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Kazakhstan covers a vast stretch of Central Asia, where mountains, steppe, and desert meet. For centuries, its land connected east and west, carrying people, goods, and beliefs. Many historical places in Kazakhstan continue to hold meaning for the people who live nearby. Empires passed through, but many traces remain. The mosques, fortresses, mausoleums, and ancient settlements still standing are not part of the display. They are part of daily life, memory, and tradition. These sites are visited quietly, maintained simply, and remembered not for tourism but for what they represent.
10 Important Historical Places In Kazakhstan
Scattered across cities, deserts, and mountains, these historical places in Kazakhstan hold stories. Each site reflects a different layer of the country’s past.
1. Mausoleum Of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Photo: Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons
In the city of Turkistan stands a monument that has shaped the spiritual heart of Kazakhstan for centuries. Built in the late 1300s by the order of Timur, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was meant to honour a Sufi teacher whose influence reached far beyond his lifetime. Although construction was never finished, the building remains one of the most remarkable achievements of its time. The large dome, now weathered but striking, can be seen from a distance. The thick walls enclose halls that once served students and followers who came to learn or pray.
How To Reach: Fly to Turkistan International Airport; 20-minute taxi ride to the site
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM (closed on Mondays)
Nearby Attractions: Turkistan City Museum, Mausoleum of Rabigha-Sultan Begum
2. Tamgaly Petroglyphs
Photo: Ron Van Oers / Wikimedia Commons
Roughly 170 kilometres northwest of Almaty, in a dry mountain valley, lies a site that holds more than 5,000 images carved into stone. The Tamgaly Petroglyphs are among the oldest and most detailed rock carvings in Central Asia. These carvings were made by people who lived here as early as the Bronze Age. Scenes of sun-headed deities, hunting rituals, animals, and daily life are etched across dozens of rocks and cliffs. Many of the carvings are found grouped, possibly marking sacred spots or gathering places. The surrounding hills are quiet, and the path through the site is unpaved but well-marked. Travellers often spend a few hours here walking slowly, stopping to examine carvings up close.
How To Reach: About 3 hours by car from Almaty; best visited with a guide
Cost: ₸500 / ₹85 for locals, ₸1000 / ₹170 for foreigners
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Charyn Canyon, Altyn-Emel National Park
3. Otrar Ruins
Photo: Mustafa akın / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
The remains of Otrar, once a thriving Silk Road city, lie quiet beneath the open sky in the Turkistan Region. These ruins belong to a settlement that existed for over a thousand years before it was destroyed in the 13th century by Genghis Khan’s army. At its peak, Otrar was a centre of science, trade, and culture. It had libraries, mosques, bathhouses, and markets that drew people from across Asia. The outlines of mud-brick buildings still rise from the earth, with exposed walls and doorways that give a glimpse into how the city was laid out.
How To Reach: Drive or taxi from Shymkent (2 hours) or Turkistan (1.5 hours)
Cost: ₸300–700 / ₹50-120
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Arystan Bab Mausoleum, Shardara Reservoir
4. Sauran Ancient City
Photo: Yakov Fedorov / Wikimedia Commons
The ruins of Sauran lie in an open field north of Turkistan, once enclosed in a busy medieval city known for its scholars and strategic position along the Silk Road. Sauran grew into a stronghold with irrigation canals, mosques, bathhouses, and markets between the 10th and 14th centuries. The walls were built with layers of mudbrick, thick enough to resist attack, and the remains today still show their original height in places. Sauran is one of the historical places in Kazakhstan where the ruins remain part of the land, weathered but still present.
How To Reach: 45-minute drive from Turkistan by taxi or private car
Nearby Attractions: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkistan Fortress Wall
5. Aisha Bibi Mausoleum
Photo: Дмитрий Кошелев / Wikimedia Commons
Aisha Bibi Mausoleum sits on the edge of Taraz, built with warm-coloured terracotta tiles and known for the legend attached to its name. It dates back to the 11th or 12th century, and though the exact origin is unclear, the structure is one of the few surviving examples of early Islamic architecture in Kazakhstan. According to local belief, Aisha Bibi was a young woman from a noble family. She died suddenly while travelling to see her future husband, and this mausoleum was built where she was buried.
How To Reach: Taxi from central Taraz (20 minutes)
Timings: 8 AM – 8 PM
Nearby Attractions: Babaji Khatun Mausoleum, Taraz Historical Museum
6. Akyrtas Palace Complex
Photo: Tomasz Zielonka / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
The ruins of Akyrtas lie in an empty field about 45 kilometres from Taraz. From a distance, it may seem like a cluster of red stones, but walking closer reveals a planned layout of thick walls, long corridors, and rectangular courtyards. The structure was left incomplete, and no records explain why the work stopped. You walk along the exposed stone through doorways that open into the sky. For those interested in historical places in Kazakhstan that still hold unanswered questions, Akyrtas offers ruins untouched by reconstruction or explanation.
How To Reach: Located 45 km east of Taraz, accessible by car
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Tekturmas Complex, Kulan Archaeological Site
7. Beket-Ata Underground Mosque
Photo: Crisco 1492 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Carved deep into the cliffs of the Mangystau region, the underground mosque of Beket-Ata is one of the most spiritually significant historical places in Kazakhstan. The mosque was built in the 18th century by Beket-Ata, a Sufi scholar and healer believed to have lived and taught here in seclusion. Inside, there are small chambers cut directly into the rock, spaces for prayer, rest, and teaching. Pilgrims from across the country visit the site. Unlike formal mosques with minarets and domes, this one feels hidden and sacred.
How To Reach: Best reached from Aktau by guided tour or 4×4 vehicle
Nearby Attractions: Shopan-Ata Necropolis, Valley of Balls
8. Baikonur Cosmodrome
Photo: Ninara / Wikimedia Commons
Located in the desert steppe of southern Kazakhstan, the Baikonur Cosmodrome is the oldest and largest space launch facility in the world. This is where Yuri Gagarin launched into space in 1961 aboard Vostok 1. The site still operates today under Russian lease, but parts of it are open to visitors on authorised tours. Unlike typical historical places in Kazakhstan that reflect ancient culture or religion, Baikonur represents a turning point in modern human history. Visitors can see the launch pads, control centres, and even the museum that houses Gagarin’s preserved room.
How To Reach: Special permit required; tours from Kyzylorda or Astana
Nearby Attractions: Baikonur Museum, Gagarin’s Launch Pad
9. Green Bazaar And Old Town Area
Photo: Davide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons
In the heart of Almaty, the Green Bazaar has been active for over a century, serving as a centre of local trade and community exchange. This market is not a modern shopping space but a working part of the city’s daily rhythm. The structure dates back to the late 1800s, with sections that still retain the original steel framework and design from its earliest Soviet-era construction. Stalls are tightly packed with dried fruits, meat, spices, honey, and handmade goods. Vendors here are often from families who’ve run stalls for generations.
Timings: 9 AM – 7 PM
Nearby Attractions: Zenkov Cathedral, Panfilov Park
10. Ascension Cathedral
Photo: Stomac / Wikimedia Commons
Built entirely of wood in 1907 without a single nail, the Ascension Cathedral, also known as Zenkov Cathedral, is one of the most remarkable historical places in Kazakhstan. Located in Panfilov Park in central Almaty, the cathedral survived the 1911 earthquake with no structural damage, which remains a subject of curiosity among engineers. The building stands nearly 56 metres tall and is painted in bright colours, with gold domes and traditional Russian Orthodox designs. During the Soviet period, it was closed for worship and turned into a museum, like many religious buildings of that time.
How To Reach: Walk from Zhibek Zholy Metro Station or short taxi ride
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park, Central State Museum
Historical places in Kazakhstan stand across cities, valleys, and open plains without needing reconstruction or added interpretation. From carved tombs and active places of worship to ancient ruins and preserved rock art, each location offers direct insight into the country’s past. These sites are not separated from the lives of the people around them. Many are still used, visited for prayer, respected during festivals, or simply passed by daily. Book your journey with TripXL to understand how religion and rule shaped each region.
Cover Photo: Grigoriy Bunkov / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
