Home to a deeply religious people and a thousand-year-old history, there are sacred shrines, mausoleums, and ancient pilgrimage sites in just about every village of the Zerafshan Valley. These ‘mazars’ as they are known by locals come in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and can range from graveyards, and tombs, to mausoleums and statues.
Muhammad Bashoro Mausoleum
Built in the 8th-century, the Muhammad Bashoro Mausoleum, also known as the Mazor-i Sharif Mausoleum, is a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. Built originally without a dome, the magnificent pink and turquoise terracotta dome roof with its glazed tiles and wood carvings was only added in the 14th-century.
Located in the village of Mazari Sharif, the mausoleum is one of the closest shrines to the city of Penjikent and easily visited on a day trip. The high-ceilinged interior is designed around a massive tree trunk that serves as a mihrab – a shrine that faces Mecca and is closed during prayers.
While it is named after Muhammad Bashoro, a famous Islamic scholar, accounts differ as to whether he was in fact buried here. Many historians believe that the purpose of this building was to serve as both a mosque and a memorial mausoleum, while others believe it may have served as a mosque and somebody else was buried here instead. To this day, neither story has not been confirmed.
Today, the mausoleum is worth a visit for its spectacular Tajik architecture alone. Nestled within apricot orchards and juniper trees, the mausoleum also features some mysterious vaulted corridors and cells that are built into the hillside – of which the purposes are unknown. The general consensus is that they were used as chillakhona (a dark room used for fasting).
Rudaki Mausoleum
Other Tajik shrines are centered on Abu-Abdullo Rudaki, the famous Tajik writer. The Rudaki Mausoleum is one of the most famous landmarks in Tajikistan. Located in the remote Panjrud village, the complex is hidden behind enormous carved wooden gates inside a beautifully landscaped garden with roses and a 400-year-old mulberry tree.
The mausoleum or Rudaki Tomb is a fine example of Central Asian architecture. It boasts a carved red-bricked exterior topped with a turquoise domed roof. Inside, a sarcophagus made out of wood and topped with marble marks the center of the mausoleum.
The Rudaki Mausoleum has an interesting history. While the famous poet died back in 941, the mausoleum was only built in 1958 after two well-known Tajiks studied and discovered the location of the poet’s grave. After tests confirmed the remains of the celebrated poet, they had the tomb restored and built a mausoleum to preserve it. Today, a small museum offers a window into the poet’s life with some of his literature on display.
Shams-i Tabrizi Shrine
Much lesser-known in the heart of Veshab lies the Shams-i Tabrizi Shrine. While not much is known about this shrine, but local Tajikistan people say that it is the shrine dedicated to Shams-i Tabrizi, Persian poet Rumi’s muse.
Other important attractions in Tajikistan include the Varz-i-Minor Islamic Site in Ayni and the 14th-century Olim Dodkhokh Complex, Lenin Statue, Devastich Statue, Loik Sherali Statue, and Somoni Statue in Penjikent. Many of these fascinating shrines and mausoleums from Tajik history can be combined on a tour with Paramount Journeys.
