Kazakhstan’s famous landmarks

Kazakhstan is a country located right in the heart of Eurasia. It borders three countries of Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Its size by area makes Kazakhstan the ninth largest country in the world.

The first one is the highest of all the Kazakhstan’s Landmarks that you can't miss when arrive in Kazakhstan is Khan Tengri. It is the most northerly "seven-thousander" as they call in the mountaineering circles. It's a marble rock, shaped like a pyramid. Its correct geometrical shape beautifully reflects the sun in different colors depending on the time of the day.

Another one of many Kazakhstan landmarks is the Charyn Canyon. Some call it as the "Grand Canyon" of Kazakhstan or the "little Kazakh brother of the Grand Canyon". The Charyn Canyon is situated about 200 km east of Almaty. It stretches 154 km alongside the Charyn River.

Have you ever been to Singing Sand Dunes? Well, if you are in Almaty then you are only 182 km away from this beauty. They are also called Singing Barkhan, Singing Sand, Singing Dunes. Why singing? When there is a slightest impact on the sand from the outside, the sand produces weird whistling, booming, roaring squeaking, humming and vibrating sounds. Some say it sounds like siren of riverboats, some say like jet planes. Marco Polo wrote on his Gobi Desert travel notes that it sounds like "all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms”.

Surrounded by mountains and close to the China border in East Kazakhstan is an astonishingly beautiful mountain lake, situated 1,485 meters above sea level, Markakol. It is 38km long, up to 19km wide and reaches 30 meters deep in some places, and is full of fish, including the uskutsh, a type of lenok trout prized by fishermen.

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Khodja Akhmed Yasaui Mausoleum

Turkistan is a sacred place of worship and pilgrimage for Muslims. It is situated 160 km (100 miles) north-west of Chimkent. The site of ancient settlement Turkistan is an important archeological monument of the urban culture of South Kazakhstan. It was the center of the economic and political development, a trade and cultural centre on the junction of vast steppes and ancient agricultural areas, the place of preaching activities of the Turkic Sufi Khodja Akhmed Yasaui. Medieval Turkistan experienced a stormy history with periods of flourishing and decline.

A huge amount of ancient monuments, more than 800, remained there. Turkistan used to be one of the most significant trade and political centers of the whole Central Asian region for many centuries. Until the 18th century, Turkistan, or Yasi, as it used to be called, was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate formed in the 15th century. Many ancient monuments are retained in the city; striking architecture of the city surprisingly passed through a millennium with practically unchanged appearance.

The humanist and preacher Akhmed Yasaui founded a theological school there. When the famous Sufi Khodja Akhmed Yasaui read a sermon in the city Turkistan became quite well known.

Persian master builders set to work, but upon Tamerlane’s death in 1405 the building was halted with the mausoleum unfinished. However, the main arched entrance and two minarets were completed in the 16th century, though they lack the exquisite majolica mosaic tiling that covers the rest of the mausoleum. This does not detract from its overall beauty and grandeur though the 44-metre main dome is Central Asia’s largest (preserved) unsupported brick dome. The mausoleum is a major pilgrimage site within the Islamic world.

This monument is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, mausoleum, consisting of a complex of palaces and temples. Fine furnishings and interior decorations of walls will impress anyone.

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