The Registan was the heart of the ancient Samarkand, Registan means "a sandy place." It existed long before the Mongol invasion as a city trade and artisan square. It is the point of six roads which ran from the city gates. From this very place to the strains of copper trumpets public criers announced citizens about new orders of the ruler.

Registan - the Heart of Samarkand

Under Tamerlane's rule the Registan became the city's square and during the time of Ulugbek it was adorned with majestic buildings. The entire group of buildings, including the madrasas, khanakas, mosques and caravan-sarais, was constructed during his time.

Registan is surrounded from three sides with majestic buildings: madrasah Ulugbek (1417 - 1420), Sher Dor (1619 - 1636), Tillya-Kari (1647 - 1660). The Ulugbek madrasah is the highest religious institution, a kind of university of the Middle Ages. In ancient manuscripts it was mentioned that Ulugbek himself taught mathematics. The Ulugbek Madrasah has its majestic portal with lancet arch facing the square. The corners are flanked by the high well-proportioned minarets which were never used by muedzins, there were said instead to hold up the sky.

Two monumental buildings were constructed in the 17th c. on Registan - madrasah Sher Dor and Tillya-Kori. They are distinguished by the imposing sizes and luxury of decoration, though in terms of the architectural value they nevertheless give away to their prototype, madrasah Ulugbek. The most considerable of all madrasahs of the 17th c. is Sher Dor which means "Building with lions". It was built for almost 17 years under the project of emir Yalangtush, the Governor of Samarkand. Ten years later, during the same governor, the madrasah Tillya-Kori was constructed, closing Registan from the north. The name Tillya-Kori means "trimmed with gold". Madrasah Tillya-Kori, apart from its primary goal (training students) executed the role of the main mosque.