Every nation has own sacred places due to certain historical reasons. It might be the field or bloody battles in which defined nation's fate, or places where were made decisions that affected to present and future. Ordabasy is one of the sacred places for Kazakhs.
Dzhungars' invasion (1723-1725) in Kazakh history had been called "Aktaban shubyryndy". It was a time of hardship and years of wandering. In 1726, late in the autumn, on the left bank of the river valley Badam, a tributary of Arys, representatives of three Kazakh zhuzes gathered a great kurultay.
All Kazakh tribes united in the Ordabasy by overcoming all disputes and resisted against powerful and dangerous invaders- dzhungars.
This place must be noted as the historical, cultural and spiritual attraction of Kazakh people.
National Historical and Cultural Reserve "Ordabasy" was opened on 1 January 1994. It is located on the left terrace of the river Badam from 40 km to west of Shymkent.
The reserve was established on the basis of historical necropolis "Ordabasy", and as complex and individual archaeological, architectural monuments of Ordabasy area. On the reserve-museum are located 10 monuments with historical and cultural significance.
The total area of the cultural reserve is 1134 ha. Historians and scientists, who conducted the investigation here found cave paintings and ancient burial mounds. All these objects are also included in the reserve.
There is a monument on the top of the mountain Ordabasy which is 28 meters, as a reminder to descendants about the heroic years. Triangular steel lined with slabs of white marble. Each side looks like directed to one part of Kazakhstan: the side of the Syrdarya - to the west, the Karatau Mountains - to the north, the mountains Kazygurt - to the south-east. On each side of the steel were attached tables with the statements of the three great bies.
Memorial was erected in 2001, in the year of the 275th anniversary of the famous kurultai and the 10th anniversary of the independence of Kazakhstan. The authors of the complex were a sculptor A. Mamyrbayev and architect G. Sadyrbaev. The platform is located here, where presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan signed a treaty of eternal friendship in 1993.
A small building in the form of a pyramid is located next to the main entrance to the reserve. Expositions of the museum are interesting archaeological expositions, which was found on the territory of the reserve, and is actively used from ancient times.
The attention is attracted by perfectly preserved Saka's sword akinak, brick with Nestorian Cross and detailed maps, where was shown ways of Kazakh-Dzhungarian war.
Total funds and collections of the museum are 1,376 exhibits.
The original stone construction Bilgetas is located near the museum, which was built in the summer of 1994 by a group of artists from Shymkent. It was supported by initiation of entrepreneur Syzdykov Ural.
Today, the staff of historical and cultural reserve has 25 workers, among them - rangers, scientists, and guides. Ordabasy is annually visited by more than 40,000 tourists. The tourist rush is autumn and spring, as soon as these places are very hot.
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In 50 km from the modern city of Atyrau, there is one of perspective tourist routes, regional memorial estate "Khan Ordaly Sarajshyk" who opens all ancient history of the Kazakh people.
The grave site of the great Kazakh poet of the 19th century, free-thinker and inspirer of the rebellion of Makhambet Utemisov is situated in Inder, Atyrau region, 40 km to the south-east from the village Inderbor.
Atyrau region is rich in its architectural monuments of culture, one of them is considered to be Zhuban Mausoleum.
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Senek reserve is an architectural monument of the XVII - XX centuries, it represents a necropolis consisting of several sepulchral constructions and an old mosque.
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One of the oldest and most beautiful architectural monuments of the city - Uspenski Cathedral is located in the heart of the city of Atyrau, on Issatay Taimanov street, just a few steps from the main square.
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One of the leading places in the cultural life of Atyrau and the whole Atyrau region belongs to the Kazakh Drama Theater named after Makhambet Utemisov.