Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Bibi-Khanym Mosque is a large early 15th century mosque in Samarkand built under the patronage of Timur (Tamerlane) as one of the city’s principal religious buildings. At its completion it was one of the largest mosques in the Timurid realm.

The building features a vast courtyard and monumental entrance portal with remnants of extensive tile decoration and a large central iwan that once framed a great dome. Visitors come to view the mosque’s scale and to see ongoing conservation that reveals Timurid architectural techniques.

Commissioned by Timur after his campaigns at the turn of the 15th century, the mosque was constructed rapidly and lavishly as part of Samarkand’s redevelopment; it later suffered structural damage from earthquakes and periods of neglect, prompting restoration efforts from the 20th century onwards. The mosque’s fortunes reflect broader shifts in the city’s political and religious life through the centuries.

The mosque stands in western Samarkand near other Timurid monuments and is accessible from the historic center and major thoroughfares of the city.

• Scale and restoration: Constructed in the early 15th century under Timur's patronage, the mosque was once among the largest in the Islamic world and has undergone significant restoration due to earthquake and decay damage.