Kunye Urgench, Turkmenistan

Ancient capital of the Korezm empire before destruction first by Genghis Khan and then by Tamerlane. Also, the river changed its course resulting in water shortages. So the capital was moved to Khiva.
The remains are a UNESCO site. First is the caravansarai gate. Second and third are mausoleums from before the Genghisid destruction. Then a minaret from in between the two major destructions. It has survived earthquakes because it has anti-seismic engineering in the form of layers of clay mixed with straw throughout the structure. The last two are of a mausoleum from after the Timurid destruction. Most of what you see is original from the 14th century.Read more