Sightseeing in Turkistan: Yasawi, Old Town

The Yasawi Mausoleum

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is Kazakhstan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (reference 1103, inscribed 2003). Construction began in 1389 under Timur and stopped when he died in 1405, leaving the building unfinished. It replaced a smaller 12th-century mausoleum. The turquoise-tiled dome rises about 38 m. Inside, the Kazandyk hall holds the Tayqazan, a bronze cauldron of about 2 tonnes cast in 1399 by Abdulaziz ibn Sharafuddin of Tabriz, taken to the Hermitage in 1935 and later returned.

Since 10 June 2026 the ticket for foreign visitors from outside the CIS is 5,000 KZT, roughly US$10. It also covers the Yasawi museum and the Rare Exhibits Hall. The precinct has been fenced since February 2026, with entry through turnstiles, a printed ticket, an ID document and bag screening, so carry your original passport. Hours are about 09:00 to 18:00; confirm at the ticket office, since winter and holiday hours shift.

Restoration is under way. The dome is under a protective canopy, and work includes a new roof, reconstruction of 35 interior rooms and more than 100 monitoring sensors, with completion planned within four years. Parts of the interior and the dome may be screened or closed, so do not count on an unobstructed photograph.

Behaviour at a Living Shrine

Pilgrims pray here. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and women cover their hair. Be ready to remove shoes and follow the staff. Ask whether photography is allowed in the tomb chamber, and assume it is not. Keep voices low, do not photograph people praying and do not walk in front of worshippers.

Nearby Monuments

  • Hilvet underground mosque: about 150 m from the mausoleum, semi-subterranean, tied to Yasawi’s retreat. Ask whether your ticket covers it.
  • Eastern Bathhouse: about 80 m south-west, built around 1580 to 1590 for Khan Abdullah, with nine rooms and underfloor heating channels. Used by the public until the late 1970s and a museum since 1979.
  • Rabiga Sultan Begim mausoleum: late 15th century, about 60 m south-east. Rabiga was a daughter of Ulugh Beg and wife of Abulkhair Khan. The present building is a reconstruction.
  • Friday Mosque: 12th-century origins, rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century, restored in 2000 and now housing a museum.

Earlier Layers of the Town

Kultobe, an ancient settlement mound beside the mausoleum, holds the town’s earliest layers, and landscaping there was planned for completion in 2026. Parts of the 19th-century citadel wall and its gates survive, and conservation work on the wall began in summer 2026. Plan to view them from the ground.

Gauhar Ana and Museums

The Gauhar Ana mausoleum, for Yasawi’s daughter, lies about 4 to 6 km from the centre and needs a short taxi ride. The Museum of the History of Turkistan and the Uly Dala Eli centre are indoor options in the heat. Budget about 1,800 KZT and arrive before about 17:40.

Planning

Allow a half day for the precinct, longer with queues. In summer go early, since July highs reach 35 to 40 C.

Read more: walking tours in Turkistan suggests a route between the monuments.

Details on the monuments are at the UNESCO listing and the Wikipedia article . Guided tours can be searched on Viator .