Historic Sights of Tashkent

Ishratkhana (Asharatxona) - Legend of the Mausoleum
In the south-eastern part of Samarkand there is one of the most mysterious monuments of Islamic architecture, the mausoleum Ishrathana. No consensus regarding the purpose of the building exists. Some guess that it was a burial place for of women of aristocratic origin. The building never renovated, but even its ruins impress with their harmony.
A legend explains why the mausoleum was abandoned: Tamerlan’s grandson Ulugbek defined that in accordance with horoscope, his grandfather Amir Temur would have a risk during the feast in Ishratkhana. He rushed into the hall with a sword and forces the participants of the feast to run away. When the last emir left the room, there be heard underground buzz, and the devastating earthquake brought down the arches Ishrathana directly to the place where Tamerlan and his suite were lying a moment ago. The building never repaired again.
Rukhabad Mausoleum
To the north of Gur-Emir, there is the mausoleum Rukhabad that was built over the grave of Islamic mystic, Sheikh Burhaneddin Sagaradzhi who was highly respected by Tamerlan’s contemporaries.
Ruhabad (14th c.) is a small mausoleum and is said to contain a hair of Prophet Muhammad. The one-story madrasah now accommodates craftsmen’s shops. There is a functioning mosque next door to the madrasah. All three combine into one good-looking ensemble).
The Sheikh died in the XIV century and the name of the saint Sheikh gave rise to mausoleum’s name: “Rukhabad” means an "abode of spirit”. Burhaneddin Sagardzhi died in China, but bequeathed to his son Abu Said to bury him in Samarkand.
The exact time of this building’s construction has not been found, but the relief tile ornaments say it dates back to the middle of the XIV century. However, other researches guess it had been built by Amir Temur who, as it is known, admired the Saint. The tombs of Burhaneddin, his wife and their children are inside the mausoleum.
Some consider the Gur-Amir, Ruhabad mausoleum and Aksaray mausoleum to be a combined ensemble because of their closeness.