Dear fellow Tajiks,                      

The central aim of this page is to bring to readers a glimpse of our rich architectural heritage. 
These graceful monuments were built during many rulers, often invaders, and today they are scattered in different countries. However, these buildings were designed by our great Tajik architects and built by the hands of our talented Tajiks. No matter where these monuments are located, they are unmistakably part of our heritage.

The following pictures are old, some even from late eighteen hundreds. Bear in mind that most of them are in black and white which can not truly convey the beauty of these buildings. As time permits, I will try to find and post them in color along with an article on Khorasanian Architecture which is wrongly labeled as "Islamic Architecture".

Regards
Taher
 

The Tomb of the Samanids. Bukhara. 10th century. Another view of the Tomb Interior of the Mausoleum Another interior view of the Mausoleum Cross section of the Mausoleum Plan of the Mausoleum Plan of the upper part of the Mausoleum Another view of the Samanids Mausoleum Entrance of the Samanid Mausoleum

Entrance of the Maghak-i-Attari mosque. Bukhara. early 12th century Detail of the facade of Maghak-i-Attari mosque flanking entrance Detail of the entrance porch Detail of the main entrance Detail of the facade of the mosque Another detail of the facade

Bibi Khanum mosque, minaret at western corner of the main evan. Samarqand. 15th century Bibi Khanum mosque, main evan leading to the prayers hall. Construction began 1399 Plan of Bibi Khanum mosque Main entrance to the mosque. The central doorway is now destroyed. Minaret at the back of Bibi Khanum mosque Corner minaret flanking main evan of Bibi Khanum mosque Tilework on inside of damaged main entrance portal of mosque Detail of arch over entrance to mosque More detail of the above arch A detail of arch flanking main entrance to mosque of Bibi Khanum. Tilework on arch at main entrance  Detail of the main evan arch leading to the prayer hall Further detail of the above showing dome through ruined facade Detail of tiled lettering and pattern around dome of man prayer hall. Entrance to the main prayer hall Facade of main door way to prayer hall Detail of eastern side of archway and facade leading to prayer hall. A view of dome at western side of main courtyard

Main facade and dome of Taimur-e-lang(Tamerlane) Tomb. Samarqand. early 15th century. Guri-Amir, detail of the dome and  back of the tomb chamber. Detail of tilework on entrance arch of Gur-i-Amir. Plan of Gur-i-Amir Another view of Gur-i-Amir Tilework on portal at main entrance to tomb of Amir Tiled arched flanking main entrance of Gur-i-Amir Detail tilework on entrance arch Another detail tilework on entrance arch

Shir-darmadrasah. Samarqand. Early 17th century Entrance of Shir-dar madrasah.

Mosque and courtyard of Tilia-kari. Samarqand. Middle of 17th century. Tilework on tower at corner of Tilia-kari mosque. Detail of entrance of Tilia-kari mosque. Tower and main dome(partly destroyed) of Tilia-kari mosque.

Tilework in interior of arched gateway at Taimur-e-lang palace. Shar-i-Sabz (Green City) Another detail of the Taimur's palace

Tiles, lettering and brickwork on the tower part of the Akserai palace. Shar-i-sabz. Tilework on inside of entrance arch of palace Stucco work of a later date

Mausoleum of Jehangir. Shar-i-Sabz. Late 14th century Interior section of the above mausoleum

Gunbad-i-Sayyidan (Dome of  fortunates). Shar-i-Sabz

Kok Gunbad. Shar-i-Sabz

A minaret near Bukhara

Namazgah (prayer place) mosque. Bukhara. 16th century

Detail of Mir-i-Arab madrasah archway. Bukhara Main courtyard of Mir-i-Arab madrasah. 1530-1536

Evan arch in the main courtyard of Ulugh Beg madrasah. Bukhara. 1417 Detail of tilework on main entrance to Ulugh beg madrasah Further detail tilework on main entrance arch of Ulugh Beg madrasah Main entrance to Ulugh Beg madrasah Minaret and art of main entrance arch to Ulugh Beg madrasah Detail of tilework on evan in interior courtyard of Ulugh Beg madrasah Tilework on the main entrance arch to Ulugh Beg madrasah

Abd al-Azia khan madrasah's main entrance. Bukhara. Mid-seventeenth century. Interior courtyard

Main entrance of Abd Allah Khan madrasah. Bukhara. Late 16th century Detail of the main portal Detail of courtyard showing entrance arch

Main entrance of Madar-i-shah (mother of Shah) madrasah. Bukhara. Late 16th century

Main courtyard of Char Bakr mosque. Bukhara. Mid-16th century. Detail of main dome One of the main entrances of  Char Bakr Detail of tile lettering round the main door

Main mihrab of Khangah of Nadir Diva Beg. Bukhara. Early 17th century

Detail of doorway to the mausoleum of Buyan-Quly Khan. Bukhara. 1359

View of Shah-i-Zindah cemeteries. Samarqand. 1434

Detail  of Tuman aka mausoleum at Shah-i-Zindah. 1405 Detail of  tilework at the entrance of Tuman aka

Entrance detail of Khoja Ahmad's mausoleum. Shah-i-Zindah. 14th century

Detail of tilework on mausoleum of Ali. Shah-i-Zindah  Exterior of the mausoleum of Ali showing dome over tomb chamber Exterior tilework and brick work of mausoleum of Ali

Tilework at entrance of Shad-i-Mulk aka mausoleum. Shah-i-Zindah. 1372.

Entrance to the tomb chamber of Tuglu-Tekin tomb. Shah-i-Zindah. 1372

Entrance to the tomb of Amir Zadah. Shah-i-Zindah. 1386 Another view of the mausoleum of Amir Zadah

Mausoleum at Ishrat khaneh. Samarqand. 1464

Main dome of Kalayan mosque. Bukhara. Early 16th century Another view of Kalayan mosque Minaret of Kalayan. 1127  Another view of the minaret Another view of the minaret