Gur-e-Amir: the tomb of Amir Timur
Gur e Amir translates as the “tomb of the ruler” or “tomb of the Emir” and it is the mausoleum of the great Uzbek hero and conqueror Tamerlane (or Amir Temur) and of many of his family members and other close people. Gur-Emir complex is one of the most known sights of Samarkand even though Amir Temur wanted to be buried in a simple tomb in his hometown Shakhrizabz. His relatives and advisers had contradicting plans that became a reality when Amir Timur died during a great Chinese campaign and got therefore buried in the Gur-Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand. This mausoleum is located in the center of Samarkand, southwest from Registan and not far from the large Amir Timur monument.
Tours visiting Gur-e-Amir
The tours below all include Gur-e-Amir, usually as part of a full guided day in Samarkand.
Five Stans of Central Asia Tour
Start on an extraordinary adventure across the heart of Central Asia with our Five Stan Tour, exploring the unique…
The Best of the Five Stan Tour
Embark on a 22-day journey through all five countries of Central Asia, beginning in Bishkek and ending in Ashgabat. In…
Four Stan Tour through Central Asia
Discover the legendary Silk Road on this 18-day small-group tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and…
Uzbekistan Group Tour – Tamerlane’s Empire
Discover the heart of Tamerlane’s empire on this 6-day Uzbekistan group tour from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara…
5 Stan Quick Tour
Interested in seeing all five Central Asian “Stans” in a short time frame? This 15-day 5 Stan Quick Tour takes you…
Uzbekistan handicraft tour
Meet Uzbekistan's master craftsmen on a 10-day journey through the Fergana Valley, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. For…
What you see inside
The main hall glows with gold, onyx and blue. Amir Timur’s tombstone is a single block of dark green jade, placed over his grave by his grandson Ulugbek; it is broken in two, traditionally blamed on the Persian ruler Nader Shah, who tried to carry it off in 1740. The real graves lie in the crypt below.
Who is buried here
Amir Timur, his sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah, his grandsons Ulugbek and Muhammad Sultan – the mausoleum was first built for Muhammad Sultan after his death in 1403 – and Timur’s teacher Mir Said Baraka.
Visiting Gur-e-Amir
The ticket for foreign visitors is 75,000 som (2026). Gur-e-Amir opens at about 8:00 and stays open until about 23:00. The building is lit at night and is beautiful after dark; after 22:00 it is often nearly empty. It is a place of worship, so cover your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a headscarf.
Gur e Amir mausoleum
The Gur-e Amir or Guri Amir is a mausoleum that occupies a significant place in the history of Turko-Persian Architecture. Some researchers believe that this tomb became the prototype and basis for such famous historical monuments as the tomb of Humayun (Mughal ruler in current India) and later Taj Mahal. The Gur i Amir was actually originally built for Timur’s grandson Muhammad Sultan (1376-1403) who was expected to be his successor but died too early for it to become reality.
Timur was devastated of this and ordered to build the mausoleum but he did not live to see the it completed as he died in 1405. The mausoleum was finally completed by Mirzo Ulugbeg, a famous grandson of Timur, after the eastern gallery and southern funeral structures had already been finished.
Gur e amir also holds the tombs of three other Timurid governors as well his sons Timur-Miranshah (1366-1408), Shahruh (1377-1447) and his grandson Mirzo Ulugbeg (1396-1449). Miranshah was the third son of Timur. At the age of 20, Miranshah defeated the troops of Tokhtamish-Khan in the Caucasus and became the governor of the western regions of the state in the 1390s.
In 1408, Miranshah was killed in a battle against the Turkmen and his remains were transferred to Maverannahr and reburied in Gur-Emir.
Gur i Emir is also the burial place for the remains of Seyid Berke, the spiritual teacher of Amir Timur and it is told that in addition it is the resting place of another cleric called Seyid Umar, who is the son of Bukhara Sheikh Amir Kulal.
The youngest son of Amir Timur, Shahruh, was elevated in Khurasan at age 20. He became the supreme governor of the vast state upon his father’s death. He then gave the throne to his son, Mirzo Ulugbeg, who ruled for forty years. Shahruh died during a military campaign and was first buried in Herat. Ulugbeg came twice to Khurasan and finally took the Herat throne and brought his father’s remains to Samarkand. In 1449 Ulugbeg’s son Abdullatif rose in rebellion, dethroned his father and organized his murder. Abdullatif was also soon dethroned.
The opening of the tomb in 1941
In June 1941 Soviet scientists led by the anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened Timur’s tomb. Legend says that the grave carried warnings against disturbing it – “Whoever disturbs my tomb will unleash an invader more terrible than I am” – and local elders warned the team that a curse would strike within days. Two days after the opening, on 22 June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
The remains were taken to Moscow, where Gerasimov reconstructed Timur’s face from the skull. In December 1942 they were brought back and reburied in Gur-e-Amir with full Islamic rites.
Sights near Gur e Amir
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated