Ulugbek Observatory in Samarkand
Travelers who have already gotten acquainted with the main sights of Samarkand often leave the central part of the city to see other interesting places. One of such locations is the Ulugbek Observatory.
Ulugbek Observatory in Samarkand: what to see
Mirzo Ulugbek was the grandson of Amir Temur, the ruler of Samarkand, and was considered an outstanding scientist and statesman. He began doing science in his youth, this was facilitated by a rich library collected by his father.
Ulugbek attracted outstanding scientists to Samarkand. With their help, the ruler created an observatory unique for its time. The construction of the object lasted about three years. The structure was three-story, it was supposed to last at least 30 years.
Strictly speaking, the Ulugbek Observatory does not exist in its original form now. This place can be called a museum complex on the site of the former observatory. Ulugbek himself was killed, and the observatory was destroyed. Now, only a small pavilion with the remains of a measuring instrument called a sextant (or quadrant) has been preserved from the ancient structure.
Nearby there is a small exhibition space where you can see many exhibits revealing the history of medieval Samarkand.
By the way, there are several other interesting places in Samarkand that remind of Mirzo Ulugbek. The scientist himself is buried in the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, and on Registan Square there is a huge madrasah named in his honor.
This place on the map
Other places
Hazrat Khizr Mosque in Samarkand
A 19th-century mosque with the mausoleum of the first president of Uzbekistan
