Turkistan Kazakhstan is a desert town situated near to the city of Shymkent . This city is famous for the Mausoleum of revered islamic teacher , poet , mystic and sufi saint khoja Ahmed Yasawi . It is a Major pilgrimigae station for the muslims of Central asia . It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site . This mausoleum was started building by Famous empiror Timur but it was unfinished for the sudden death of Timur . In this complex you can also see a Underground Mosque , Historical Cultural Ethnographic Centre , Azret Sultan Reserve-Museum and Karavan sarai . Most of the places to visit are in this old complex . This area is situated 5-6 km from the main city centre .
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi:
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site , a religious place and a place to see the beautiful timuriod architecture of the 13 th century . It’s glazed tiles and the domes are fasinating to see .
It was build by the empiror Timur in 1389 . khoja ahmed Yasawi was the founder of the turkic sufism . This building has been build by fired brick and the height of the building is 38 meter which can be seen from long distance .
The caligraphy in the main door is wonderful . It is a huge arched door . Inside the building there was a Hall of the Great Cauldron(people circle around this cauldron ) , and the burial chamber , mosque and a library . muslim People from all around the central asia come here for pilgrimage and tourist to learn the history of Kazakisthan .
underground mosque Kyluet(Hilavet Mosque):
Hilvet or the semi underground mosque is situated near to the mausoleum of sufi saint Khoja Ahmed . It was build in 12 th century but later in 1940 it was reconstructed again .
Inside the mosque there is a prayer hall , resting place and ritual practish area . Is is said that in this lonely area Khoja Ahmed write spiritual verses . Some also practish zikr which is a 40 days stays in seclusion . Which is a spiritual practish.
This mosque is opened between the 9 AM to 6 PM .
In this historical complex of the Khoja Ahmed there are some people who have double hump camel . They make a structure to ride this cammels . You can enjoy a small ride with this camel found in Kazakisthan . Everyday you can see lots of school students come here for learning the History of this area see the famous mausoleum of Khoja ahmed Yasawi .
They mainly know the Kazakh and the Russian Language but with their broken english they try to communicate any foreigner who visited this place . Luckily I met some of this students group . Their teacher and the students interacted with me . This is a pleasent experience for me .
Turkestan Railway station complex:
This is one of the important railway station to reach the famous mausoleum of Khoja ahmed Yarshi which is situated just 6.5 km from the here . This rail station was build in 1903 as a part of Orenburg–Tashkent Rail line .
This building was a fusion of the European and Oriental architecture . Lots of Turkisthan tours also start from this place .
In this historical complex you can also see some yurts . Yurts are the traditional tents for the nomadic Kazakh tribe . It is mostly famous in the Mongolia .
I don’t know they provide accomodation here or it is just for the showcase . This Yurts are mainly white in color but other color yurts also exist .
Historical Cultural Ethnographic Centre :
This three storied building with 8 exhibition halls was build on the Kazakh independence day in 2010 shows rich history and the modern Kazakisthan .
Ground floor of the museumm tells about the history of Chengiz Khan and Timur Lang . The second floor consists of the history of the Kazakh Khanate and the “White Horde” , third floor shows the mordern and future kazh country . This museum they showcase craftmanship and the souvenior shops .
Sauran ruins:
This historical ruins once served the capital of the White Horde kingdom in 14 the century . This oval shape area was sarrounded by a wall and then after moats . It had 7 towers to watch onany attacking enemies . They bring water to this town by an 110km underground water channels called quanat (farsi language ).
This place is 45-50 km in distance from here in the border area of the Kyzylorda region in kazakisthan .
Sharesthan fortress :
This picture is just the gate of the Sharesthan fortress . History says that first the fortified city was made in the 3 rd century BC .
Later in between the 14 th-18th century It has flourished to more larger area . Almost 80 hectres in the time of the Khanate .
In the half of the 19 th century this fortress was build to protect the Mausoleum of the revered sufi saint khoja Ahmed Yarsi .
Summary :
Turkisthan is a holy city situated 170km from the city of Shemkent situated inside a desert . It is famous for the mausoleum of the sufi saint Khoja Ahmed Yawasi . There is surana ruins , underground Mosque , sharesthan fortress and the cultural and the ethnographic museum . He was a revered turkik sufi saint of that time . Now a days Muslims from all around the central asia come here for pilgrimage and tourist to see the beautiful architecture made by Timur(It is a UNESCO World Heritage site ) .
