A Day Trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand offers travelers the opportunity to visit Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Amir Temur, known in Uzbek as “the green city,” whose historic center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features an exceptional collection of remarkable architectural monuments.
A Day Trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand leads travelers southward beyond Samarkand, along a route that traverses the Zarafshan Range, a Pamiri spur, toward the historic Takhtakaracha Pass, a major branch of the ancient Silk Road once crossed by the armies of Alexander the Great and Amir Temur on their way to India. In 1395, Amir Temur ordered the construction of a palace and garden along this route, situated between his imperial capital and his birthplace, Shakhrisabz, located 90 kilometers to the south. The journey continues through picturesque villages shaded by white acacias, Persian walnut, pine, and plane trees, ultimately reaching the pass, which rises to more than 1,620 meters; on clear days, a scenic viewpoint beyond the peak offers an impressive panorama of the town of Kitob in the Kashkadarya province.
A Day Trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand includes a first stop at a site distinguished by unusually shaped stone formations located along the route, where visitors may observe and photograph these remarkable natural structures. The second stop is planned at the mountain-top market situated 1,600 meters above sea level, where local villagers offer a wide variety of products, including dried fruits, fresh seasonal produce, and naturally gathered mountain herbs. If weather conditions permit, travelers will also have the opportunity to capture excellent panoramic photographs from the mountain top as they continue their journey toward Shakhrisabz.
A Day Trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand allows travelers, upon arrival, to explore the city’s notable sights through a comprehensive walking tour, providing an opportunity to appreciate and experience the rich historical and cultural heritage of Shakhrisabz.
Ak Saray Palace (“a white palace” in Uzbek) built in 1380-1404. Amir Temur gathered its craftsmen to his hometown to build his greatest palace, similar in structure to Samarkand’s Bibi Khanum Mosque. The name Ak-Serai (White Palace) symbolizes his noble descent, not the dominant colour, for blue, green and gold patterned the vast mosaics.
Statue of Amir Temur— there are three huge statues of Temur: one is in Samarkand, one is in Tashkent and the third is in his hometown Shakhrisabz in standing position. The bronze statue weighs 20 tons and 9 meters high built after the Independence (1991).
Complex of Dor-us Siyadat (“place of sadness” in Uzbek) from XIV century. It arose on the death of his eldest and favorite son Jahangir, killed in 1375 (aged only 22). When another son, Umar Sheikh, joined Jahangir in 1394, Temur even built himself a crypt.
Dor-ut Tilavat (“place of praying” In Uzbek) from XIV-XV centuries, contains the Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1435) built by grandson of Temur Mirzo Ulugbek, the mausoleum constructed by Amir Temur in 1373-1374 for Sheikh Shamseddin Kulyal, a Sufic leader and spiritual advisor of Temur’s father , Taraghay.
