Yunus-khan Mausoleum

In the shadow of the Shayhantaur ensemble, along the bustling Navoy Avenue, lies a historical jewel of Tashkent: the mausoleum of the city’s once-ruler, Yunus-khan. This mausoleum, a silent guardian of history, is nestled within the sacred confines of the Shayhantaur cemetery and stands as a testament to the architectural ingenuity of the past.

The Yunus-khan Mausoleum, dating back to the era of the ruler himself (1415 – 1487), is an exemplar of the T-shaped khanaka-mausoleum design. The structure’s southern façade is marked by a stately portal flanked by modest wings, a design that echoes throughout the edifice’s cruciform hall with its north-ledge half-octagon niche. The hall boasts two-storied hudjras (chambers) that are situated at the corners, each opening up to the world with three-sided doorways. Above, a sphero-conal dome gracefully rests upon cross arches, while the upper hudjras are crowned with cupolas seated upon multi-row thyroid pendentives.

In 1970, the mausoleum underwent a significant restoration, particularly of the outer dome hall, breathing new life into this ancient monument. The windows, adorned with intricately carved wood and ganch panjara (lattice work), allow the soft light to dance within the space. The arches are embellished with fragments of ganch girikh, a geometric ornamentation that adds depth and complexity to the visual experience. Mukannas-stalactites, a decorative arrangement typical of ganch work, accentuate the cupolas, creating a play of light and shadow that is both mesmerizing and serene.

The mausoleum’s dimensions speak to its grand scale, with an overall size of 21.5 by 20.5 meters and a building width of 16 meters. The central hall, a square of 7 by 7 meters, invites visitors to step into a space where history and artistry converge.