The Khoja Mashad Complex, also known as the Khoja Mashad madrassa, is an iconic piece of Islamic architecture in the Khatlon province in the South of Tajikistan. In fact, dating back to the 9th-century, it is also one of the oldest of its kind in Central Asia.
Located in the village of Sayed not far from Kurgan-Tube and the modern-day Shaartuz Settlement, the Khoja Mashad monument is made up of two independent mausoleums connected by a domed passageway. While they may look identical to the naked eye, they were constructed out of baked bricks in different centuries.
The eastern building dates back to the 9th-century and has two opposing entrances. The western Mausoleum of Khoja Mashad is more modern, dating back to the 12th-century, and features an unusual fir-tree brickwork pattern.
Both of the Tajik mausoleums have tombs and are connected by a domed vault. A large rectangular courtyard enclosed by mud-brick walls connects the mausoleums in the north. Inside the courtyard, there is a ruined mud-brick portal and a series of graves.
Many believe that the complex was built by Khoja Mashad, a wealthy Islamic missionary and that it also serves as his burial place. There is definitely a feeling of reverence here. However, nobody knows for sure what the Madrassa of Khoja Mashad was actually intended for. One theory is that it may have served as a madrassah because of the narrow cells built into the courtyard that probably served as student accommodation. There are also two vaulted rooms that could have been used as classrooms.
Other archeologists believe that the Khoja Mashkhad Mausoleum may have been a Khankah, a sort of pilgrimage hostel for performing religious rituals of Sufis. If that were the case, then this one would have included a dormitory of cells, an office for the head of the order, a dining room, and a variety of prayer rooms.
Whatever it was used for, it is evident that the Khoja Mashkhad Mausoleum is one of the most fascinating attractions in Tajikistan. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List for its cultural significance.
The architectural complex of Khoja Mashad in Tajikistan is a popular pilgrimage site and is always filled with pilgrims and religious scholars from far and wide. So, be prepared for crowds. Combine your visit to the Khoja Mashhad Mausoleum in Tajikistan with some of Paramount Journey’s other attractions in the Khatlon province, such as Hulbuk Fortress and the Childukhtaron Springs.
