Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, named after Qutham ibn Abbas. The site dates back to the 12th century and is recognized as an object of tangible cultural heritage. It is part of the Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures designation and is one of the most looked-up sights in Uzbekistan.
Planning a visit
The site is open daily from 07:00 to 22:00. Entry for adults is 80,000 som. Samarkand International Airport is 4 km away, and the city is 267 km from Tashkent.
Temperatures vary significantly throughout the year. Winters are cold, with average lows reaching -5 °C in January. Spring months like March and April see temperatures between 13 °C and 19 °C, though these months experience more rainfall. Summer months from June to August are hot, with daily highs reaching 30 °C to 32 °C and very little precipitation. September and October offer milder conditions, with highs between 20 °C and 27 °C and minimal rain. Visitors can combine a trip to the necropolis with nearby locations such as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, which is 0.7 km away, or the site of Afrasiyab at 1 km. The Registan is 1.4 km from the site, while the Ulugh Beg Observatory and Gur-e-Amir are located 2 km and 2.3 km away, respectively.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is March, with about 70 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 6 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 14 | 8 |
| Average low, °C | -5 | -3 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 2 | -3 |
| Rainfall, mm | 43 | 50 | 70 | 60 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 49 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
