Construction began on the minaret in the 11th century, and was not finished until the 13th century. The name originates from the King Kutlug-Timur, who was the ruler at the time of the minaret's completion.

Kutlug-Timur Minaret

As one of the tallest monuments in Central Asia, the Kutlug-Timur Minaret is an iconic landmark amongst the remains of Kunya-Urgench.

Standing at 62 metres high, the Kutlug-Timur Minaret can be seen from many kilometres away. The base of the monument measures 12 metres across and is designed to taper upwards to a 2 metre diameter at the top. Inside the minaret is a spiral staircase of 145 steps. Long ago, there was a Friday Mosque adjacent to the minaret that provided access to the staircase from its roof, but this mosque no longer exists and access is no longer permitted to visitors.

While the steps within the monument can no longer be traversed by travelers, it remains a stunning site to see from the ground. © Borkowska Trippin / Shutterstock

At the top of the minaret are the remains of a wooden lantern which may have acted as a guiding light for caravan travellers at night. The lantern would have also been used as a call to prayer and potentially as a watchtower. Today, many pilgrims will travel to the Kutlug-Timur Minaret for prayer or good luck.

Brick inscription along the minaret © Matyas Rehak / Shutterstock

Its construction originally began in the 11th century and was completed between 1321-1336. Impressively, this minaret is still standing after hundreds of years of weathering, earthquakes, and city invasions. There are reports that there may have been bands of colourful blue tilework wrapped around the minaret, but these are now missing, most likely due to the harsh conditions over the years. Today, the major decorative element is the six brick bands that wrap around the minaret. Kufic inscriptions with Quranic verses are also present along these bands. The sheer height of the structure is simply an awe-inspiring design.