🕌 Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Kazakhstan
About This Sacred Site
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan, Kazakhstan, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Central Asia. Built by Tamerlane in 1389 to replace a smaller 12th-century mausoleum, the structure was left unfinished after Tamerlane's death but remains one of the finest examples of Timurid architecture. Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was a 12th-century Sufi mystic whose teachings helped spread Islam across Central Asia. Three pilgrimages here are traditionally said to equal one Hajj to Mecca.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003
- •Commissioned by Tamerlane in 1389
- •Three pilgrimages here traditionally equal one Hajj
- •Khoja Ahmed Yasawi helped spread Islam across Central Asia
- •The dome spans 18.2 meters, the largest in Central Asia
Location
Coordinates: 43.2981, 68.2519
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