Bibi Khanim Mosque

Bibi-Khanim is one of the biggest constructions of the Muslim medieval architecture. Building was started when Amir Timur had returned from his successful campaign in India. Skilled architects, stone masons, calligraphists, craftsmen from different countries of the East got down to building in 1399. Building works took five years.

Finally, the Mosque performed a splendid construction. Entrance arch with 36 meters high led to a squared courtyard measuring 130x 102 meters. There were a main mosque in the west and small mosques in the north and south of the Mosque. The courtyard floor was tiled with marble and fenced with covered galleries supported by 480 marble columns. The mosque was flanked with four minarets (50 meters high each). The entrance arch had double-leaf gates.

Architects used almost all kinds of decoration, such as: majolica and carved mosaic, carved marble and wood, painted plasters and papier-mache. External walls were tiled with multicolored glazed bricks. Internal walls were decorated with ornaments on a painted plaster.

But, this grand construction could not save its image for a long time.  Lack of technical skills of architects, natural cataclysms caused the damage of Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

The construction was almost in ruins in XVII. The main part of entrance portal was destroyed during earthquake in 1897.

Present Bibi-Khanym is a result of work of skilled architects and restorers. Reconstruction was started in 1968, but the main works were started after 1991. The high of minarets was reduced. Entrance arch, dome and foundation of the main Mosque’s dome were newly rebuilt. Ribbed domes of small mosques were fully restored.

Bibi-Khanym is a great architectural heritage of Uzbekistan.