Era, though there is no direct evidence of when Samarkand was founded; several theories propose that it was founded between the 8th and 7th centuries bce

Holy shrines and mausoleums

Imam Bukhari Shrine- The memorial complex of Imam Al-Bukhari is a complex of structures for memorial, cult and spiritual and educational purposes of the late XX century in the village of Khartang, Payaryk district of the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan. It was built on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in 1997-1998 on the ancient mazar of the famous Islamic religious figure Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari to commemorate the 1225th anniversary of his birth according to the lunar calendar. The grave of Imam al-Bukhari located on the territory of the complex is one of the most revered shrines of Islam in Central Asia.


Ruhabad Mausoleum- The Rukhabad Mausoleum (Uzbek Ruhobod maqbarasi, Ruhobod maqbarasi - Abode of the Spirit) is a memorial and cult structure of the XIV century in Samarkand, the burial place of the Islamic preacher, theologian and mystic scholar Sheikh Burkhaneddin Klych Sagardzhi.

Imam Maturidi Shrine - The mausoleum of Abu Mansur Maturidi (Uzbek Moturidiy yodgorlik majmui) is a mausoleum in Samarkand, located a kilometer southeast of the Registan square and ensemble. The mausoleum was erected over the alleged grave of Abu Mansur Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Maturidi (870-944), a famous Islamic theologian, expert in fiqh (Muslim jurisprudence) and interpreter of the Koran (mufassir), the founder of Maturidism.



Murad Avliya Shrine - The Murad Avliya Mausoleum is one of the Muslim mausoleums in the city of Samarkand. Buried in the mausoleum is Khoja Said Musa ibn Said Murtaza, better known as Murad Awliya (Saint Murad; see the article Awliya), who died in 1511. The word and name Murad (in Persian and Uzbek sounds like Murod) means "desire" or "good intention", and the believers called the saint so because he allegedly contributed to the quick fulfillment of desires pleasing to God. It is one of the few Shiite shrines in Samarkand. However, the mausoleum is also revered by the Sunnis.

Khoja Daniyar Mausoleum - According to legendary information from the 18th century, the remains of the Old Testament biblical prophet Daniyar (Daniel) are buried in the mausoleum, whose remains were brought to Samarkand and buried by the Central Asian medieval commander and conqueror Amir Timur (Tamerlane). The current building of the mausoleum and the complex were built at the very beginning of the 20th century, in subsequent years the building of the mausoleum and the complex were reconstructed several times.

Nuriddin Basir Shrine - The mausoleum of Nuriddin Basir (Uzbek Nuriddin Basir maqbarasi, Persian حرم نورالدّین باسیر) is one of the Muslim mausoleums of the 20th century in the city of Samarkand. Sheikh Nuriddin Basir Kutbi Chakhordahum is buried in the mausoleum.The mausoleum is located in the northeastern part of Samarkand, on the territory of the so-called old city, in the southern outskirts of the ancient settlement Afrasiab, on the territory of the ancient cemetery Khazret-Khyzr, 230 meters northeast of the Khazret-Khyzr mosque and the mausoleum of Islam Karimov, 200 meters northeast of the Mahsumbobo mausoleum.