Rukhabad and Ak-Saray Mausoleums

The Rukhabad and Ak-Saray mausoleums are two small Timurid-era tombs in the Gur-e-Amir quarter of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Rukhabad, built around 1380 and described as one of the oldest surviving Timurid mausoleums in the city, was raised for the Sufi sheikh Burhan ad-Din Sagarji and is a compact brick building with a simple dome. Ak-Saray, dating from about 1470-1480, was built for female relatives of the Timurid rulers and is a smaller, more ornate building with tile mosaic and a ribbed dome. Neither interior is elaborate, so the interest lies mainly in the exterior tile work, the proportions of the domes and the contrast between the early, plain Rukhabad and the later, richer Ak-Saray. Both stand within a few steps of Gur-e-Amir and are normally seen in a single stroll before or after the tomb of Timur. Each takes about 10-15 minutes. Entry to the grounds is generally free or included with the Gur-e-Amir ticket, and visitors should confirm the current arrangement at the counter. The surrounding street is quiet and tree-lined, giving a short pause from the busier Registan area, about 15-20 minutes away on foot. Afternoon light flatters the facades and domes, and weekday afternoons are the calmest. Local visitors still treat the tombs as shrines, so modest dress and quiet voices are appropriate, and photographs of people praying should not be taken without permission.