Things to Do in Shakhrisabz

October 31, 2026

Shakhrisabz is a town of about 150,000 people in Qashqadaryo Region, southern Uzbekistan, roughly 80 to 90 km south of Samarkand over the Takhtakaracha Pass. It was known as Kesh in the past, and Timur was born in 1336 in the nearby village of Khoja Ilgar. Most visitors come for the Timurid monuments, but the town also has a covered bazaar, a museum, regional food and a local embroidery tradition, enough to fill a full day.

The Timurid monuments

Three groups of buildings anchor the visit. At Ak-Saray, two huge entrance pylons survive from the palace Timur began in 1380. They stand about 38 m high, and the original gate towers are thought to have reached about 65 m. A bronze statue of Timur stands on the palace site. Further south, Dorut Tilavat holds the tomb of Sheikh Shamsiddin Kulol and the turquoise-domed Kok Gumbaz mosque. Dorus Saodat holds the tombs of Timur’s eldest son Jahangir and of Umar Shaykh, with an underground crypt behind it.

The tombs are active places of prayer. Cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair inside the mosques and mausolea, and shoes come off at carpeted thresholds. Tickets are sold per site, at around 40,000 UZS each (about USD 3), so check the price at the gate and carry cash.

Chorsu bazaar and the bathhouse

The covered Chorsu bazaar has an octagonal central dome about 21 m across and four portals, dated to about 1602. A bathhouse beside it is still in use. Ask locally about access before planning around it. Tandir bread being baked near Chorsu is an everyday sight and a good reason to linger.

Amir Temur Museum

The museum occupies the Chubin Madrasah, a 17th-century building restored in 1997. It is an indoor stop with shade, useful in the middle of the day. A ticket costs around 30,000 UZS.

Food: tandir gosht and kurut

Kashkadarya is known for tandir gosht, mutton roasted in clay ovens, and for kurut. A teahouse lunch on the road to or from the pass is a common way to try the regional dish, and roadside stalls on the pass road sell kurut and honey. Ask the price before you buy.

Embroidery and crafts

Shakhrisabz has its own embroidery tradition. Buy from the makers themselves where you can, and ask whether a piece is handmade or machine-made.

Planning the day

Samarkand is the usual base, about two hours each way by road, so a full day gives roughly three to four hours on site. In winter, the pass can close after heavy snow or ice, so check conditions the day before. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to walk the paved park axis, which has little shade. The UNESCO listing and its status are covered on the Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz page on Wikipedia , and the national tourism site has a Dorus Saodat entry . Guided day tours from Samarkand can be compared on GetYourGuide .