The Registan in Samarkand is probably one of the most easily recognisable landmarks along the Silk Road and it is certainly one of the most impressive.  It was the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand and of the Timurid dynasty.  Originally the Registan was a public square hwere people gathered to hear royal proclomations, heralded by blasts on enormous coper pipes called Dzharchis - and a place of public executions.  The square has three madrasahs along three of its four sides.  

The Ulugh Beg Madrasah was built by Ulugh Beg between 1417 and 1420.  As a madrasah it was one of the best clergy universities of the Muslim Orient in the 15th Century.  Ulugh Beg himself gave lectures there and during his government it was a centre of secular science.

The Sher-Dor Madrasah was built in the 17th Century by the ruler of Samarkand Yalangtush Bakodur.   It was he who also ordered the building of the Tilya-Kori Madrasah ten years later.

Back to Daily Reports