Tomb of Saint Daniel, Samarkand

What is the Tomb of Saint Daniel?

It is a long, low building with five small domes on the north-east edge of Afrasiab, the hill where ancient Samarkand stood. Inside is a single grave about 18 metres long. Muslims call the saint Khoja Doniyor (or Daniyar), Christians the prophet Daniel, Jews Daniel — and all three see him as the same man.

The present building dates from the early 20th century and has been repaired and rebuilt several times. The shrine itself is much older in local memory, tied by tradition to Timur. Since 2001 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures”.

Searching online? Don’t mix it up with the Tomb of Daniel in Susa (Shush), Iran, or the one in Kirkuk, Iraq. This page is about the Samarkand shrine above the Siab river.

Entry fee and opening hours

There is no official price list. Unofficially, foreign visitors paid UZS 30,000 in 2025, and UZS 40,000 is quoted for autumn 2026; Uzbek citizens pay less. It is one of the cheapest tickets in town — less than the Registan or the observatory.

The shrine is open every day, roughly 8:00 to 18:00. Hours may shift on religious holidays. Pay in cash: Uzbek som is what small ticket desks expect, and foreign Visa or Mastercard cards don’t always go through. Withdraw som in the centre — don’t count on an ATM by the shrine.

Is Daniel really buried here?

Nobody can say, and no serious source pretends otherwise. The best-known legend says Timur besieged Susa again and again without success. Local wise men told him the city was protected by the relics of the prophet Daniel, so Timur struck a deal: he would spare the city and take part of the relics to Samarkand to guard his own capital.

Another version has the caravan stopping on the bank of the Siab, where the horse carrying the relics refused to go further — and that is where the tomb stands. Accounts disagree on what lies inside: the saint’s arm, a larger part of the remains, or a handful of earth from his grave.

A Muslim tradition tells a different story: in Abu Tahir Khoja’s book Samariya, Khoja Doniyor is a companion of Qusam ibn Abbas, the saint of Shah-i-Zinda. Historians see the Timur story as a late legend. For the pilgrims who come here, it hardly matters.

Why is the grave 18 metres long?

The grave runs almost the whole length of the hall. There are three explanations, all of them traditions. One says the saint keeps growing after death, so the keepers lengthened the grave more than once. Another says its size reflects the prophet’s greatness. The most practical one: it was made long so that no one could tell where the relics lay and steal them.

The grave is faced with onyx and black marble, but a cloth embroidered with Arabic script usually covers it, so what you see is the shape: long, level and running through the white hall.

What to see

• The grave hall — long and bright, lit from the door and latticed windows. Walk the full length of the grave to take in its size.
• The five domes — best seen from the stairs as you come up.
• The pistachio tree by the crypt. Patriarch Alexy II blessed it in 1996 when it had withered; local tradition says it came back to life.
• The spring below the hill, under a small pavilion. Pilgrims drink the water and fill bottles to take home.
• The view over the Siab and the green valley below — a quiet spot to sit for a few minutes.
• The square at the foot of the hill, with souvenir stalls and a café for a break before the observatory.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you have more than a day in Samarkand or you are curious about places that different faiths share. Don’t come for tilework — that is what Shah-i-Zinda is for. The building is plain. What makes it memorable is the mood: Muslim, Christian and Jewish visitors at the same grave, the spring, the quiet above the river.

With only one day, skip it: the Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda matter more. With two, it fits neatly with the observatory and the Afrasiab Museum into a calm half-day in the north of the city, away from the central crowds.

Saint Daniel vs Shah-i-Zinda vs Ulugh Beg Observatory

Fares are unofficial 2025–2026 figures; distances are straight-line. All three are in the north of the city and fit into one morning.

Samarkand’s shrines and mosques compared

Every mosque, mausoleum and shrine in Samarkand rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Nearby — add to your day

35

Afrasiab Museum

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h 15 min · ≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial) · 8 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Afrasiab Museum

40

Ulugh Beg Observatory

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

45 min · UZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial) · 17 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Ulugh Beg Observatory

46

Shah-i-Zinda

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h 15 min · ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners · 23 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Shah-i-Zinda

38

Hazrat Khizr Mosque

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

30 min · Free, donations welcome · 25 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Hazrat Khizr Mosque

How to do it right

• Come in the morning: it is cooler and calmer, with more pilgrims than tour groups.
• Pair it with the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Afrasiab Museum — both are 10–15 minutes away.
• Bring an empty bottle if you’d like spring water — that’s what pilgrims do.
• Walk the full length of the grave, then step out to the terrace for the view over the Siab.
• Book a Yandex Go back to the centre — flagging a car on the road takes longer.
• Don’t save it for the evening: it closes around 18:00 and isn’t floodlit like the Registan.

Questions