Zangionta
Zangionta Complex
Just 15 km outside Tashkent, along the M34 you can find the Zangionta village that has risen around the Timurid-era mausoleum of Zangoita. The person buried in the complex was a 13 century Sufi saint and a shepherd who is still believed to have healing powers. People visit the mausoleum to pray and seeking blessings. There is also a spring nearby the mausoleum where people drink the healing waters of the saint.
The entrance to the Zangiota complex is through large-scale door which decorated with colorful mosaics. The door is built in a form of patterns and supplemented with Arabic scripts. The gate was built already during the reign of Temur’s grandson, Mirzo Ulugbek.
The mausoleum contains the remains of the great Sheikh Ai-Khoja Zangi-ata. This nickname translates as “Dark Father”, which he received for his tan skin color
Zangiata was a great Sufi, well-known and revered by people both during his lifetime and after his death. He was born in a noble Arab family at the end of the 12th century and he preached about the islamic faith until his last days.
Ai-Khoja was taken to study with the Sufi Sheikh Ahmad Yassavi, who was recognized as the spiritual leader of all Turkic tribes in Central Asia. During his life, Zangiata did a lot for the formation and development of Islam among the people, which earned him the respect of believers. For this reason, the ruler Amir Temur decided to build a memorial complex for the great Sheikh.
Other sights near Tashkent
Page updated 3.1.2021
