7 sacred sites of Uzbekistan for Muslim travellers

Uzbekistan gave the Islamic world great scholars, saints and some of its most beautiful architecture. Here are seven places of ziyarat that our Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara tour visits.

1. Hazrati Imam Complex, Tashkent

The religious and historic heart of Tashkent and the official centre of Islam in Uzbekistan. It is world-famous for housing the Uthman Quran (Mushaf of Othman), dating back to the 7th century and considered the oldest surviving written Quran in the world. The complex also includes the 16th-century Barak-Khan Madrasah, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the twin-minaret Hazrati Imam Mosque.

2. Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Samarkand

A medieval necropolis with a narrow avenue of blue-tiled mausoleums from the 11th–15th centuries. It holds the tomb of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as well as tombs of Amir Temur’s family.

3. Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand

One of the largest historic mosques of the Islamic world, built by Amir Temur in the early 15th century. Next to it is Siab Bazaar, Samarkand’s oldest and largest market.

4. Imam Al-Bukhari Complex Museum, Samarkand

A modern museum of several pavilions inside the reconstructed memorial complex, dedicated to the life and legacy of Imam Al-Bukhari, blending Islamic design with interactive displays.

5. Poi Kalyan Complex, Bukhara

The iconic heart of Bukhara: the Kalyan Minaret (1127, 46.5 m), the Kalyan Mosque, which holds 12,000 worshippers, and the active Mir-i-Arab Madrasah.

6. Chashmai Ayub, Bukhara

“Job’s Spring” — a sacred site built between the 12th and 16th centuries, with a conical dome that is rare in Central Asian architecture.

7. Bahauddin Naqshband Complex, near Bukhara

One of the most sacred Sufi places of ziyarat in the Islamic world: the resting place of Hazrat Bahauddin Naqshband (1318–1389), founder of the Naqshbandi order, known for the saying “Heart with God, hands at work”.

Visiting with peace of mind

On every day of the tour we stop at prayer times, on Friday we take you to Friday prayer, all lunches and dinners are at halal-certified restaurants, and a female guide is available on request.