Bibi Khanum Mosque:
The foundation of this mosque was laid in 1399 AD by the Mongol leader Tamerlane, as a gift to his wife Bibi Khanum, immediately after his victorious return from one of his conquests in India. The spoils of this military campaign, carried on the backs of 95 elephants, were the main financiers of the construction of this great Islamic edifice.
This mosque was the largest mosque in Central Asia for decades, as it could accommodate 10,000 worshipers and its turquoise dome was 40 meters high and was considered the largest dome in the Islamic world.
Since then, this mosque has become one of the most famous landmarks of Samarkand and Uzbekistan, as it was nicknamed the "Jewel of Samarkand".
Ulugh Beg placed a marble Quran stand in the mosque, which was later transferred to the mosque courtyard, and the Ottoman Quran (Samarkand manuscript) was placed on it until the Russians took over Samarkand and transferred it to St. Petersburg, then it was returned and transferred to Tashkent.
