Astana Baba Mausoleum

Astana Baba stands near the Amu Darya in the southeast, a complex of brick chambers under domes joined together over successive centuries from around the eleventh, holding tombs and a mosque, with carved plaster surviving in places inside. It is one of the busiest pilgrimage sites in the country, and the tradition attached to it concerns a ruler's daughter and the building raised over her grave. Visitors circle the tombs and tie cloth outside.

What to look for

• The joined chambers - domed rooms added to one another over several centuries.
• The carved plaster - decoration surviving on the interior walls.
• The pilgrimage - the continuing flow of visitors circling the tombs.
• The Amu Darya setting - the river country the complex stands in.

When to go

April to May and September to October are the comfortable months. Fridays and holidays bring the most pilgrims. Summer heat is severe.

What to expect

This is an active shrine and photography inside is often not welcome. Restoration has replaced much of the exterior. The region requires the same travel arrangements as the rest of the country.

Nearby

Kerki is nearby, and Amul is north at Turkmenabat.

Key facts