all contacts
Рус Eng Fra
a 10 days tour of Uzbekistan from

read all news
Air Tickets
Visa and LOI
Tours & Excursions
Hotels & BnBs
Ground Transport
Tour Guides
Bonuses for Travelers
Advice for Travelers
Tourist Attractions
Destination: Uzbekistan
Last updated: 08 Jan 2017

Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Madrasah and Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan



Bibi-Khanym Mosque was constructed as a cathedral mosque of Samarkand, i.e. the main mosque of the Temurid power. The best architects, artists and craftsmen from conquered countries were involved in the construction of this grandiose complex. Elephants were used for heavy lifting and transporting. The mosque was under construction for five years. When Temur returned after his western campaign he was disappointed with the construction and ordered to reconstruct the portal which seemed not high enough. As a result, the cathedral mosque was supplied with one of the greatest portals of that time. Its arch was flanked with big pylons and minarets up to 50 meters high. The mosque was so gigantic, that the brick design could not bear its own weight and during the first decades the mosque was breaking little by little. Partial restoration of the mosque was carried out at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st centuries. In the center of the yard there is a marble lectern for the huge Koran, made in the time of Ulugbek. The mosque was named after Temur's senior wife Bibi-Khanym. That was the name of Saray Mulk-khanym - daughter of Genghisid Kazan-khan (1343-1346) who was the governor of Maverannahr and southeast Khurasan in the 1340s. Being Saray's husband Amir Temur had right to an honourable title of 'Guragan' - 'son-in-law of khan'.
Bibi-Khanym Complex
Bibi-Khanym Complex


View of Bibi-Khanym
View of Bibi-Khanym


Bibi Khanym in Summer
Bibi Khanym in Summer


People visiting the Bibi Khanym Complex
People visiting the Bibi Khanym Complex
Afrasiab Hill
Bagizagan Wine Factory/Cellar
Dahma of Shaybanids
Gur-Emir Mausoleum
Hazret-Hyzr Mosque
Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum
Khodja Akhrar Necropolis
Mausoleum of Khodja Daniyar (Saint Daniel)
Mausoleum of Kusam-Ibn-Abbas
Mausoleums of Abdi Clan
Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari
Observatory of Ulugbek
Registan Square
Ruhabad Mausoleum
Samarkand Paper Mill
Shahi-Zinda
Shahi-Zinda Central Group
Shahi-Zinda Northern Group
Shahi-Zinda Southern Group
Sher-Dor Madrasah
Temurid Female Necropolis
Tillya-Kari Madrasah on Registan Square
Tuglu-Tekin And Amir-Zadeh Mausoleums
Ulugbek Madrasah on Registan Square