The three-tier facade
Rows of arches.
Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Faridtabrizi53 — CC BY 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Antoine Taveneaux — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Amir Chakhmaq Complex is a prominent structure in Yazd, known for rows of symmetrical sunken alcoves on its tall facade. It is a mosque on a square of the same name and also holds a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well and a confectionery. It is among the best-known images of the city, above all at dusk, when its alcoves glow a soft orange. The square is named after Amir Jalal ed-Din Chakhmaq, a governor of Yazd under the Timurids. The site tied together the daily and religious life of the city, gathering several services in one place. Yazd as a whole is famous for its mud architecture and windcatchers, so this building shows its ceremonial side in contrast with its quiet lanes. You stand on the square before a facade of three tiers of arches between two slender minarets, with a pool that mirrors the building. You may be able to climb the stairs to upper parts when allowed, for views of rooftops and windcatchers. It is best to come twice, once by day and once in the evening, as the building looks quite different. It is about 900 m in a straight line from the Jameh Mosque of Yazd, and you can walk there from the old town. Carry water by day, as summer heat is fierce, and watch for cars on the square. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran and warns that British nationals risk detention, so check official guidance before making any plans. We could not confirm the current state of this site.
Rows of arches.
The building reflected.
Orange alcoves.
Amir Chakhmaq Square, Yazd, Iran
By day and again at dusk, as the orange lighting changes the scene.
Sometimes when allowed, so ask on the spot.
