Bibi-Khanym Mosque, 15th century mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Bibi-Khanym Mosque is a religious building in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with three prayer halls grouped around a large courtyard. Tall entrance gates and minarets frame the central space, while blue and turquoise tiles cover the surfaces.
Timur commissioned the project after his Indian campaign, intending to create the largest mosque in the Islamic world. Earthquakes damaged the structure over the centuries until Soviet and Uzbek teams rebuilt it starting in the 1970s.
The name honors Timur's senior wife Saray Mulk Khanum, connecting the building with the ruling dynasty. Visitors today see the rebuilt domes and portals, which show how this kind of mosque appeared in medieval Central Asia.
The complex sits in the old town of Samarkand near Registan Square and is easy to reach on foot. The best light for visiting comes in the late afternoon when the sun illuminates the tilework and masonry.
A massive marble stand in the courtyard holds a seventh-century Quran and attracts pilgrims who circle it three times. Local tradition claims that women who do this will be granted children.
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