Getting There
Located in Samarkand on Tashkent Street. Easy to get either by public transport or by taxi.
What to Expect
The mausoleum represents a high octahedral structure with a round drum, bearing a Kufi inscription.
Inside there is a burial chamber faced with marble. It contains three female tombs in sarcophagi.
The interior is arrayed with mosaic panels and paintings on a plafond and walls, where alongside with
ornamental motifs there are pictures of stylized landscapes exposing paradise garden, waiting for
pure people after their death.
History
The mausoleum was built at the same time as the nearby Bibi-Khanym mosque (1399-1405) and like
the mosque was named in homage to Timur’s senior wife, Sarai Mulk Khanym, (bibi being “lady” or
“mother”).
The structure appears to have been connected to the mosque by a long passageway. The
mausoleum is thought to have served not only as the burial shrine for Sarai Mulk Khanym, but also
for other women of the ruling family. As with all monuments in the Bibi-Khanym ensemble, the
mausoleum suffered severe damage in this active seismic zone.
Facilities Available
- Gifts
- Bakery
- Bibi-Khanym mosque
- Bibi-Khanym hotel
- Teahouse
- Dried fruits
- Siyob Farmer’s market
