Three portal-tombs stand beside the Uzgen Minaret on the bluff above the river. They date from the 11th and 12th centuries, when Uzgen served as the eastern capital of the Karakhanid khanate — the first Turkic dynasty to convert to Islam. The Karakhanids controlled a large swath of Central Asia and the Silk Road, and their architectural patronage produced some of the most distinctive buildings of the period.
The mausoleums are brick structures with elaborately carved terracotta portal facades. The carved stucco and terracotta panels feature calligraphy intertwined with geometric and floral motifs; the detail work rivals anything in Bukhara or Samarkand. All three are in reasonable condition, though the site has seen periodic restoration work of variable quality. The ensemble is a UNESCO candidate site and one of the most significant medieval monuments in Kyrgyzstan.
Entry to the site includes both the mausoleums and the minaret. A small caretaker's office at the entrance usually sells tickets. There is no formal museum on site, but the local guide (if present) can explain the dynastic history.