Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begim

The fortress walls of the citadel encircle and protect the central Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begim. From the gates, a narrow alley leads visitors through restored adobe houses, now hosting souvenir stalls, adding a lively charm to the historical path. 

This street guides visitors toward the imposing central portal, the iconic symbol of Turkestan. Interestingly, while the mausoleum’s domes and walls display vibrant decorative patterns, the facade itself remains purely brick, distinguished only by a beautifully crafted door and minimal adornments in wood and stone carvings.

Opposite the majestic Yasawi Mausoleum stands a more modest yet significant structure—the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begim. Nestled within the grounds of the Azret-Sultan Museum-Reserve, this medieval marvel is located approximately 60 meters southeast of the khanqah (Sufi lodge) of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Constructed by her sons to honor her legacy, the mausoleum commemorates Rabia Sultan Begim (c. 1430–1485). The daughter of Sultan Ulugh Beg, Rabia married Khan Abulkhair in 1451 and became the mother of two future Khans, Kuchkunji and Suyunish. She continued to live in Turkestan after her husband’s passing and spent her final years there, departing this world in 1485.

While time has left its mark on the structure, the mausoleum endures as a solemn tribute to Rabia Sultan Begim. Originally, it was an elegant, octagonal single-chambered building crowned by a dome perched high on a cylindrical drum. In later centuries, renovations transformed the design into a multi-chambered, square layout. Today, the mausoleum comprises five rooms: an octagonal hall, two square rooms, and two rectangular chambers. The burial chamber, located in the southeastern part of the mausoleum, contains a wooden coffin covered in leather, symbolizing the respect with which her memory was preserved.

Among the artifacts moved under the protective arches of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s khanqah is Rabia Sultan Begim’s gravestone, inscribed with a solemn epitaph that reads: “This is the resting place of the noble and virtuous Rabia Sultan Begim, daughter of the martyred, mighty, and great Sultan Ulugh Beg Guragan, son of the powerful Emir Timur Guragan. May God bring light to their graves until the Day of Judgment. This departure from the temporary to the eternal abode took place in one of the months of 890 AH (1485), according to the Hijri calendar of the chosen prophet’s migration—peace and mercy be upon him.”

Records of this architectural treasure begin to appear in the 16th century. In 1895, citing its deteriorated state, Russian military authorities dismantled the dome and partially deconstructed the walls, deeming it an “ancient structure likely to collapse.” Only after a century was the mausoleum carefully restored to its former dignity.