Kozha Akhmed Yasaui Mausoleum

Turkistan is a sacred place of worship and pilgrimage for Muslims, one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a population of 85,600 and is situated 160 km (100 miles) north-west of Shymkent on the Trans-Aral Railway between Kyzylorda to the north and Tashkent to the south. The site of ancient settlement Turkistan is an important archeological monument of the urban culture of South Kazakhstan. It is widely known that the town played a major role in the Late Middle Ages in Kazakhstan. It was the center of the economic and political development of various states, 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, the political centre of the Kazakh Statehood and the "second Mecca" of the Muslim East. Medieval Turkistan experienced a stormy history with periods of flourishing and decline. This town absorbed cultural traditions of various origins. In 2000, Turkistan celebrated its 1500th anniversary.

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 ancient buildings of Yasi suggest the lifestyle of people of the city. Turkistan as a city set on a trade route, certainly had a big advantage over other cities in the sense that it naturally attracted labor, funds, advanced technology, famous scientists and philosophers. Turkistan was also a center of education: there were large libraries in the city.

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

This monument was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage, which is one of Kazakhstan’s ancient architectural monuments. He died in 1166 and was buried with great honour in a domed tomb, or mazar, but when in 1389 Tamerlane passed by and saw its poor state, he ordered to reconstruct the mausoleum.

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 thoughthe 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, roofs and ceilings will impress anyone.

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