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In Samarkand, an interesting story has unfolded, causing heated discussions on social media. Recently, it became known that part of the territory of the famous Ashratkhona mausoleum, which served as a burial site for the women and children of the Timurid dynasty, will be given over for the establishment of a public dining facility. The reason for such a decision is simple—there was no money in the local budget for the maintenance and improvement of this historic site. Now, a private entrepreneur will take care of it by opening a restaurant on the land adjacent to the mausoleum.
The Cultural Heritage Agency confirmed this information, which immediately sparked a wave of outrage among social media users.
The Ashratkhona mausoleum is not just an architectural monument, but an important part of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. It was built by order of the wife of Timurid ruler Abu Said Mirza for their daughter. The construction was carried out at a fast pace and completed in May 1463. This luxurious mausoleum later became a family burial site for the women and children of the dynasty. Archaeological excavations revealed a platform with 20 graves, remarkable in size and grandeur, standing out among other similar structures in Central Asia.
However, today the mausoleum and the surrounding area require constant maintenance and improvement, for which the state apparently has no funds. Despite the fact that in 2007, with the support of sponsors, the roof of the monument was covered to protect it from rain, and in 2016, conservation work was carried out inside the mausoleum at the expense of republican funds, this turned out to be insufficient. In 2023, the mausoleum was fenced off, but this was not enough for the complete improvement of the area, and the flow of tourists—both local and foreign—remains small.
To address this issue, it was decided to build a public dining facility on the territory of the Ashratkhona mausoleum, which would operate without selling alcohol. It is expected that the restaurant will not only help maintain the area but also attract more tourists who can combine their visit to the monument with dining at the restaurant.
However, this decision has raised many concerns in society. Social media users express doubts that the entrepreneurs will properly take care of the preservation of the historical monument. People are worried about whether commercial activities will harm the preservation and spirit of this ancient structure.
The Ashratkhona mausoleum holds immense significance for the cultural and historical identity of the region. Now, the preservation of this heritage, along with its future, remains in question.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article