Architectural study of the monuments of Qutb Complex,Delhi and Kuny

a Urgench, Inscribed in the World Heritage site in India &Turkmenistan

Kunya-Urgench
Kunya-Urgench was a major trade center on the Silk Road from the 10th-14th centu
ries, and the capital of Khorezm region. Its architecture has influenced buildin
g in Iran, Afghanistan and the Moghul Empire.
The city was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1221 and the Timurids in 1372-1388. It
was rebuilt both times. In the 16th century it lost its capital function and fe
ll into decay. The site was then abandoned until the 20th century, when it was u
sed as a graveyard. It is still a local pilgrimage site.
The archeological site contains many monuments from the 11th-16th centuries. Its
Kutlug-Timur minaret dates from the 11th century and is 60 m. high. Its constru
ction was an outstanding achievement for this period, only surpassed by the Mina
ret of Jam in Afghanistan. There are also two fortresses and several mausolea on
site.
Year Decision Comments
2005 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Visit May 2010

Kunya-Urgench (Old Urgench) in my opinion is the most impressive of the Turkmen

WHS. It's a flat, deserted, hot stretch of land dotted with monuments here and t
here. The wonderful minaret (the oldest of its kind remaining in the world, and
one of the highest buildings from its period) draws your attention right away. T
he adjoining Tekesh Mausoleum is now under construction but its turquoise conica
l dome is still visible.

Visiting the site is well organized: there's a foot path that links the monument
s. Some of them can be visited inside too, but often they have been taken over b
y groups of pigeons. Worth mentioning is the Torebeg Khanum mausoleum that has a
wealth in mosaics. Those under the dome are put together like a calendar.
What I liked about the atmosphere here is that it still is a local pilgrimage si
te. You can see stones placed on top of each other for good luck. There's also a
spot where little cribs are left by women who pray to become pregnant.
The site is also still littered with graves. This is said to prevent authorities
from excavating here. There must be so much more left underground of this once
powerful city!
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews
Karim Shah (UK):
I would very much like to speak to anyone that has recently visited Kunya Urgenc
h, I'm especialy keen to learn of any reamins of the Mamun academy. kshah@oxford
scientificfilms.tv 0044 2073171355
():
i'm from this city(kunya urgench).i can be guide to turists that wanna come to v
isit our ancient city.i'll be glad to c tourists in my city

Paul Tanner (UK):

It is perhaps a bit surprising that Kunya-Urgenche, the ancient capital of the K
horezm state (see my review of the Itchan Kala), has been inscribed when there a
re several other nearby Central Asian historic cities which have also been. But
I suppose it is no different from the large number of European cathedrals which
have succeeded!
If you want to see it you have to run the gauntlet of the Turkmenistan bureaucra
cy first to get a visa and then to get in to the country! I have included a sect
ion at the end on our hassles in Oct 2004 which may be of interest/use to anyone
intending to go! If you still want to visit you will discover a dusty town, som
e mosques and a few scattered ruins (and virtually NO tourists!):- In particular
a very tall and somewhat rickety minaret looking a bit like a factory chimney a
nd various tombs and mausoleums (photo). Some of these (e.g. the Mausoleum of Tu
rabeg Khanym) are considered masterpieces of Islamic architecture of their era a
nd would certainly appeal to enthusiasts. In 1219 Kunya s ruler rather unwisely or
dered the destruction of a caravan from Genghis Khan with the result that Genghi
s returned 2 years later and laid waste to all the cities of the area! Kunya rec
overed, but was destroyed again by Tamburlane in 1379 - the atmosphere of semi-d
esolation in the desert does have a certain appeal.
.
To us however one of the most interesting sights was an area where local people
came to pray for fertility. The ground and rocks were strewn with little hand-ma
de dolls, tiny cribs and candles. A poignant reminder of the fear of childlessne
ss in that society and also of the fact that Islam in Central Asia is mingled wi
th non Islamic, shamanistic and Zoroastrian influences.
(We crossed from Nukus in Uzbekistan where we had been up to the Aral Sea to Tur
kmenistan at Korjeli. This is actually the closest border to Kunya-Urgenche but
caused much concern as our visa apparently stated that we would cross some 100 k
ms away at Dashigas from Khiva (the Visa officer in London hadn t read our itinera
ry properly and had just listed the more normal tourist crossing point, so check
your passport for the entry port when you get your visa!) and special arrangeme
nts had to be made by our agent in Turkmenistan to allow this. The frontier with
Uzbekistan is completely artificial anyway and road and rail links in the area
are being re-sited to take account of these post-Soviet borders and avoid unnece
ssary criss-crossing . Then it turned out that the border was closed to locals beca
use of the upcoming 13th anniversary celebrations of the rule of Turkmenbashi. T
he officials seemed to be on the highest alert and the lack of anyone else to se
arch meant that every single item of our baggage was minutely examined over a pe
riod of an hour. My wife s nightdress caused particular concern as it kept causing
the metal detector to bleep it turned out that there was a pen on the table the
y had laid it out on to test!)
Date posted: July 2005

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Kunya-Urgench
Country: Turkmenistan
Inscribed: 2005
Cultural Heritage
Criteria: (2) (3)
Category: Religious structure, Islamic Archaeological site, Near Eastern
Period:
Connections: Brick architecture . Caravanserai . Conical roofs . Destroyed durin
g invasion . Glazed tiles . Golden Horde . Ibn Battuta . Khorezm empire . Mausol
ea . Mosque . On Banknotes . Silk Road . Sufism .
News and links:
» Kunya Urgench, Turkmenistan - Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger.
» Welcome to Turkmenistan - Masterpieces of Kunya-Urgench.

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A comparative study of Kunya urgench and Qutb complex of Delhi