A great Timurid mausoleum on the Silk Road
Turkistan has been a spiritual centre of Central Asia for centuries thanks to Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a 12th-century Sufi poet and teacher. His mausoleum was commissioned by Timur in the late 14th century and, though never completed, it is one of the largest and best-preserved Timurid buildings, with a vast portal and a ribbed turquoise dome. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws pilgrims from across the region. The ruins of the ancient Silk Road city of Otrar lie nearby.