Uzbekistan has completed a major restoration of the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex near Samarkand, one of the Muslim world's most revered pilgrimage sites.
The burial site of Imam al-Bukhari in the village of Hartang , 25 km from Samarkand, has been a sacred landmark for centuries. Imam al-Bukhari (810–870 CE) was a renowned Islamic scholar, author of Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the most trusted collections of the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings.
In the 16th century, a small crypt and mosque were erected over his grave, and plane trees grew around the holy site. In 1998, to mark the 1225th anniversary of his birth, a new memorial complex was built on that ancient mazar under the leadership of the government of Uzbekistan.
Skilled craftsmen from across the country collaborated to create a mausoleum, mosque, administrative and religious-educational buildings, blending traditional Central Asian architecture with contemporary craftsmanship.
Today, the expanded complex spans far beyond its original footprint: it features a grand dome-topped mausoleum, a spacious mosque, landscaped grounds, and modern facilities all designed to serve worshippers, pilgrims, and visitors from around the world.
