Rukhobod Mausoleum — Attraction in Samarkand City

The mausoleum of Sheikh Burhanuddin Sagarji, known as Rukhobod or 'residence of the spirit', was built in 1380 by Tamerlan to house the remains of his mentor and his family. It is one of the oldest monuments in the city. Its architecture is simple: a cubic base with symmetrical sides, surmounted by an octagonal drum on which rests a conical dome 22 m high. Large dimensions that recall the Timurid origin of the building. It is said that a lock of the Prophet's hair was buried with the saint's remains. His grave lies almost in the centre of the mausoleum, next to that of the sheik's wife, Bibi Khalfa. When he died in China, his body was mummified and brought back to Samarkand on camelback, also buried in the mausoleum under the cobblestones. The paving stones are scratched by the nails of the architect, who signed his work. The other ten graves are those of Sheikh Burhanuddin Sagarji's children, eight boys and two girls. The tombs of the latter two can be recognized by their more tapered shape and are decorated with suras from the Koran. The east door is original, and still bears, engraved in Arabic script, Tamerlan's favourite phrase: "Allah is the only God and Muhammad is his prophet". The 14th century minaret has also been restored. Its architecture is a reflection of the entrance portal of the khanaka. Just behind it, the splendid traditional house in iwan, with colonnades and painted woodwork, is that of Khodja Muin Shukurullaev...

It’s one of the first edifices erected during the reign of Tamerlane (Timur), one of the oldest historic buildings in the city. It was built in 1380 over the grave of Sheikh Burhan al-Din Sagarji, the famous Islamic theologian and mystic.

Burhan al-Din Sagarji was a successful propagator of Islam in Eastern Turkestan (today’s Xingjian, China). He spent most part of his life as a pilgrim and died in China where had become a highly influential person at the emperor’s court. According to his will, he was buried in Samarkand.

The mausoleum was built by order of Tamerlane who revered the sheikh. The building has the form of a cube with a dome on it. It has no large main-entrance pishtaq portal typical of Timirud architecture; the entrances on three sides of the mausoleum are of equal size. In contrast to the other medieval Samarkand edifices, the mausoleum is not large: 14 by 12 meters in area and 24 meters in height. The interior is impressive in its austere simplicity. Burhan al-Din Sagarji’s wife and their nine children were also buried in...

Simplicity and serenity. The Rukhabad Mausoleum, built by order of Amir Timur in 1380, was erected over the grave of the Islamic theologian and mystic Sheikh Burhaneddin Sagaradzhi. This sheikh contributed significantly to the spread of Islam among the nomads of East Turkestan, and was highly esteemed by his contemporaries. The name of the mausoleum, Rukhabad, which means "Indwelling Spirit", is a reflection of the sheikh's holy aura. Sagaradhi, who was married to a Chinese princess, enjoyed great influence at the court of the Yuan Dynasty in China. died. After his death, his son Abu Said brought his remains to Samarkand in accordance with the sheikh's wishes. The mausoleum exudes simplicity and serenity. Inside are the tombs of Sagaradzhi, his wife and their nine children. Despite the simplicity of this mausoleum, I wouldn't miss it when...