Uzbekistan: Samarkand – Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Bibi Khanym Mosque was one of the largest mosque in the entire Islamic world in the 15th century. It was seriously ruined over the years but a lot of it has been restored diligently and meticulously. The mosque was built in 1404 on orders of Timur (Tamerlane) who wanted to built the most magnificent mosque in the world. The mosque is rectangular where the walls enclose a large courtyard. A massive blue dome is the most spectacular part of the structure with a iwan (vault) that is just stunning in decoration. The mosque is a UNESCO World Heritage site.