Tourist routes

Contact phone: +7 777 213 99 22

Second stop – the Mausoleum of Zhoshy Khan.

Zhoshy Khan was the eldest son of Genghis Khan and the father of Batu Khan, the founder of the Ulus of Jochi (the Golden Horde). The mausoleum was constructed in the 13th century; nearby, the remains of the Orda-Bazar settlement have been preserved. In the vicinity of the mausoleum, 24 burials dating to the period of the Golden Horde are concentrated.

The Mausoleum of Zhoshy Khan belongs to the type of portal-domed architectural structures. The primary construction material is high-quality fired red brick. Within the recess of the P-shaped portal, decorative facing bricks measuring 45 × 45 cm were used for ornamental purposes. These bricks may bear inscriptions in the Chagatai language alongside ornamental designs. The interior walls of the mausoleum are plastered with a clay-and-straw mortar. The most visually striking feature of the structure is its ceremonial portal.

The mausoleum has a double-shell dome: the inner dome is hemispherical, while the outer dome is sphero-conical. The domes rest on two drums: a lower seventeen-sided drum and an upper cylindrical drum. At the вершина of the dome mounted on the cylindrical drum is a green glazed qubba. The faceted drum and the exterior dome are clad with square tiles made of blue glazed ceramic material.

Third stop – the Mausoleum of Dombauyl, located 7 km from the Mausoleum of Zhoshy Khan. It is an ancient domed architectural monument dating to the Oghuz-Kipchak period (9th–11th centuries). The mausoleum was constructed of red stone and clay mortar. The entrance is oriented to the east. The total height of the structure is 6 meters.

The lower tier has a square plan, above which a dome resembling the form of a yurt was erected. The floor of the complex is covered with compacted soil mixed with stone, over which flat stone slabs were laid. The walls rise to a height of up to 3 meters and are covered with horizontal wooden beams.

Dombauyl (Dobyn Mergen) was a batyr from the Kiyat clan and also a kyuishi (performer and composer of kyui). According to Academician A. Margulan, the Kiyat were descendants of the Huns who had previously lived in remote regions of the Altai, along with such ethnic groups as the Kipchaks, Konyrats, Alshyns, and Argyns. In addition, the name Dombauyl appears in the Book of Dede Korkut, where Dombauyl (Domrul) is portrayed as a brave and valiant hero.

Fourth stop – the Mausoleum of Alasha Khan.

Scholars attribute the mausoleum either to the architecture of the Karakhanid period or to the era of the Golden Horde. Since bricks from different periods were used in the masonry, it is assumed that the structure was constructed gradually between the 11th and 16th centuries.

The mausoleum belongs to the type of portal-domed architectural structures. Its height is 10 meters. The building is constructed of fired red brick. Above the main volume of the structure, a drum (the neck of the dome) approximately 2.5 meters high was erected, upon which the dome was set. The exterior of the mausoleum is decorated with ornamental brickwork forming a pattern reminiscent of shyrsha (an alasha carpet motif).

In the left corner of the entrance section there is a narrow passage with steps. Through this passage, one can ascend to the second circular level beneath the dome (the drum gallery), and then, via the rear side of the portal arch, reach the roof of the mausoleum.

The settlement is located in the Ulytau District, 25 km north of the village of Zhezdy, near the village of Taldysai. The site dates to the 9th–12th centuries.

Baskamyr is considered one of the most architecturally complex medieval urban sites in Central Kazakhstan. It was a medieval fortified town. Both the outer city and the citadel were surrounded by moats and earthen ramparts. The lower sections of the defensive structures were built of wide granite slabs, while the upper parts were constructed of stone and fired brick. In the northeastern corner of the inner city there was a reservoir for storing drinking water supplied via an irrigation canal (aryk).

Academician A. Margulan and Doctor of Historical Sciences S. Agadzhanov, in their study of the work of the Arab geographer al-Idrisi Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al-Afaq (1154) and the map Surat al-Ard, suggested that the capital of the Oghuz – the city of Kiyan (Khiyam) – was located on the site of the present-day Baskamyr settlement. These sources also indicate that the inhabitants of the city were engaged in the smelting of gold, silver, and copper, as well as in animal husbandry and trade.

In 1982, the Baskamyr settlement was included in the list of monuments of republican significance.

Second stop – the monumental statue of «Kokbory» at the Kumis Bulak spring.

In 2020, there was erected a monument to Kokbory, a sacred symbol of the Turkic world. The total height of the monument is 9.7 meters, including a 6-meter sculpture and a 3.7-meter pedestal. The internal structure is made of metal, while the external shell is cast from a composite plastic material. According to the author, this monument is the first of its kind in the world in terms of both concept and scale.

Third stop – the Monument of Unity and Solidarity of Peoples.

The monument was erected in 2005 at the entrance to the village of Ulytau, at the foot of Mount Aiyrtau. The composition of the monument symbolizes the four cardinal directions. The total height of the structure is 30 meters.

Fifth stop – Tas Bulak. In the central part of the Ulytau District, at the foot of Orkeshtau Mountain, there is a natural spring from which water flows. Passing through natural filtration between mountain rocks, the water emerges under high pressure, breaking through granite formations. Today, many residents and visitors from neighboring areas come throughout the year to collect the spring water. The water flowing from the cracks in the rock is distinguished by exceptional softness and crystal clarity.

Sixth stop – Ulytau Visitor Center. The Visitor Center of the Ulytau National Historical, Cultural, and Natural Museum-Reserve is a complex designed for tourists visiting the region. The center is equipped with museum exhibition halls, conference facilities, and a hotel. Contact numbers: 8 (71035) 23097; for hotel inquiries: +7 707 414 12 12, +7 705 724 73 13. Social media: @ulytau_ulttyq_muzei_qorygy

Seventh stop — the healing spring “Gulsara Ana.” The medicinal spring, popularly known as Embulak, is located within Ulytau National Park, at the foothills of the mountains.

Eighth stop — the Akmeshit Complex. It is located on the highest peak of the Ulytau Range, at an elevation of 1,133 meters above sea level. At the summit, the remains of an ancient sanctuary or fortified structure, as well as burial mounds, have been preserved. In the 1950s, the site was studied by Academician A. Kh. Margulan. The structure is built of granite slabs and measures 42 × 42 meters. The monument is of republican significance.

According to folk tradition, seven saints are believed to be buried at the mountain summit. The peak can be reached on foot via a trail starting in the village of Ulytau; the ascent takes approximately 1.5-2 hours.

Second stop — Altyn Shoky. This is an elevated hill located 48 km northwest of the village of Ulytau, where a stone inscription carved by Amir Temur (Tamerlane) has been preserved.

In 1935, during geological research, Kanysh Satpayev discovered a commemorative stone bearing an inscription left by the renowned ruler and military commander of Turan, Amir Temur. Satpayev reached an agreement with scholars in Russia to conduct a scientific study of the inscription. As a result, the historical stone found at Altyn Shoky was examined by the prominent orientalist and corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences N. N. Poppe, the Turkologist-historian A. I. Ponomaryov, and other specialists. The text was translated from Arabic and Chagatai.

The inscription consists of 11 lines: the first three lines are written in Arabic, while the remaining eight lines are in Chagatai.

At present, the commemorative stone is housed in the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. In the late 1990s, the first replica was produced and installed in the K. Satpayev Historical and Industrial Museum of the Kazakhmys Company in the city of Zhezkazgan. Later, another replica was placed directly at Altyn Shoky. In total, apart from the original, six replicas of this monument have been produced to date.

The monument complex includes stone enclosures and burial mounds of the Late Bronze Age, graves bearing features of the Early Turkic period, necropolises dating to the era of the Kazakh Khanate, as well as a stone fortress–fortification surrounded by water on two sides. This fortification was constructed by the local population during periods of military threat to protect against invaders. Almost all ancient burials at Aibas Darasy were looted and destroyed.

The burial mound enclosed by a stone fence has a rectangular shape, measuring 25 × 25 meters and standing 2-2.5 meters high. The grave is covered with flat stone slabs. The outer walls are built of vertically set stone slabs, with a thickness of 4–6 meters; the entrance was located on the western side. In the northwestern corner, the remains of a structure measuring 3.5 × 1.2 meters have been preserved.

This burial site shows close similarities to monuments of the Begazy-Dandybai culture and is regarded as the westernmost limit of the distribution of this Late Bronze Age culture. Since 2004, research on the fortress–fortification surrounding the burial ground has been conducted within the framework of the state program «Madeni Mura» (Cultural Heritage), and since 2005, systematic archaeological excavations of the settlement have been carried out.

Second stop – Mount Edige. According to popular tradition, the summit of the mountain is believed to be the burial place of Tokhtamysh, Khan of the Golden Horde, and Edige, a ruler and military commander of the Golden Horde. Edige was a contemporary of Khan Tokhtamysh and is regarded as the founder of the Nogai Horde. A conflict later arose between them, as a result of which Tokhtamysh was killed.

Edige himself died in 1419 near the city of Saraichik, at the hands of Kadirberdi, the son of Tokhtamysh. After his death, the body of biy Edige was brought to Ulytau, and the hill where he was buried came to be known among the people as Mount Edige.

Although the mine is no longer operational today, its site remains a significant historical monument, marking Ulytau’s entry into the era of industrial development.

Second stop — the Keiky Mergen Cave. This is the place where Keiky Mergen, one of the heroes of the 1916 National Liberation Uprising in the Torgai region, took refuge. During the years of persecution, the batyr hid in a cave located in the areas of Ulytau, Sarlyk, and Zhetikyz, near the Sarytorgai and Karatorgai rivers. The cave is situated at the middle level of a rock formation approximately 30 meters high.

The interior of the cave can accommodate 7-8 people and has a high ceiling. In the right corner, there is a recess leading deeper inside. From the cave, the surrounding area is clearly visible over a considerable distance. Dense thickets of willow and birch grow at the foot of the cliff. Keiky Mergen sheltered in this area during the years 1919-1923.

The Keiky Mergen Cave is located on a high rocky bank of the northern slope of the Karatorgai River, along the route from the village of Shenber toward Sarytorgai, in a river bend, 2 km east of the Makat Mausoleum (Maqat Saganasy).

Third stop — the Makat Mausoleum. This monument of republican significance is located in the Ulytau District, 8 km northwest of the village of Shenber. The mausoleum features a central domed composition; its corners are accentuated by rounded columns, and the structure is crowned with a conical dome. Within the thickness of the wall there is an entrance leading to the roof of the mausoleum. It is believed that the Makat Mausoleum was constructed in the 18th century.

Fourth stop – the Akzhar Gorge. Mountain formations of natural origin in the vicinity of Akzhar, known as the «multicolored mountains», are striking for their scenic appearance and natural beauty.

The museum houses exhibits and documentary materials illustrating the origin, formation, and development of mining and metallurgical production from ancient times and the Middle Ages to the modern period, as well as the history of the extraction and processing of mineral resources.

A prominent place in the exhibition is occupied by materials compiled on the basis of research conducted by K. I. Satpayev, A. Kh. Margulan, and P. B. Bekmukhametov.

Second stop – the K. I. Satpayev House Museum, located in the settlement of Karsakpay. The scientist lived in this house with his family from 1929 to 1941. In April 1969, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of Kanysh Imantayevich Satpayev, the house in which he had lived for 15 years and the building of his former office were combined and opened as a memorial house museum.

In 1929, the Karsakpay Copper Smelting Plant and the Atbasnonferrousmet Trust were merged, resulting in the establishment of the Karsakpay State Copper Combine. K. I. Satpayev was appointed Chief Geologist of the new enterprise and Head of the Geological Department. Within three years of working in Karsakpay, he scientifically demonstrated that the copper reserves of the Zhezkazgan region amount to no less than one million tons.

The core value of the museum’s collection consists of artifacts from the scientist’s personal archive, gathered and donated to the museum by his descendants.

Third stop — the monument commemorating the Bulanty Battle. It is located in the Ulytau District, 20 km southwest of the village of Baikonur.

The Bulanty Battle was a clash between Kazakh forces and Dzungar invaders that took place between the Bulanty and Bileuti rivers. The Kazakh army, numbering approximately 30,000 warriors and led by Khan Abulkhair, reached the enemy fortifications near the Bileuti River within three days and launched a surprise attack on the Dzungar forces, which numbered about 40,000. As a result of the battle, which lasted from three to seven days, the Kazakh troops achieved a victory.

This victory gave spiritual strength to a people who had not yet recovered from the tragedy known as «Aktaban Shubyryndy, Alkakol Sulama» (a period of mass calamity endured by the Kazakh people in 1723–1727). The First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, N. A. Nazarbayev, described the Bulanty Battle as an event comparable in significance to the Battle of Poltava in Russian history.

The Bulanty Battle became a harbinger of subsequent major battles and great victories, marking the beginning of a new phase in the liberation of Kazakh lands occupied by the Dzungars in the history of the Kazakh Khanate.

In the year marking the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate, a commemorative monument-stele was erected at the site of the Bulanty Battle, along with stone plaques bearing the names of the batyrs who took part in this historic battle.

Fourth stop — the Bulanty and Bileuti petroglyphs. They are located opposite the stele, on the rocky outcrops along the right bank of the river. The site preserves images created during the Bronze Age, the Early Iron Age, and the medieval period.

The petroglyphs begin approximately 2 km south of the village of Baikonur and extend along the riverbank cliffs for about 20 km. The rock surfaces feature carved scenes depicting wild and domesticated animals, hunting episodes, solar-headed anthropomorphic figures, and wheeled vehicles (arba).

The mausoleum is a monument of medieval architecture. The height of the preserved part of the structure is 3.70 m in the area of the pishtaq and 2.90 m in the main volume, which has the form of a parallelepiped. The façade of the mausoleum was originally designed with an arched portal entrance (no longer preserved), framed by recessed masonry executed as a decorative wall ornament. The corners at the transition from the lower square chamber to the dome ring are constructed using arched trompes. The trompe niches are decorated with ornamental masonry of paired bricks laid at an angle. In 2018, archaeological investigations of the mausoleum were conducted by archaeologist Aibar Kasenalin. During the excavations, a golden bowl, a silk robe (shapan), a saddle, weapons, and other artifacts were discovered.

According to legend, Bolgan Ana was a granddaughter of Genghis Khan and the daughter of Jochi Khan, and the wife of Syghynak-tegin, the khan of the Kangly people. Another legend describes her as the daughter-in-law of Alasha Khan, while yet another version portrays her as a ruler of Central Kazakhstan who held power until the arrival of the Dzungars in the early 15th century. Oral traditions recount that Bolgan Ana lived to the age of ninety, left numerous descendants, and was revered as a heroic mother. After the death of her husband, Syghynak-tegin, she remained the ruling authority of the land.

The earliest written references to the Bolgan Ana Mausoleum date to the 16th century and are found in the work by Hafiz Tanysh, Sharaf-name-yi Shahi (The Book of the Shah’s Glory). The text records that during the 1582 military campaign of Abdallah Khan of Bukhara into the Kazakh степpe, including the Ulytau region, his troops halted near the Bolgan Ana Mausoleum.

Second stop — the Kulan Katyn Mausoleum. It is located in the Karazhar Gorge, at the confluence of the Sarysu and Karakengir rivers, approximately 15 meters from the Bolgan Ana Mausoleum. The mausoleum, dating to the 14th–15th centuries, is smaller in size than the Bolgan Ana Mausoleum.

According to legend, Kulan Katyn was the second wife of Genghis Khan, and folk narratives also claim that she was allegedly involved in the death of Jochi. However, historical sources do not provide precise information about her life or the dates of her existence. Other interpretations suggest that Kulan Katyn lived much earlier, prior to the arrival of the Mongols in the Ulytau region, that is, before the era of Jochi Khan.

In the vicinity of the site are located Stone Age camps, Bronze Age settlements and burial grounds, Early Iron Age burial mounds, medieval funerary complexes, mausoleum structures dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries, as well as remains of horizontal and vertical mine shafts used for the extraction of precious metals, along with other unique historical monuments.

The earliest references to Terekty Aulie are found in the works of Al-Biruni (11th century), where he mentions images of a human footprint and a horse’s hoofprint located near a spring.

The first scholarly description of the site was provided in the 1940s by Academician A. Kh. Margulan. Comprehensive archaeological research has been conducted since 1996. Scholars who have studied Terekty Aulie include Zh. K. Kurmankulov, Z. S. Samashev, Zh. Zhetibayev, D. Baitleu, as well as local historians and archaeologists L. Sembinova, A. Iskakov, M. Bedelbayeva, and V. Novozhenov.

The Zhuban-Ana Dome is constructed as a four-sided cubic structure. Above the wall masonry rises a drum (neck) supporting an octagonal dome. The interior features pointed mihrabs set into the four corners. The entrance is oriented toward the southeast. Both the dome and the drum are built of square bricks.

The Zhuban-Ana Dome is included in the State Register of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Republican Significance.

Second stop – the Zhanaarka District Museum of History and Local Lore named after S. Seifullin. The museum was officially opened in 1984 in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the distinguished poet, statesman, and public figure Saken Seifullin.

The museum houses valuable exhibits and documentary materials reflecting the historical development of the Zhanaarka region, the traditional way of life of the local population, items of decorative and applied art, as well as information about individuals who made a significant contribution to the development of the region.

Contact phone numbers: 8 (710) 302-8543, 8 (710) 302-6328.

Third stop – the Saken Seifullin Cave. It is located 25 km northeast of the settlement of Zhanaarka, at the foot of Mount Imanak, near the village of Saken Seifullin. The slopes of Mount Imanak are associated with the lives of many prominent figures, among them Saken Seifullin. It is known that he took refuge in this cave under the name «Duysenbek».

Inside the cave, a stone table and a stone seat have been preserved, which, according to tradition, were used by Saken Seifullin; a sacred tree (aulie tal) grows in front of the entrance. Visitors customarily tie ribbons to this tree as a sign of reverence and in hope of well-being.

At the foot of Mount Imanak lies the Aqqudyq summer pasture, which belonged to Seifolla, Saken Seifullin’s father. Saken Seifullin’s childhood was spent in this area. Here as well, on the slopes of Mount Imanak, the 70th anniversary of S. Seifullin’s birth was commemorated in 1964.