord of the valley by the age of 25. A decade later he became a lord of the whole Transoxiana, making the Samarkand the capital of his empire. As he rose to power, Timur paid great effort to strengthen and beautify Kesh. He built Ak Saray, the white palace, surrounded it by high walls and a deep moat, crossed by drawbridge, and laid out green gardens which gave a new name of Shakhrisabz (Tajik for “Green Town”).

The town was almost destroyed in the 16th century by the emir of Bukhara, Abdullah Khan II, in a quest for the Shaybanid throne. Local stories claim that he became very angry, when he lost his favorite horse from exhaustion on the approach to the city that he ordered to destroy it.

Most of the Shakhrisabz’s current attractions were built here by Timur (including a tomb intended for himself) or his grandson Ulughbek. Although, the city hosts many historical sites, it is worth a visit just to check out the great man’s roots.

Remains of Ak Saray palace and old city walls can be found in just north of the city center. After the independence, the statue of the Amir Temur was built in front of the Ak Saray, reminding by its size the greatness of Amir Timur and his empire. To the south, just across the road from Amir Temur’s statue, you will find Amir Timur’s museum located in a two storey part of Chubin Madrassah.

The most beautiful historical part of Shakhrisabz, is the Kok Gumbaz mosque and Dorut Tilovat. The Kok Gumbaz was competed in 1437 by Ulughbek in honor of his father Shah Rukh. Dorut Tilovat (House of Meditation) hosts the Mausoleum of Sheikh Shamseddin Kulyal (1374), spiritual tutor to Timur and his father, and Gumbaz Seyidan (Dome of the Sayyids), which Ulughbek finished in 1438 as a mausoleum for his own descendants.

Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan - Pictures

More pictures of Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan

Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan - Sights of Interest

Ak Saray
Tamerlane's Crypt
Doruttilovat
Kok Gumbaz
Dorussaodat