The memorial
Under a turquoise dome.
Sharof Takhirovich Sharipov Uzgen — CC BY-SA 2.5 · Ahror Akramovich — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alaexis — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mr.sanjar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alaexis — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Buxoriymarkaz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Шухрат Саъдиев — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kraftabbas — CC BY-SA 4.0
A religious complex in the village of Khoja Ismoil, historically Hartang, north of Samarkand, with a mosque and a memorial to Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the most important hadith collections in Sunni Islam. Imam al-Bukhari died in 870 and was buried here. In the 16th century the Shaybanids built a mosque and library near his grave. In the Soviet era the mosque was abandoned and fell into ruin; accounts say Indonesia's President Sukarno visited in 1961 and asked for it to be rebuilt, and a new mosque and memorial were built in 1997-1998. The whole complex was extensively renovated in 2025, with the mosque completely rebuilt to hold more worshippers, and it reopened in Ramadan 2026. Its modern design keeps classical Uzbek elements: turquoise domes, galleries on carved wooden columns, decorated tilework, gardens and fountains. It is about 25 minutes by car from Samarkand and draws visitors from across the Islamic world. It is a place of worship, so dress modestly; women cover their hair to enter the mosque.
Under a turquoise dome.
Carved wooden columns.
Opened 2026.
Khoja Ismoil (Hartang), north of Samarkand
At the memorial complex in Khoja Ismoil (Hartang), north of Samarkand, about 25 minutes by car from the city.