Turkestan is a city in the south of Kazakhstan, near the Syr Darya River. One of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan. The settlement on the site of the modern city of Turkestan, located at the intersection of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to the north, appeared around 500 AD er Located 160 km north-west of Shymkent.

The main attraction of the city is the mausoleum of Ahmet Yasawi, built at the end of the XV century. Another important Islamic mausoleum in the vicinity of Turkestan is the resting place of St. Arystan-baba, the first teacher of Yasavi. Legend has it that the prophet Muhammad himself gave his rosary to Arystan Babu, and he, in turn, presented them to young Yasavi. Also in the mausoleum under the glass is a rare sample of the Koran. According to legend, when Tamerlane began to build the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the construction was destroyed several times in an incomprehensible way. After that, Tamerlane had a dream in which the command was given to first build a mausoleum for Arystan Baba, and only then take care of Yasavi’s memory. So he did - and for the same reason pilgrims visit the mausoleums in that order.

Kazakhstan country

Duration of the tour 2 days 1 night

Cities visiting Shymkent, Turkestan