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Adventures of a Global Wanderer
The rain was now coming down steadily as be began our city tour of Shakhrisabsz. This was the birthplace of Timurlane who ruled 100 years after Ghengis Khan and went on to found an Empire across much of Central Asia.
We passed by a giant statue towards some ruins of what appeared to be a castle. The statue is facing towards Samarkand. We were actually coming from the back and its only from the front you appreciate the true awe inspiring scale and beauty of what looked like a castle.
Its actually not a castle but a vast palace complex. All that remains of the Akserai Palace is the giant arched entrance way. The arch has collapsed and the entire palace was destroyed by a rival dynasty. All that remains is a description from a Spanish Ambassador.
He had claimed that once entering thru this arched doorway the Palace was quite vast. It was so lavish there were even waterfalls from the roof down to the ground. We dont know how much of this was exaggeration and what was true. The Timur statue is in the centre of what would have been the Palace
We cant dispute that there was infact a giant arch as you can see the bricks starting to curve at what would have been the base of the arch. This is now a Unesco site and some excavation work is being done.
You can also climb to the top of one of the towers but as it was low season the office was closed and I wasnt too keen going up in rainy weather.
We then went to a complex of tombs. I get the names muddled up but I believe this was for Jehangir, who was the grandson of Timur, and not to be confused with another Jehangir who ruled over India.
There was a small mosque and the only one turret remains of what was the tomb and madrassa. The whole town was mostly destroyed by a rival dynasty.
This tomb was not as well maintained as other ones and we could hear pigeons in the open roof. Some of the original tilework was there while most of the rest had decayed.
At the rear was also the underground crypt of Timur. Legend says tragedy will befall the nation if it is opened. Ignoring this as superstition the Russians opened the tomb and two days later Hitler invaded Russia expanding WWII into Russia.
In the distance we then walked to the Kok Gumbaz complex which housed more Timurid Dynasty Tombs.
I get all the stories mixed up as there are so many people to remember but last ruler Babur fled to India via Afghanistan and started the Mogul Empire that ruled over India until the British took over.
I'm not sure who all the tombs were for but they were different relatives. There were two different chambers. The first one had several tombs and had very detailed tilework inside the arches.
The next had more family tombs but was in a poorer state of repair
The final was a much simpler tomb with just one stone grave
We passed by a giant statue towards some ruins of what appeared to be a castle. The statue is facing towards Samarkand. We were actually coming from the back and its only from the front you appreciate the true awe inspiring scale and beauty of what looked like a castle.
Its actually not a castle but a vast palace complex. All that remains of the Akserai Palace is the giant arched entrance way. The arch has collapsed and the entire palace was destroyed by a rival dynasty. All that remains is a description from a Spanish Ambassador.
He had claimed that once entering thru this arched doorway the Palace was quite vast. It was so lavish there were even waterfalls from the roof down to the ground. We dont know how much of this was exaggeration and what was true. The Timur statue is in the centre of what would have been the Palace
We cant dispute that there was infact a giant arch as you can see the bricks starting to curve at what would have been the base of the arch. This is now a Unesco site and some excavation work is being done.
You can also climb to the top of one of the towers but as it was low season the office was closed and I wasnt too keen going up in rainy weather.
We then went to a complex of tombs. I get the names muddled up but I believe this was for Jehangir, who was the grandson of Timur, and not to be confused with another Jehangir who ruled over India.
There was a small mosque and the only one turret remains of what was the tomb and madrassa. The whole town was mostly destroyed by a rival dynasty.
This tomb was not as well maintained as other ones and we could hear pigeons in the open roof. Some of the original tilework was there while most of the rest had decayed.
At the rear was also the underground crypt of Timur. Legend says tragedy will befall the nation if it is opened. Ignoring this as superstition the Russians opened the tomb and two days later Hitler invaded Russia expanding WWII into Russia.
In the distance we then walked to the Kok Gumbaz complex which housed more Timurid Dynasty Tombs.
I get all the stories mixed up as there are so many people to remember but last ruler Babur fled to India via Afghanistan and started the Mogul Empire that ruled over India until the British took over.
I'm not sure who all the tombs were for but they were different relatives. There were two different chambers. The first one had several tombs and had very detailed tilework inside the arches.
The next had more family tombs but was in a poorer state of repair
The final was a much simpler tomb with just one stone grave
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