Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex

About this attraction

This complex marks the burial place of Imam al-Bukhari, the 9th-century scholar who compiled one of Islam's most respected collections of hadith. He was born in Bukhara in 810 and died in 870 in Khartang, a village about 25 km from Samarkand. A small mausoleum and mosque grew up around the tomb, and the present memorial complex was built in 1998 for the 1225th anniversary of his birth, with UNESCO support for the commemoration.

The complex has since been rebuilt in a major reconstruction. Visitors find a domed mausoleum faced with glazed tile and marble, a large mosque, a library of Qur'an manuscripts and works linked to al-Bukhari, and a research center. It is a place of pilgrimage as much as sightseeing.

Where to pray

It is an active pilgrimage site with a mosque that can hold about 1,500 worshippers. Visitors usually dress modestly, with covered shoulders and legs, and keep their voices low near the tomb.

Must see

The domed mausoleum over the tomb and the mosque beside it. The library hall with manuscripts is worth asking about.

Location

Khartang village, about 25 km from Samarkand (Payariq district per most guides), Uzbekistan