Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mausoleum Of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (2003). Begun By Timur In 1389 Over The Tomb Of The Sufi Poet And Teacher Yasawi (D. About 1166) And Left Unfinished At Timur'S Death In 1405; The Largest And Best Preserved Timurid Building In Central Asia. · Turkistan, Turkistan

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi stands at the centre of Turkistan in southern Kazakhstan, built over the tomb of a 12th-century Sufi poet and teacher who shaped Turkic Islam. Timur began the building in 1389 and left it unfinished at his death in 1405, which is why the great portal is bare brick on one side and why the scaffolding holes and rough back wall are still visible. It is the largest and best-preserved Timurid building in Central Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. Inside are big vaulted halls, among them the Kazan hall with a huge bronze cauldron, and the tomb chamber. This is a living pilgrimage shrine as well as a museum-reserve, so visitors dress modestly and keep quiet near people praying. Turkistan is a long way from anywhere: expect an overnight train or a long bus from Shymkent or Almaty. The new town around it is polished and a little empty, and the mausoleum itself is the reason to come.

Timurid mausoleum at the centre of the old city of Turkistan, in the Hazrat-e Turkestan reserve, with the museum-reserve ticket office beside the park gate, Turkistan, Turkistan, Kazakhstan

The mausoleum is usually open daily as part of the Hazrat-e Turkestan museum-reserve, with fixed day hours and a break or earlier closing in winter and on some religious or state holidays. Pilgrims come at all hours of the day, and Friday and holiday crowds are larger. Some inner rooms are open only with a guide or at set times, and the tomb chamber may be closed during services or for conservation. The park around it is open longer and is free to walk through. Hours and ticket rules change, so confirm at the reserve ticket office and not from an old guidebook.

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