Hidden in the modern metropolis of downtown Tashkent are a couple of cute mausoleums, tucked into the area that is now part of the International Islamic Academy campus. Seems about right.
Behold ancient architecture! Actually, a ceremonial gate to the academy. Looks the part.
Here's the mausoleum for Sheikh Hovendj Tahur, a 14th century Sufi saint. The tomb dates to about 1360. It's a small, simple design, the standard beige brick with a couple of iconic blue tiled domes.
The first room inside contains the grave of Sheikhantaur with a large, dead trunk of a Saur tree, supposedly placed there in the 1930s. Impressive.
Moving farther inside the mausoleum, there's a smaller room with two tombs, for Sheikhantaur's wife and son. Right behind the Sheikhantaur mausoleum is an equally small, humble building, dedicated to Kaldyrgach Bey. One unique feature is the 12-sided cone atop the structure.
Inside the nicely decorated (heavily restored after the 1966 earthquake) building is the tomb of Kaldyrgach Bey. Or is it? Some scholars argue that it's the tomb of Töle Biy. Thank god for the google and its endless clarity sorting out such matters.
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