Bibi-Khanym Mosque 🇺🇿

You will stand in awe of Samarkand’s Bibi-Khanym Mosque, a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance commissioned by Saray Mulk Khanum, wife of ruler Timur, between 1399 and 1405. Once one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world, it was built to gather the entire male population of the city for joint Friday prayers. Though centuries of earthquakes, weather, and plunder reduced it to grandiose ruins, extensive restorations have revived its historic monumental glory.

As you enter through the vast 35-meter-high parade portal, you step into a classic four-iwan courtyard measuring 167 by 109 meters. Marvel at the grand 40-meter-high main dome featuring an innovative two-fold construction, elegant melon-shaped, longitudinally ribbed outer cupolas, and gilded interior details imitating local brocade embroideries. In the center of the courtyard sits a monumental marble pedestal—a huge stone Quran stand from the time of Timur.

You can also admire four restored outer corner minarets, a band of Quranic inscriptions from Surat al-Baqarah along the main sanctuary iwan, and the subtle remaining hints of ancient brick-vaulted galleries that once relied on a forest of over 400 marble columns.

What to see at Bibi-Khanym Mosque

• A monumental 35-meter-high parade portal leading into a classic four-iwan courtyard
• An ornate marble Quran stand crafted during the era of Timur at the courtyard center
• Innovative double-domed structures with elegant, melon-shaped, longitudinally ribbed outer cupolas
• Intricate interior gilding designed to imitate local brocade embroideries
• Restored Quranic inscriptions displaying Surat al-Baqarah along the main sanctuary iwan

Visiting tips

Walk around the sides of the grand pischtak to access the underlying construction of the main dome, as the monumental iwan blocks direct entry from the front.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Bibi-Khanym Mosque is easy to reach on Samarkand’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Samarkand travel guide.