Bibi-Khanym Mosque

The Bibi‑Khanym Mosque sits right in the heart of a "real", living city - houses stand here, people live and go about their daily business, cars drive by. Nearby is a bustling bazaar, so life here is three times more vibrant than usual. This sets it apart from Registan, where everything is centered on the monuments and focused entirely on them. Here, you are immersed into the present, earthly world and yet can unexpectedly touch the history of ancient Uzbekistan. The mosque was built under Tamerlane in the 15th century. "Bibi‑Khanym" translates as "Elder Princess". According to legend, Tamerlane's eldest wife wanted to give him a gift: while he was away on campaign, she set out to build the most beautiful and majestic mosque in the world. But Tamerlane didn't appreciate his beloved's efforts and upon his return, he deemed the mosque's portal insufficiently grand... Whether true or not, he did execute a high‑ranking construction supervisor upon his return and ordered the portal to be rebuilt. The result, of course, is impressive. Besides its scale, what strikes visitors - as with other ancient Samarkand monuments - is the mosque’s rich decoration: majolica, carved stone and semi‑precious stones. Yes, when visiting Samarkand, most people rightly start with Registan. Then they head to Gur‑i Amir (the mausoleum of Tamerlane and his family). It is also worth venturing beyond the centre toward Afrosiyab (the ancient settlement where Samarkand began) to see the Shah-i‑Zinda necropolis — though it is at a certain distance, and walking there would take a long time. In contrast, Bibi‑Khanym is located in the centre, quite close to Registan. I'd say it is well worth visiting to see another masterpiece commissioned by Tamerlane, created with the help of talented craftsmen from India, Iran, Khorezm, and the Golden Horde. It's both fascinating and enlightening.

Bibi Khanym is Amir Temur’s wife. The name of the mosque is dedicated to her. Located in Registan square after the statue of the first president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov heading to Siab Bazaar. The mosque was built much taller than this but because of the soily land and earthquake, it collapsed partially. Again renovated properly. A wonderful place to visit which shows the beauty of architecture.

Bibi-Khanym Mosque, A Timurid Masterpiece. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque stands as one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring architectural complexes in Samarkand. Its vast scale and opulent decoration symbolized the wealth and power of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) and his empire. Constructed between 1399 and 1404, using the spoils of Timur’s campaign in India, it was named after Bibi-Khanym, the nickname of Saray Mulk Khanym, Timur’s senior wife. The complex features a grand congregational mosque with a monumental entrance (iwan), towering minarets, and a massive dome. Two smaller side mosques are also part of the design. However, Timur’s architectural vision exceeded the engineering capabilities of the time. The structure was too ambitious, and signs of deterioration appeared even before construction was complete. Work stopped in 1405 following Timur’s sudden death. Timur’s grandson, Ulugh Beg, is known to have used a monumental marble Quran stand within the mosque, on which the famous Quran of Caliph Uthman (Osman) was displayed during Friday prayers. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque remained in use until the 17th century, when the Tilla-Kari Mosque was built to replace it. Restoration efforts began in the 1970s as part of a broader campaign led by Uzbekistan’s first president, Islam Karimov, to revive the architectural legacy of the Timurid era.

Beautiful mosque and architectural wonder near the siyob bazaar of samarkand. Bibi-Khanym Mosque Bibi-Khanym Mosque is an architectural monument of medieval Samarkand in 1399-1404. The mosque was named in honor of Timur’s beloved wife. The construction of the building was begun after a victorious campaign of Timur to India

The entrance was 75k. The mosque is under construction, however you can sightsee the inside square. It’s really beautiful and great to see. We enjoyed it 🥰

It looks fascinating from outside. But I don’t think it worths to pay both areas to enter 75k som. There are many shops inside and that is all. It is sad to see they turn here into shops. The grand main mosque, dedicated to Timur's wife. It was once considered one of the largest structures in the world. Legend has it that the architect fell in love with Bibi Khanym and wanted to leave his lips on it. This love story is the mosque's romantic legend.

Even though I didn’t enter into the mosque, it’s beautiful to see from outside. It’s next to the bazaar, but there is a tranquil atmosphere. Very safe.

You don’t have to pay to enter the courtyard. Unless you want a guided tour to learn about its history, you can get the best pictures and experience from outside. Definitely worth a look when visiting the Bozori.