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Historical places
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What do we know about Historical places
Undoubtedly, the most famous historical place in Southern Kazakhstan is Turkestan, which arose in the 5th century AD. In those ancient times it was called Yassy. Many of the guests of Kazakhstan wish to see the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi located there. It was built at the end of the XIII century in memory of the great thinker of the XII century Haji Ahmet ibn Ibrahim al Yasawi, a dervish, a preacher of Sufism and a poet. It is believed that his family descended from the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, the Muslim Mother of God, the progenitor of all the descendants of the prophet. This monument is really beautiful both for its architecture, and the complex stone carving of the walls, and its blue domes. Traditional handicrafts can be purchased inexpensively at the city market.
Not far from Schaulder You can see another architectural monument of the XIX century – the mausoleum of Arystanbab. Like the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, it is a functioning shrine and attracts a large number of pilgrims. On both sides of the road you will repeatedly encounter hills – the remains of ancient settlements, which were so rich in the Syrdarya plain. In Shaulder there is a small historical museum with numerous ancient exhibits and a diorama of the Battle of Otrar.
30 km from Turkestan, you can explore the excavations of the ancient city of Otrar, destroyed in the 15th century. The first settlements on the site of Otrar date back to the II century BC. It was founded by descendants of the Saks – Kangyun and in the YI _ YIII centuries was referred to as Kangu-Taraban. Then the word “Taraban” was transformed into Farab and is familiar to many by the name of the famous philosopher and scientist Abu Nasir ibn Muhammad, who went down in history under the name al-Farabi. The history of this city is full of various collisions: it was the center of Central Asian civilization. It is famous for the names of many scientists and thinkers such as Avicenna, Ulugbek and al-Biruni. It was repeatedly destroyed and restored, including after the ruin of Genghis Khan in the XIII century. The history of this centuries-old city ends at the beginning of the 10th century, when it was once again destroyed by Shah Jahan in 1410. Today, visiting Otrar, you can see the excavated walls of the city there and observe the work of archaeologists.
Traditionally, guests of Kazakhstan inspect several objects in Sairam – the mausoleums of Abdl-Aziz-Bab (XYII century) and mazars in honor of the parents of Akhmet Yasavi — Ibrahim-Ata and Karachach-Ana (XIX century), the minaret of the XIX century. With interest and benefit, you can spend part of your time at the regional museum of local lore in the city of Shymkent itself, there is a good exposition there.
30 km from Turkestan, you can explore the excavations of the ancient city of Otrar, destroyed in the 15th century. The first settlements on the site of Otrar date back to the II century BC. It was founded by descendants of the Saks – Kangyun and in the YI _ YIII centuries was referred to as Kangu-Taraban. Then the word “Taraban” was transformed into Farab and is familiar to many by the name of the famous philosopher and scientist Abu Nasir ibn Muhammad, who went down in history under the name al-Farabi. The history of this city is full of various collisions: it was the center of Central Asian civilization. It is famous for the names of many scientists and thinkers such as Avicenna, Ulugbek and al-Biruni. It was repeatedly destroyed and restored, including after the ruin of Genghis Khan in the XIII century. The history of this centuries-old city ends at the beginning of the 10th century, when it was once again destroyed by Shah Jahan in 1410. Today, visiting Otrar, you can see the excavated walls of the city there and observe the work of archaeologists.
If you have more time, you should go to the city of Suzak. Now it is located on the outskirts of the South Kazakhstan region, but a couple of centuries ago, during the absence of railways and highways, Suzak was a significant city at the intersection of nomadic routes. It impresses with the originality of buildings and high fences, for the construction of which local clay is used. There is a beautiful mosque in the city, which is more than a hundred years old. And next to it – brick kilns. On the walls of the furnaces there were traces of the fingers of those masters who built them. And, perhaps, the most interesting is the ancient settlement right in the city, not even touched by archaeologists yet, with the remains of ancient ceramics right under your feet. Among the locals, whose ancestors played a significant role in Suzak’s past, there are experts in history. Thanks to their stories, the past seems to come to life, and Kazakhstan becomes closer and clearer. A beautiful modern mausoleum of Kara-bura has been built in the city, where you will be told an interesting legend related to it. Here you can order a national lunch, and you will be served it in a spacious elegant yurt. It is best to get to Suzak from Turkestan, on the road through the Achisai pass. The tour together with the round trip road will take one day.