Samanids Mausoleum is at the park of the same name, and in spite of its modest size has a great historic and architectural value. Samanids Mausoleum was built in the period of 890-945. It seems most likely that the mausoleum was built in 905. So, it is one of the oldest buildings in Central Asia, which survived until our days without alterations.
Ismail Samani, the founder of the Samanid state, began to build the mausoleum for his father. Later, he and his son were also buried at the mausoleum. The centralized Samanid state was one of the largest in Central Asia. Ismail Samani is honored both in Uzbek, and Tajik historiography. In Tajikistan even money (somoni) was called in his honor.
In 13 century, when they awaited for the invasion of Chingiskhan, the Samanid Mausoleum was buried under the ground and was there for quite a long time. By 20 century the mausoleum was in the state of complete decay and only the restoration works of 1934 returned it to its original state. Today the Samanids Mausoleum may be considered as the most vivid and almost single example of the early Islamic and Zoroastrian culture in Uzbekistan.
The Samanids Mausoleum was built from burnt brick and has the shape of a regular square: 10 meters high and 10 meters wide with a dome over the walls and columns on the corners. On each side there is a door through which you can enter the mausoleum.
Near at hand on the outskirts of the park you can see the ancient city walls of Bukhara. If you go in the opposite direction, you will go to the Ark Citadel, and then to the Poi Kalyan.
