Turkestan city
Turkestan city Kazakhstan. Cities in Kazakhstan

The 1500 - year old Turkestan city became well-known fame thanks to the preaching of the most famous Sufisheikh, the outstanding poet and humanitarian Khodzha Akhmed Yassawi, called Khazret-Sultan. At that time the city was known as Yassy.

The theological school established by Yassawi attracted those craving for knowledge both from the neighboring cities and outlying steppes of Kazakhstan. The city became the most significant center of enlightenment in Kazakhstan . The memorial complex, which appeared at the grave of the great Yassawi, turned into the most visited places of worship in the Central Asia.

In the late XIV Turkestan acquired a unique construction - large complex of the premises centered around the Mausoleum of Khodzha Akhmed, built by the Great Timur. In the Moslem World Khodzha Akhmed Mausoleum is considered as the second Mecca.

Out of 802 memorials of history and culture of South Kazakhstan region 528 belong to the monuments of archaeology, 42-to historical monuments of, 226-to architectural monuments.

The most interesting archaeological monuments are related to the epoch of Karahanid-LX-Xllc. It was the time when on the Great Silk Road flourished famous city Otrar, where for several dozens years large archaeological excavations had been made, now it is a part of historical-cultural reservation Otrarskiy oasis and is an interesting tourist object.

Here is a fine historical museum, with panorama, demonstrating taking of city by the Mongolians, and also the monument of XII-XX cc. Mausoleum Arystan-bab, dedicated to one of the sufizm saints. Mausoleum attracts a number of pilgrims from the whole Central Asia. There are pilgrimage center and hotel functioning there.

But the most monumental memorials of architecture are situated in city Turkestan, that in 2000 year has celebrated its 1500 anniversary. Here on the boundary of XIV-XV centuries after the order of emir Timur, known in history as Tamerlan, was erected tremendous mausoleum on the grave of saint sufist sheikh Hodzga Ahmed Yassavi, famous in Central Asia.

The height of huge building, that witnessed many historical disasters and was opened recently after restoration, is about 40 meters. Its central hall is covered residence of Kazakh khans, is opened peculiar museum - pantheon. Pearl of its exposition is tay Kazan the biggest throughout the Moslem East cast vessel for water. It was made of alloy of seven metals.

The whole city center - is historical- cultural reservation Azret-Sultan. Besides mausoleum Hodzha Ahmed Yassavi it includes preserved medieval bath, hilvet, were great saint lived, mausoleum of great - granddaughter of Timur Rabiyi - Sultan Begim and other monuments, among which is, kept by miracle, house for underground meditations Kumshik-Ata.

In 40 km to the North from Turkistan among dry steppe hang, preserved by miracle from the XVII-th century picturesque ruins of ancient town Sauran, famous on the Great Silk Road.

To the historical places also belongs natural boundary Ordabasy, nowadays declared as a historical reservation. Here, 30 km from Shymkent in the beginning of the XVIII ñ Kazakhs united to resist the invaders from Western Mongolia-Dzungars.

There are monuments of architecture of the XIX c. in region represented by mosques and medrese, among which is do tinguished architectural complex - Appak-lshan in village Chayn and churches, built by Russian setters.

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