So we walk on towards a very large complex standing proud on a hilltop a kilometer away it is the Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble includes mausoleums and other ritual buildings.
The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning “The living king”) is connected with the legend that Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was buried there.
Popular legends speak that he was beheaded for his faith but finished his prayers then he took his head and went into the deep well (Garden of Paradise), where he’s still living now.
As usual once someone famous is buried then everyone else wants to be near to them just in case it helps on judgment day. So what we have is a series of very ornate mausoleums of rich of semi famous people.
They were building this for around 900 years so we get to see the different styles and processes. The entrance belies the grandeur of what we are about to see.
The place is very busy both tourists and locals, it seems it is some sort of pilgrimage and if you want you can walk up the stairs on your needs (we as you would expect decline the opportunity)
