Samarkand “The Beauty of the Earth”
Samarkand, in words of Omar Khayyam “the beauty of the earth”, is a city of immense historical, cultural, and architectural significance. This 2500 years old city was devastated by Changez Khan in 13 th century. In 14 century Timur ( तैमूरलंग ) made Samarkand his capital and controlled an empire from China, Russia to Egypt. He also massacred and plundered in Delhi.
We went to see Timur’s Mausoleum where he is buried. In picture his grave is in black stone in the right of Laxmi. We visited the beautiful Mosque and mausoleum of Khanum Begum, wife of Timur and granddaughter of Changez Khan.
Shahi Zinda complex is a holy site of pilgrimage in Islam in Central Asia. Here is the mausoleum of Qusam Ibn Abbas, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad. It has a mosque and about 20 different mausoleums.
Timur’s descendants gave great importance to learning. They made three beautiful and gorgeous Madrasas (universities) in a complex called Registan. They claim to have invented globe (in pic) before Europeans.
Samarkand also has a huge and beautiful market, Siab Bazar of local dry fruits and other local produce. I have not seen this kind of a huge market anywhere in other countries.
We are enjoying our visit to Samarkand.
