Gur Emir Mausoleum

Gur Emir Mausoleum is the tomb of Amir Timur and is also known as Amir Temur Mausoleum. The mausoleum also consists of the tombs of Timur’s sons and grandson. It is known for its historical significance and the grand architecture. The dome's remarkable height, supported by a tall cylindrical drum, necessitated advanced engineering techniques, are believed to be influenced by Persian architects. The entrance portal is lavishly adorned with intricately carved bricks and a variety of mosaic designs.

The intricately carved headstones within the chamber mark the locations of the actual tombs which are situated in a crypt directly beneath the painted internal domes. This grand complex originally included a khanaka and the madrasah of Muhammad Sultan, the grandson of Amir Timur. The madrasah was intended to educate the children of Samarkand's nobility, while the khanaka served as a place for spiritual retreat. The marble tombstones of Tamerlane's sons and grandsons, as well as that of his spiritual teacher, Mir Said Baraka lies nearby in the same complex. This mausoleum was a prototype for famous Mughal architecture built by Timur’s descendants in North India, namely Humayun’s tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra.