Serakhs Baba Mausoleum

The mausoleum at Serakhs is generally attributed to Abul-Fazl, an eleventh-century Sufi teacher, and it is a square brick chamber carrying a dome on squinches, of a type that developed in this region and influenced later Seljuk building across Iran and Central Asia. It stands beside the ruins of the old town on the border. The building has been restored more than once and remains a place of pilgrimage.

What you actually see

• The domed chamber - the eleventh-century brick tomb with its squinch construction.
• The building type - a form that shaped later Seljuk architecture across the region.
• The old town ruins - the mounds of medieval Serakhs beside the tomb.
• The pilgrimage - the continuing visits to the shrine.

When to go

April to May and September to October are the workable months. Summer heat is extreme in this area. Border zone rules may require permits.

Honest expectations

Serakhs sits on the border and access can require permits arranged in advance. Restoration has replaced much of the original fabric. Facilities in the town are minimal.

Nearby

Mary is east, and Meana Baba is west.