Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is located in Turkistan (formerly known as Yasi City), constructed during the Timurid period (1389–1405). It is an outstanding example of Timurid-era architecture and made a tremendous contribution to the development of Islamic religious structures. It offers a unique testament to the cultural and architectural advancements of Central Asia, and is one of the largest and best-preserved buildings from the Timurid period. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003.

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a massive, rectangular building with entrances and domes. Its foundation measures 465 meters in width and 655 meters in length. The outer walls are 1.8 to 2 meters thick, while the central chamber’s walls reach up to 3 meters in thickness. The mausoleum features numerous entrances and a large number of domes, with more than 35 rooms surrounding the central chamber, each serving different functions. The materials used for constructing the main hall are polished bricks with a remarkably smooth, glass-like finish. The northern entrance is particularly stunning — the arched gateway is carved and inlaid with delicate ivory. In terms of scale alone, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is comparable to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand.