Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
The Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum is a stunning example of Timurid architecture, known for its intricate tilework and majestic dome. The name "Gur-e-Amir" translates to "Tomb of the King," and it serves as the final resting place of the great conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane, and his descendants. The mausoleum's most striking feature is its fluted, sky-blue dome, which is adorned with patterns of rosettes and a gilded pinnacle. The interior is just as magnificent, with walls decorated with gold leaf, painted muqarnas, and marble panels, creating an atmosphere of reverence and grandeur.
Constructed in the early 15th century, the mausoleum was initially built for Timur's beloved grandson, Muhammad Sultan, who died unexpectedly. Timur later had the crypts of his sons and grandsons moved to the site, and he himself was buried there in 1405. The complex also includes a madrasa and a khanaka, though only their foundations.