A Walking Route Through Shakhrisabz

Shakhrisabz is easy to explore on foot because the main monuments sit on one paved park axis. There is no need for a complicated plan: walk from Ak-Saray at the north end to Dorus Saodat at the south, and add the bazaar and the museum on the way. Allow two to three hours with time inside each site.

The route in four legs

  1. Ak-Saray and the Timur statue. Look at the two pylons, about 38 m high, from the plaza. They are the remains of the palace begun in 1380.
  2. Chorsu bazaar and the Chubin Madrasah. The covered bazaar has a dome about 21 m across. Nearby, the 17th-century Chubin Madrasah, restored in 1997, houses the Amir Temur Museum.
  3. Dorut Tilavat. The tomb of Sheikh Shamsiddin Kulol, the turquoise Kok Gumbaz mosque and the Gumbazi Seyidon mausoleum stand together.
  4. Dorus Saodat. The tombs of Jahangir and Umar Shaykh, the Hazrat Imam mosque with its painted wooden aivan and the crypt prepared for Timur.

Choosing your time of day

Early morning and late afternoon suit the walk best, because the paved axis offers little shade. Bring a hat, water and sun protection. In winter, snow and ice can close the road from Samarkand, so confirm conditions the day before you travel.

What to wear and carry

Wear shoes that come off easily, since you remove them at carpeted thresholds. Dress with shoulders and knees covered, and women should bring a scarf for covering the hair inside mosques and mausolea. Keep small notes of UZS handy, because tickets cost around 40,000 UZS (about USD 3) per site and are paid in cash.

Behaviour at the tombs

Both southern complexes are tombs where people still pray. Speak softly, avoid loud group commentary near worshippers and take photographs with care. The crypt behind Dorus Saodat was prepared for Timur, but he lies in Samarkand.

Side lanes and photography

Away from the main axis, some courtyard-house lanes remain. If you walk into them, ask permission before photographing people or doorways. The 2014 to 2016 redevelopment replaced much of the old mahalla and bazaar fabric between Ak-Saray and the southern monuments, so the old neighbourhoods are no longer a continuous quarter.

Resting the legs

Electric carts running on the park axis have used 14-seat vehicles since 2016, covering Ak-Saray, Dorut Tilavat and Dorus Saodat. Ask on site whether they are in service and the fare. The covered bazaar and the museum are shaded stops.

Getting there

Samarkand is about 80 to 90 km north, a drive of around two hours over the Takhtakaracha Pass. Compare organised walks and day tours on GetYourGuide , and read the Chorsu bazaar entry for background on the market. The Ak-Saray article on Wikipedia gives the palace history.

Read more: Sightseeing in Shakhrisabz