Tajikistan: Istaravshan – Kok Gumbez Mosque
Istaravshan is mostly off the tourist path and it’s certainly a shame. The Kok Gumbez mosque and madressa is absolutely stunning – built in the 16th century, the unrestored structure is stunning in appearance and grandeur. Kok Gumbez literally means “Blue-domed” – the central mosque building has a massive blue dome covered in shining blue tiles. The mosque is no longer functioning and is awaiting to be restored. The interior has some amazing tilework and a mihrab with elaborate molding. This mosque and medressa wer erected by Abdulatif Sultan, he son of the famous scientist, astronomer and philosopher Ulugbek, the grandson of Tamerlan
