It occupies an important place in the history of Turkestan's architecture[2] as the precursor for and had influence on later Mughal architecture tombs, including Gardens of Babur in Kabul, Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Timur's Indian descendants, Mongols[3] that followed Indian culture with Central Asian influences.

The construction of the mausoleum itself began in 1403 after the sudden death of Muhammad Sultan, Timur's heir apparent and his beloved grandson, for whom it was intended.

The exterior decoration of the walls consists of the blue, light-blue and white tiles organized into geometrical and epigraphic ornaments against a background of terracotta bricks.

Inwardly, the mausoleum appears as a large, high chamber with deep niches at the sides and diverse decoration.

The ornate carved headstones in the inner room of the mausoleum merely indicate the location of the actual tombs in a crypt directly underneath the main chamber.

Under Ulugh Beg's government a solid block of dark green jade was placed over the grave of Tamerlane.

Formerly this stone had been used at a place of worship in the Chinese emperor's palace, then as the throne of Duwa (a descendant of Genghis Khan) in Chagatay Khanate.

The main architect of the mausoleum was Muhammad ibn Mahmud Isfahani, a native of the Iranian city of Isfahan.

Returning to Samarkand in the fall of 1404, Timur ordered for his grandson[clarification needed] the building of a mausoleum, which became the family tomb of Gur-e-Amir.

In this architectural ensemble are the tombs of Timur himself, his sons Shah Rukh (died in 1447 in Herat) and Miran Shah (killed on April 21, 1408 in the vicinity of Tabriz), grandsons - Ulugh Beg (1394–1449) and Muhammad Sultan, also Timurids Abdullo Mirzo, Abdurahmon Mirzo, teacher and mentor of Timur Mir Said Baraka.

By the will of Timur's youngest son Shah Rukh, Mir Said Baraka's remains are buried in the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum.

The main spiritual mentor of Timur was the descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Sheikh Mir Said Baraka.

According to the Arab historian Ibn Arabshah Timur constantly said: "All that I have reached in the state and the strongest countries conquered by me - all this was achieved because of the prayer and blessing of Sheikh Shamsuddin al-Khavoriyyah and all the luck found only from Said Baraka".

With the resurgence of the interest in Tamerlane after the founding of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1991, care of his places of worship has intensified.

Allegedly, once opened another inscription was discovered: “Whosoever disturbs my tomb will unleash an invader more terrible than I".

[11][better source needed] Even though people close to Gerasimov claim that this story is a fabrication, the legend persists.

[9] The Aksaray mausoleum (15th century), recently restored, is located on a quiet street behind Gur-e Amir.