Turkestan - the country that isn't.

Today's field trip took us north and west of Shymkent a bit more than 100 miles to the town of Turkestan where the impressive Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yassaui was commisioned by Timur, or Tamerlane as he is more commonly known in the west.  Construction began in 1399, but when Timur died six years later, work on the project ceased, and the building remains unfinished to this day.

Yassaui was a Sufi mystic who lived in the early 1100's and, without wanting to plagiarize my guide book nor make up something that is perhaps incorrect, I'll just say that he helped bring Islam to Central Asia.

Of course after Tamerlane commissioned the mausoleum to be built on such a grand scale, the town and region took on greater importance.  It is now a most important pilgrimage site and draws a great many pilgrims each year.

Because of its importance within Islam, the area surrounding the mausoleum has become the burial place for a great many former rulers and military leaders and their families.  This mausoleum from the 15th century was built for the remains of Rabi'i Sultan Begum.  (don't ask me who she is, this isn't a history lesson, these are photographs, just roll with it.) 

Lots of Islamic design and architecture really resonates with me.  I appreciate the symmetry, the robustness, the graceful arches, and the calculated engineering that such structures exhibit.

Details around the dome of the Begum mausoleum with its repetitive arabic script.

Had to put myself in at least one photo.  That's me in Landscape Pose with camera bag on hip.

The impressive, if unfinished, front portal of Yassaui's mausoleum.  Still present are a number of the original timber supports jutting out from the building at regular intervals.  On the front face of the building you can see the grid pattern of small holes.

In the main portal you can see a mix of original and modern day supports and scaffolding.

The sides and back of the building are finished with tile mosaics in geometric designs consisting of arabic letters and sayings from the Qur'an.

Each of the three finished faces of the mausoleum employs a different mosaic pattern and inscription.

This dome lies above his burial chamber within the mausoleum.

I loved the Escher-esque feeling to the back side of the portal, with its various stone stairways, doors, domes, and angles.

This was the only interior shot I was permitted to make.  This is the present day mosque inside the mausoleum.

These next three are from the inside of a Hamam that was built in the 1500's.  There are 5 domed chambers in all.

I have long been fascinated with domes and had the opportunity to work on the construction of 8 mud brick dome buildings of this same style while in the Peace Corps.  

This last shot is the ubiquitous Saturday afternoon wedding party.  In this case visiting the mausoleum for good luck.

I promise more about us here soon.  We are well and are loving our time with Nurai.  We have our court date set for Monday 23 November, not as early as we had hoped, but it will do.  Take Care.