Ulytau region

Ulytau region

Ulytau - the oldest mountain range of Saryarka - is of exceptional importance in the history of the formation of the Kazakh Khanate.

Ulytau region

Traveling around the region will be of interest primarily to those who are fond of studying the history of the Kazakh people. After all, it was in Ulytau that the khans grew up on white felt mats and forged alliances, and it was here that the armies of the three Zhuze gathered.

Outstanding historical figures such as Jochi Khan, Tamerlane, Alasha Khan, Emir Edyge, Tokhtamysh Khan, Kenesary Khan, Alkey Margulan, Shokan Valikhanov, Kanysh Satpayev, who at various times played an important role both in the history of Kazakhstan and in in the whole world are directly connected with Ulytau. Of course, Ulytau is the epicenter of nomadic civilization.

Moreover, the Ulytau mountains are located in the geographical center of Kazakhstan, which certainly makes this place very symbolic, significant even today. Therefore, back in 1992, not far from the village of Ulytau and the mountains, a monument to the unity of the people of Kazakhstan was erected. However, the region is interesting not only from a historical point of view, but also from a natural one.

Most recently, in 2021, the national natural park of the same name was created on the territory of the Ulytau region. It was organized not from scratch. First, in 1990, the Ulytau National Historical and Cultural Nature Reserve-Museum was opened here. The main purpose of which was: the protection of monuments and the historical landscape. In 2012, specialists developed a natural-scientific justification for the creation of the Ulytau National Nature Reserve and the adjacent Ulytau-Arganata nature reserve. Further progress was delayed. Until 2016, when in Ulytau, in yurts at the foot of the sacred Aulietau, an off-site meeting of the Kazakh Geographical Society (Qazac Geographi) was organized, with the participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. After this event, work on the creation of a national park intensified. It was also decided to build a visitor center here.

Later, the International Tourism Forum "Ulytau-2019" was held near the sacred mountains, chaired by the President of the country K.K. Tokaev.

Ethnographic and historical monuments of the Ulytau region

• Mount Aulie is the highest point of Ulytau (1133 meters). The climb is about 500 meters. On the slopes of the mountain there are ancient burial places of seven Sufi saints, as well as a cave, which, according to rumors, has magical properties. Someone says that the legendary Asan-Kaigy, a Kazakh philosopher and poet who lived in the 15th century, is buried on the top of Mount Aulie.

• Mausoleums of Jochi Khan, Alasha Khan and Dombauyl , as well as many others.

Photo: Mausoleums of Jochi Khan. https://pikabu.ru/@merey202

Photo: Mausoleums of Jochi Khan. https://pikabu.ru/@merey202

Photo: Dombauyl. https://anatili.kazgazeta.kz

• Petroglyphs of Zangyrtas, opening the veil of the history of the Bronze Age

Photo: Petroglyphs of Zangyrtas. https://kartakrg.kz

• Petroglyphs of Terekty-Aulie , which are more than three thousand years old (Bronze Age and Early Iron Age). Drawings are strewn with flat stone granite remnants of great length. There are plots dedicated to hunting, wild animals, and also talking about the cult of worshiping the Sun.

Photo: Terekty-Auliye petroglyphs. https://wiki2.org

• Settlement Beskamyr, dating from the late Middle Ages.

Photo: Settlement Beskamyr. https://qazaqstan3d.kz

The best time to travel is the warm season. And since many historical and cultural monuments will have to be reached off-road, it is best to avoid rainy weather.