Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Sports has presented the country's top five historical sites and monuments as April 18 marks World Heritage Day, known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, media reports.
1. Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
The mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is one of the most famous historical sites in the country, as it represents an outstanding work of medieval architectural art in Central Asia.
The mausoleum, built in the 14th century under the leadership of Amir Timur, is considered a sacred place for the people of Kazakhstan. The remains of 24 khans, sultans, and other historical figures were buried beside the monument.
The height of the mausoleum, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, - is 39 meters. The building consists of 35 rooms connected by different corridors. In the central room, there is an ancient relic called Taikazan.
2. Tanbala Complex
The ancient stones of Tanbala are one of the country's most important historical sites. Moreover, it is Central Asia's first monument of rock art, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The petroglyphs of the Tanbala complex have a 4,000-year history. The monument comprises nearly 5,000 drawings.
Rock images show how people in ancient times perceived the world around them and demonstrate their progressive worldview. Petroglyphs are arranged according to a particular system and a specific philosophical principle.
3. Akyrtas Palace
The complete mystery of the Akyrtas palace complex was built in the VIII-XII centuries. The weight of each stone block in its walls is about a ton. Some hewn stones weigh over 10 tons.
Some scholars believe that the Akyrtas complex, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is an Arabic-based city of Kasribas on the Silk Road.
The 2.5-hectare facility consists of about 70 rooms, 15 galleries with columns, an entrance gate, and an open area in the center, covering half a hectare.
4. Zharkent Mosque
The architectural and art museum "Zharkent Mosque" is the pearl of Zhetysu and another magnificent work of architectural art. The mosque was built without a nail between 1887 and 1892.
The construction work was supervised by a Chinese specialist invited from Beijing, engineer Hong Pik.
The general plan of the complex includes the following:
- The main gate.
- A small mosque.
- A madrasah.
- A large Friday mosque.
- A burnt blue brick fence.
5. Aisha-Bibi Mausoleum
The mausoleum of Aisha-Bibi is a significant architectural monument of the I-XII centuries. In terms of the beauty and variety of engraved patterns, only some traditional memorial monuments can match them.
The mausoleum attracts tourists thanks to its unique architecture and the love story between Aisha-Bibi and Karakhan. According to legend, the beautiful Aisha died from a snakebite on the way to her lover.
"There are more than 25,000 historical and cultural heritage monuments in Kazakhstan; 10 of them are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and 12,463 sites are national and local monuments of history and culture," the message reads.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports plans to add six more historical sites to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
April 18 is dedicated to promoting the importance of cultural heritage and raising awareness about the need to preserve historical sites and monuments across the globe.
Comments (0)