Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum · Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Timur's resting place: an imperial mausoleum beneath a ribbed blue dome.
Know before you go
- Don't touch the tombstones or interior decoration
- whether flash is allowed inside follows the signs on site.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A tomb built for a grandson became the resting place of three generations
In 1403 Timur's heir and favourite grandson, Muhammad Sultan, died suddenly, and Timur ordered a mausoleum built for him. Two years later Timur himself was buried here, and later his sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah and his grandson Ulugh Beg were buried here too. During his reign Ulugh Beg placed a single block of dark-green jade on his grandfather's tomb.
Source: Wikipedia: Gur-e-Amir
Legend
Timur's curse
On 19 June 1941 the Soviet anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened Timur's tomb to study his remains and reconstructed his face from the skull. Legend says the coffin bore the inscription: 'Whoever opens my tomb shall unleash an invader more terrible than I.' People around Gerasimov said this was a made-up story, but by coincidence, three days after the tomb was opened, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
Source: Wikipedia: Timur
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Gur-e-Amir means 'Tomb of the King'. In 1403 Timur began building it for his grandson and heir, Muhammad Sultan, who had died suddenly; Timur himself was buried here in 1405, and it became the Timurid family mausoleum. The towering ribbed turquoise dome outside complements the jade tombstone and gilded paintings inside, and its design deeply influenced later Mughal mausoleums.
Local customs
- It is quite dark inside, so tread softly. On-site guides mostly speak English
- you can book a guide in other languages in advance if needed (check official websites).
Religion & beliefs
The mausoleum holds the remains of several Muslim rulers and is a religious site. Dress respectfully, women are advised to cover their hair, and don't speak loudly inside.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Uzbekistan: change money only at official outlets
- Change money at official exchange points, and get cash in big cities before heading to smaller places
- Changing money on the black market
Black-market currency exchange is illegal.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Uzbekistan travel advice
Uzbekistan: always carry your passport
- Carry your original passport at all times
- Leaving your passport at the hotel
The law requires you to carry it; police check often, and you may be fined or arrested if you don't.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Uzbekistan travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't touch the tombstones or interior decoration
- whether flash is allowed inside follows the signs on site.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals feel deep national pride in Timur, whose equestrian statue stands in the city centre
- the blue dome has become a symbol of Samarkand.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
The mausoleum is in the old city, within walking distance of Registan Square. At dusk the dome glows gold and blue in the setting sun — a great time for photos.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Plov
- Brochettes (kebabs)
- Manti
Plov, shashlik, manty (large steamed dumplings), shurpa (lamb soup), non
| Where to eat | Old-town restaurants around the mausoleum, restaurants and cafés along University Boulevard |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Keep quiet, dress properly and don't eat or drink inside the mausoleum |
| Typical price per person | UZS 60,000–120,000 ≈ CNY 33–66 |
| Tips | The mausoleum's exterior lighting is beautiful at dusk — have dinner first, then visit at night. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
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Peretz Partensky from San Francisco, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photos
Photos
Bgag · CC0
Bgag · CC0
Arina Pan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
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