The crowning jewel of Turkestan remains the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a medieval poet and Sufi mystic. Constructed 233 years after his death by the direct order of Emir Timur (Tamerlane), the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is an unparalleled masterpiece of medieval architecture. This awe-inspiring complex, encompassing palatial and spiritual spaces, includes 30 rooms and halls. The main dome, with a diameter of over 40 meters and a circumference of 130 meters, rises alongside minarets reaching 12 meters high. The intricate design, with its finely crafted ceilings, ornamental vaults, and vivid mosaics, evokes a timeless elegance. Restored to its original splendor, the mausoleum is a treasured national monument, inviting all to marvel at this pearl of the medieval East in Turkestan.
The mausoleum stretches 65.5 meters in length, 45.5 meters in width, and 37.5 meters in height, with a grand arched portal. Inside are 36 distinct chambers, each echoing the architectural prowess of the era. Pilgrims, who gather to honor Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, perform their prayers at the threshold of his resting place, as they are not permitted entry into the inner sanctum.
Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a revered spiritual figure in the East, was the foremost leader of the Turkic branch of Sufism, an intellectual, and a 12th-century poet who laid the foundation for Sufi poetry. Born in the ancient city of Sayram, Yasawi spent much of his life in the town of Yassy (now Turkestan), where his teachings would resonate across the world. The honorific «Khoja» in his name denotes a spiritual title, while «Yasawi» indicates his origin from Yassy.
Legend holds that after the passing of his parents, Yasawi encountered his spiritual guide, Arystan Baba, at the age of seven. According to folklore, the Prophet Muhammad entrusted Arystan Baba with a sacred «amanat»—a date from Paradise—meant for a successor born centuries later to continue the Prophet’s teachings. Arystan Baba is said to have safeguarded this relic for 400 years until he finally passed it to Yasawi, becoming his spiritual mentor. Following Arystan Baba’s death, a 17-year-old Khoja Ahmed journeyed to Yassy. Here, he began composing poetry in Arabic, Chagatai, Persian, and Turkic, drawing inspiration from Eastern literature and poetry. Upon finishing his studies at the Bukhara madrasa and visiting other cities, he returned to his native Turkestan.
Another legend speaks of Yasawi’s decision to isolate himself in an underground cell at age 63, declaring, “I have reached the age of the Prophet, and need no more.” By various accounts, Yasawi lived to either 73 or 85. His most treasured legacy, Diwani Hikmet (“The Book of Wisdom”), was originally written in ancient Turkic. While the original manuscript was lost, copies from the 15th and 16th centuries are preserved in cities like Istanbul, Kokand, Tashkent, Moscow, Almaty, and Turkestan.
Construction on Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s mausoleum in Turkestan began in 1385, on the orders of Timur (Tamerlane), the conqueror and founder of the Timurid Empire, who wished to honor Yasawi 233 years after his death. After defeating Tokhtamysh, the ruler of the Golden Horde, Timur commissioned a grand memorial complex on the site of Yasawi’s original tomb, both to honor the revered saint and solidify his influence among the nomadic peoples. Timur is believed to have personally overseen the project’s design, influencing the decorative details and interior elements. Bricks were transported from Sayram, and the tombstone came from Tabriz.
This architectural marvel, one of the best-preserved structures of its era, embodies the decorative style typical of Timur’s rule, its intricate designs later inspiring Samarkand’s architecture. The mausoleum features ornamental patterns, epigraphy, and vibrant motifs.
After Timur’s death in 1405, the complex remained incomplete, with only the entry portal unfinished. Abdullah Khan II of Bukhara later completed this section.
For centuries, the mausoleum served as a residence for Kazakh khans, a gathering place for nobility, and a center for hosting official functions. Today, part of the complex houses museum exhibits, including seals, letters, and diplomatic documents from Kazakh khans, as well as copies of letters from Ablai Khan to the Orenburg governor-general and the Chinese emperor Qianlong.
During the 15th to 18th centuries, Turkestan emerged as the political and cultural heart of the Turkic world. At the time, the mausoleum’s grand palace served as a khan’s residence, hosting diplomatic receptions and military councils, with relics such as the khan’s throne and scepter preserved within.
The smaller palace area houses a pantheon for Kazakh khans and dignitaries, marked by 43 gravestones, including Abulkhair Khan, Rabiga Sultan Begim, and others. The oldest dates back to 1431, while the most recent is from 1917. At the grand palace entrance lies the tombstone of Kazakh ruler Ablai Khan, who passed away in 1781.
During the Soviet period, the mausoleum became the Republic Museum of Architecture by order of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Kazakh SSR. Today, the memorial complex is protected as a national treasure and forms the centerpiece of the Azret Sultan Historical and Cultural Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Within the mausoleum are a small mosque and auxiliary chambers, including a well room and a dining area with preserved ancient ovens, cauldrons, and wooden dishes once used by pilgrims. Since the 14th century, two original doors have been preserved: the grand entrance door to the Jama’atkhana hall, known as «Kakpa» (Gate), and the entryway to the burial chamber, called «Kapsyrma» (Latch).
Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s mausoleum stands out with one of the largest brick domes in Central Asia. Measuring 65.5 meters in length, 45.5 meters in width, and 37.5 meters in height, its walls are nearly two meters thick, with the central hall’s walls reaching three meters. The complex includes the mausoleum itself, a mosque, a khanaqah (spiritual retreat), administrative quarters, and auxiliary buildings, including a well and dining area. Altogether, the site holds 36 rooms.
The mausoleum’s museum collection, established in 1978, boasts 24,558 exhibits today. Its central artifacts include medieval relics from Timur’s era, such as bronze candlesticks, doors, and an enormous taikazan (cauldron) for water, weighing two tons and nearly three meters wide. The taikazan, symbolizing prosperity, unity, and hospitality for the nomadic people, is inscribed with three bands of relief text against floral patterns, detailing its creation in 1397 on Timur’s order to honor Yasawi. In 1935, the taikazan was sent to the Hermitage in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) for an international exhibition, only to return to Turkestan 54 years later on September 18, 1989.
This same hall also holds a four-meter flagpole made from ivory, crafted on Timur’s orders.
In the hall known as Kazandyk, bronze lamps gifted by Timur were installed, some of which remain today in the Louvre and Hermitage. In the auxiliary rooms, the old ovens, a cauldron, and wooden dishes used by pilgrims have been preserved.
Beyond the mausoleum, the complex includes a medieval bathhouse, an underground mosque where Yasawi lived after age 63, the mausoleum of Timur’s granddaughter and Ulugh Beg’s daughter, Rabia Sultan Begim, the mausoleum of Kazakh Khan Yesim, a shildekhana (secluded cell for spiritual retreat), and other monuments.
Burial within the complex was a privilege granted to only a select few. Numerous graves are scattered across the site, with some tombs directly in Yasawi’s mausoleum and others in separate mausoleums. A notable element of the complex is the mausoleum of Rabiga Sultan Begim, Timur’s granddaughter.
An ethnovillage of yurts has been created on the museum grounds, offering visitors an immersive experience into Kazakh history, culture, and traditional life. A new visitor center with audio guides, a café, and souvenir shops is set to open soon, enhancing the experience for tourists exploring this extraordinary heritage site.
Visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Explore historic launch pads
Tour the Space Museum
See iconic space artifacts
Witness rocket assembly facilities
Visit the Gagarin Start Pad