Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum, vicinity of Bukhara

Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum near Bukhara is a significant monument of Sufism which is dedicated to a medieval Mongol ruler and Islamic student.

The village of Fathabad near Bukhara attracts pilgrims and admirers of the dervish Saif ed-Din Bokharzi. A sheikh, ascetic and member of the Sufi Kubraviyya Brotherhood, Bokharzi now lies buried in a secluded mausoleum in the town where he lived out his final years.

The activities of the sheikh coincide with the era of Mongol rule in the region. Although the traditions and culture of the Mongols were fundamentally different from that of their subjects in Transoxiana, Bokharzi’s teachings influenced even the worldview of the invaders. The Mongol ruler of the Chagatay Khanate, Bayan-Quli Khan, was converted to Islamic Sufism and proceeded to honor his teacher Bokharzi until his death in 1358. As a result of his devotion, Bayan-Quli Khan was buried in a mausoleum next to the grave of the great teacher and mystic.

Although the tomb of Bayan-Quli Khan is inferior to Baharzi Mausoleum in size, they both consist of two rooms, namely a burial chamber and a memorial hall. Carved, glazed terracotta has been preserved on both the exterior and interior of Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum, while the turquoise tints of its decor foreshadow the color scheme typical for buildings of the Timurid era.

The décor of the mausoleum, which was built by master Bukharan architects, combines traditional floral designs with lettering and geometric patterns. Bayan-Quli Khan’s gravestone is also decorated with majolica.

Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum near Bukhara is a lesser-visited yet nonetheless noteworthy historical sight in Uzbekistan which recalls the nation’s pivotal medieval period.