Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum

Next to the memorial complex of Dorus-Saodat there stands one more monumental construction of the Temurids’ time – Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum.

Imam Muhammad Ben Khusein Sheybani nicknamed Khazrat (Saint) Imam Baghdadi lived in Iraq in the 13th – beginning of the 14th century and after death he was buried in the city of Ray. In 1384 Amir Temur seized the city without meeting any resistance on the part of its residents and most likely he took the mortal remains of the imam to Shakhrisabz, though this fact has not been testified by historical documents so far. Nevertheless, the north-western burial vault is referred to by local people as Mausoleum of Hazrat-Imam – “the Great Imam”.

Apparently on the site of Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum there once was a building, subsequently destroyed, in whose thick corner pylons the mausoleum was built in. Conical forms of tent-like dome, the base and other architectural elements evidence the participation of architects from Khoresm in the construction of the Mausoleum. The main portal decorated with huge pylon is oriented westward to face the Dorut-Tillavat ensemble. The pylon is covered with mosaics of glazed bricks. The most remarkable peculiarity of the Mausoleum is its top consisting of three domes. The inner dome covered with ganch stalactites serves a decorative function. Above this dome there is a load-bearing structural dome supported by the arched pendentives. The third tent-like dome resting on the faceted drum rises to a height of 27 metres. The eastern part of the mausoleum still bear clear traces of two-storey extentions and walls – the ruins of a construction that has not survived.

Through the door in the eastern niche one can enter the inside of the mausoleum. In this small but rather high hall there is a tombstome – sagana. A niche for praying – mihrab is set in the western wall.

The northern façade decorated with multicoloured majolica faces the spacious yard where in the later period, in the mid-19th century, there was constructed Khazrat-Imam domed mosque right against the mausoleum. From here the entrance at the corner leads to zeiratkhona (commemoration room). To the northern wall of the mausoleum there was built on a high polychromic avian with carved wooden coloums. Today this is an active mosque to conduct prayer service, and prayers are offered up for the peace of the souls of great ancestors buried in this mausoleum.

Sightseeing Places in Shakhrisabz

Ak-Saray Palace	Dorus Saodat memorial complex. Jahangir’s mausoleum.
Dorut-Tillaval complex with Shamsiddin Kulol Mausoleum	Kok-Gumbaz Mosque
Khazrat-Imam Mausoleum	Gumbazi-Seyeedon Mausoleum
Chorsu covered market