Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yasawi
Camels outside the Mausoleum
Our apartment in Shymkent
January 20th, 2011
Today we went to visit Turkestan. Turkestan is about 2 hours away from Shymkent. In Turkestan we visited the Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yasawi and the museum.
Women must cover their heads when you enter any Mausoleum, Mosques or Orthodox churches.
Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yasawi
The mausoleum for Khodja Ahmed Yassawi is an architectural beauty. It is rightfully recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It truly fits in the league of Samarkand and Bukhara along with the other Timurid architectural heritage. Construction was started by Tamerlane in 1399 but abruptly broken off in 1405 with Tamerlane’s death. Therefore the front of the building nor the interior were ever finished with the grandeur that could be predicted from what was already completed.
The dome is 37 meter in diameter and the largest in Central Asia. Not surprising since this was the last project that Tamerlane had started and he was known to looking to exceed the grandeur of his previous construction projects with each new building.The north side of the building is the most beautiful with the ribbed dome above the mausoleum. The rest of the building was designed to not only house the mausoleum for Khodja Ahmed Yassawi, but also a guest house with a kitchen to feed the guest, a mosque, a library and many other rooms.
Today the mausoleum is a destination for worship and pilgrimage. Families make the trip from afar to come and pray near the grave of Khodja Ahmed Yassawi, completing their pilgrimage with a counter clockwise tour of the mausoleum praying and touching the walls hoping it will help make their wishes come true.It’s also a favorite destination for newly weds who also come to pray and receive blessings for good luck and happiness in the marriage.
It felt really good to get away from Taraz for a couple of days because this 2 week appeal is driving us insane. Vera #2 treated us so great and there are no words to describe the world of wonder she has done for us. She kept us busy, entertained and occupied the whole time we were there and we really enjoyed ourselves with her. She is a remarkable and smart girl with a great heart and we wish her a lifetime of success, health and happiness.
Thank you Vera #2 from the bottom of our hearts, you have no idea what you have done to us and we will forever be grateful for your kindness.
Today we went to visit Turkestan. Turkestan is about 2 hours away from Shymkent. In Turkestan we visited the Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yasawi and the museum.
Women must cover their heads when you enter any Mausoleum, Mosques or Orthodox churches.
Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yasawi
The mausoleum for Khodja Ahmed Yassawi is an architectural beauty. It is rightfully recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It truly fits in the league of Samarkand and Bukhara along with the other Timurid architectural heritage. Construction was started by Tamerlane in 1399 but abruptly broken off in 1405 with Tamerlane’s death. Therefore the front of the building nor the interior were ever finished with the grandeur that could be predicted from what was already completed.
The dome is 37 meter in diameter and the largest in Central Asia. Not surprising since this was the last project that Tamerlane had started and he was known to looking to exceed the grandeur of his previous construction projects with each new building.The north side of the building is the most beautiful with the ribbed dome above the mausoleum. The rest of the building was designed to not only house the mausoleum for Khodja Ahmed Yassawi, but also a guest house with a kitchen to feed the guest, a mosque, a library and many other rooms.
Today the mausoleum is a destination for worship and pilgrimage. Families make the trip from afar to come and pray near the grave of Khodja Ahmed Yassawi, completing their pilgrimage with a counter clockwise tour of the mausoleum praying and touching the walls hoping it will help make their wishes come true.It’s also a favorite destination for newly weds who also come to pray and receive blessings for good luck and happiness in the marriage.
It felt really good to get away from Taraz for a couple of days because this 2 week appeal is driving us insane. Vera #2 treated us so great and there are no words to describe the world of wonder she has done for us. She kept us busy, entertained and occupied the whole time we were there and we really enjoyed ourselves with her. She is a remarkable and smart girl with a great heart and we wish her a lifetime of success, health and happiness.
Thank you Vera #2 from the bottom of our hearts, you have no idea what you have done to us and we will forever be grateful for your kindness.
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