Oldest mausoleum Sayid Alauddin was preserved till our days. It includes gurhona, a burial vault, and ziarathona (worship place).
Information about Sufi Sheikh can be obtained from works of famous writers and poets Navoi and Jami, as well as historian Ahmed Razi. He was very generous and wise person.
According to wall inscription, Sheikh died in the beginning of the 14th century. Tomb of Sayid Alauddin was constructed on the initiative of his student Amir Kulyal. In line with multi-century eastern tradition, the mausoleum was constructed over the tombs of khans. People could come to mausoleum to honor and pay tribute.
Architecture
External appearance of the building can seem modest in comparison with similar establishments. Volumetric stalactites in the corners of the mausoleum look pretty primitive. However, it strongly contrasts with the interior decoration.
The base of dahma has a form of rising ground. Slender columns are in the corners. The tomb is decorated with incredibly beautiful pattern of majolica tiles. You cannot see a similar pattern in Khiva. Similar decoration in technique can be seen at mausoleum of Sufi Sheikh Najmiddin Kubro in Kunya Urgench. By the way, the patterns were made almost in the same time.
The interior of the mausoleum was decorated with rich floral ornament, which was very popular in the medieval architecture of Central Asia.
Sayid Alauddin Mausoleum was completely reconstructed by 1825, while some part of the building was altered. The niches inside the building were laid, the floor in the room is laid out of Khiva square bricks and the walls are plastered by ganch. According to inscription on the wall, Alla Kuli-khan ordered to reconstruct the mausoleum.
Sayid Alauddin Mausoleum is one of the most beautiful and memorable places of ancient Khiva.
