Top 7 Mosques in Uzbekistan You Need to Visit

Uzbekistan is a beautiful country in Central Asia with a rich cultural heritage and a long history. This country has many attractions, some of which have been registered on the World Heritage List. One of the most important attractions of the historical country of Uzbekistan is its mosques, which express Islamic art, civilization, and architecture. In the following, we will review the list of top mosques in Uzbekistan and describe their key features. If you want to know how many great mosques in Uzbekistan are, stay with us until the end of the article.

Samarkand Bibi Khanym Mosque

Among the mosques of the Islamic world, one of the most famous ones in the world in terms of the beauty of Islamic architecture, Bibi Khanym Mosque is among the attractions of Samarkand, a mosque with a turquoise blue dome that matches the main porch of the mosque. In addition to being located on a street named after the mosque, it is surrounded by many attractions. The construction of this mosque took five years, from 1399 to 1404; when Timur Lang returned to Samarkand, the mosque was completed. Bibi Khanym was Timur Lang’s wife who ordered the construction of this building.

Tilla-Kari Mosque and Madrassah

Between the years 1647 and 1660, a beautiful and gilded school was built under the orders of the ruler of Samarkand. One of the beauties of this school is the decoration with gold in the form of gilding. Therefore, they have given it the title of Tilla-Kari. This building is located on the north side of Registan Square and consists of two floors and 8 pavilions. In 1234, the Samarkand earthquake damaged its entrance porch, which has now been rebuilt. This building has a turquoise dome with a tiled and plastered throat and shines beautifully in the sunlight. As a mosque and a congregational prayer place, visiting this Madrassah is one of the top things to do in Samarkand.

Kok Gumbaz Mosque in Shahrisabz

Kok Gumbaz Mosque in Shahrisabz city in Uzbekistan

Kok Gumbaz Mosque is one of the most important sights of Uzbekistan, located in the heart of the historical context of the Shahrisabz. This mosque is considered the biggest mosque in the city. According to an inscription in the mosque, Ulugh Beg built the Kok Gumbaz Mosque on behalf of his father, Shahrukh. The decorations and tilings of Kok Gumbaz mosque have made it one of the most beautiful historical mosques in the Islamic world. The enormous and beautiful dome of the mosque attracts attention first, which is decorated with blue tiles and gives the mosque the name it bears.

In the part of the base of the dome, there is an inscription with white clay tiles in which a text with the theme “Sovereignty belongs to God and wealth belongs to God” can be seen. The mosque’s interior has an almost square shape. You can see four niches in it, which are built as elegantly as possible toward each of the four directions of the earth. The beautiful plastering of the walls and the paintings in which the blue color is dazzling creates a relaxing atmosphere in the mosque. It is recommended to visit the Shahrisabz and explore the history and culture of Uzbekistan if you are interested in historical attractions.

Bolo Hauz Mosque in Bukhara

Uzbekistan has some fascinating and impressive buildings that date back to the 17th century. Bolo Hauz Mosque is one of the sights of Uzbekistan. It is currently considered one of the few buildings left in this city, a mosque that has been renovated several times. The Bolo Hauz Mosque building was built in 1712 around Registan Square of Bukhara, which was once a gathering place for the citizens in the Middle Ages. Some historians attribute the mosque’s construction to Abul Fayaz, who built it in memory of his mother. Others believe that Amir Shamirawad built this mosque so the general public could offer prayers there.

Uzbekistan’s Bolo Hauz Mosque in Bukhara consists of several columns, a porch, a mosque, a minaret, and a small and beautiful pool. The oldest part of the mosque complex is its water pool, one of the few pools left in the ancient city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan. In the water, you can see the colorful reflection of the images of decorated columns and the minaret. This mosque served as a royal church, and the exterior of the mosque is decorated with colorful tiles and beautiful columns so that on the mosque’s porch, you can see very tall and marvelous wooden columns decorated with the best carvings. Bolo Hauz Mosque also has a school next to it, where doctors used to train before.

Juma Masjid Mosque

The 3,000-year-old city of Khiva, the heart of the Khwarezm region located in the west of the Republic of Uzbekistan, hosts tourists in different seasons with thousands of historical and cultural monuments, including the Turkish-Islamic civilization. One of the attractions of Khiva is its Juma Mosque. The mosque’s official date of construction goes back to the end of the 18th century. However, studies show that this mosque existed even in the 10th century. This mosque includes an oblong hall supported by 213 wooden columns, and each of these 213 columns has different decorative carvings. Of course, visitors can enter this mosque’s minaret and enjoy the breathtaking view of the city. Visiting this mosque is surely one of the top things to do in Khiva.

Juma Masjid Mosque, a fascinating attraction in Uzbekistan

Khonakhan Mosque

At the end of the 16th century, the famous Faizabadi Sufi built the Faizabad monastery. This building had two functions. This Khonakhan mosque was a place for five prayers and Juma prayers, a place for Sufism, and a temporary residence for dervishes. Faizabad Monastery was an extraordinary structure in its time. Its hall is as big, tall, and bright as a palace. Purity and elegance flow throughout the architecture of the monastery.

Minor Mosque

The small but luxurious Minor Mosque in Tashkent stands out from the moment you enter its grounds and stands out like a shell on the ground. The entire facade of this mosque is made of white marble stones and shows the people of Uzbekistan still know how to show the beauty, mystery, and stunningness of Islamic mosques to the audience. The nave of the mosque has a beautiful mihrab and roof and was built with great skill. With the travel guide to Tashkent, you will know that near this mosque are Minor Metro Station and Minor Cemetery, which makes it easy for you to access this place and visit other attractions.

Final Word

The historical mosques of every country are not only a vision of religion but also the culture, civilization, and architecture of that country. One of the countries that have many mosques with wonderful architecture is Uzbekistan. The mosques of Uzbekistan are a reflection of the art and architecture of this country, each of which has a fascinating history. If you plan to travel to Uzbekistan, be sure to visit its mosques and enjoy its rich culture.

Are you planning to travel to Uzbekistan? Check out our Uzbekistan tours and feel free to contact us. Surely, you will find more interesting things to do in Uzbekistan.