Beyond Registan and Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand has several lesser-known sites, each with its own story. The Hazrat-Khizr Mosque stands on a hill where, according to legend, an immortal saint who protects travelers is buried — its terrace offers one of the best views of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. The Rukhabad Mausoleum, more modest in decoration than its neighbors, was built over the grave of the Sufi sheikh Burhaneddin Sagarji and has since been treated as a pilgrimage site rather than just an architectural monument. The most unusual story belongs to the Khoja Doniyor Mausoleum: according to legend, it holds the relics of the biblical prophet Daniel, brought back by Tamerlane from a campaign, and the tomb itself is said to keep growing — pilgrims of three religions still leave offerings here today.
