Mausoleum of Khoja Salih

The Mausoleum of Khoja Salih, a 19th-century architectural monument, stands at the heart of Sayram. According to local legend, the prophet Khidr, believed to have been born in Sayram, was the son of Khoja Salih. In line with this belief, it is said that every Friday at dusk, Khidr returns to the city to pay respects at the graves of his father, Khoja Salih, and his mother, Bibigiyas Ana.

Situated just 300 meters from the intersection of Sayram’s main medieval trade routes, the mausoleum’s prominent southern façade faces Amir Timur Street, leading to Karamurt. Tradition holds that this site was built over the burial of a local sheikh, Khoja Salih. The original mausoleum, believed to have been constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries, has undergone numerous renovations over time, with its earliest form no longer preserved. The building as it stands today likely dates back to the latter half of the 19th century, constructed from bricks of varying sizes — possibly recycled from other structures in the area. Its foundation and base are also brick, and the exterior walls remain unplastered, preserving a rustic authenticity.

Originally, the mausoleum featured a double dome: a shallow inner dome and an external conical dome crowned by a small minaret. However, in 1928, the upper part was dismantled, leaving only the inner dome, which is now a low, spherically shaped structure. A spiral staircase in the southeast corner ascends to the rooftop. The mausoleum’s layout is a single-chambered, square structure with a nearly flat spherical dome. At the center, a small turret capped with a dome featuring an open aperture rises from the roof. Each façade bears symmetrical portals with shallow pointed arches framed in a U-shaped border. Decorative columns once adorned the corners of the portals, though their grooved shafts have since been lost.

Inside, the central dome is supported by four sturdy arches resting on massive pillars, creating an imposing yet intimate space. The window openings are fitted with contemporary wooden latticework, known as panjara, lending a traditional touch. The walls are unplastered, highlighting the craftsmanship of the brickwork.

The dome has been restored and now has a metal covering. Each façade is oriented to a cardinal direction, each adorned with pointed arches. A rectangular doorway is placed on the western side, while the other arches contain low windows fitted with wooden panjara grills matching the height of the entrance. The arches on the west and south façades are uniquely framed in U-shaped designs, featuring architectural detailing absent from the other two sides. A dandana — a decorative brick pattern once lining the top of the façades, with bricks set on edge — has unfortunately not survived.

Traces of floral murals, depicting vases of flowers, are still faintly visible on the southern façade, a testament to the mausoleum’s original artistic embellishments.