Legends of Mangyshlak Peninsula.

“So, before us was the famous Sherkala (“Tiger’s Place”), to which Shevchenko paid special attention in his paintings. From a distance it seemed that it was a huge house with columns and pilasters, several stories high, then they rise in ledges, and the structure ends with a spherical dome. Against the background of a gray plain covered in evening haze, this fairy-tale palace dominated everything that surrounded it. It seemed as if the mountain had torn itself away from the ground and was hanging in the air, light and shining.”

Bronislav Zalessky. “Lives of Kirghiz Steppes”. “La vie des steppes Kirghizes”, Paris, 1865, p. 55.

Living History of Mangyshlak.

The legends written down by Zalessky, Andrusov and other travelers in the Mangyshlak region tell various legends about the inhabitants of the top of the rock. One of them tells of the brave defenders of the Sherkala fortress, who successfully repelled the attack of the invaders.
But one day, huge hordes from distant eastern lands went to attack. They took the city-fortress standing under the rock with a desperate assault, but did not conquer the top of Sherkala itself. Then the enemies decided to break the resistance with a siege.
Time passed, but the defenders of the rock did not even think of surrendering. The invaders were surprised: how could they endure so much without water, because the besieged were completely cut off from the springs. In the end, a traitor was found and revealed the secret: a well 200 meters deep was dug in the rocks on the mountain.
Then the enemies began to dig underground passages. With great difficulty they dug down to the well shaft and filled it with stones. Deadly thirst forced the daredevils to capitulate.

Mount Sherkala - magic yurt of Mangistau.

A fairy tale for children.

A long time ago, in the land where the steppe meets the sea, there lived a mountain named Sherkala. It was not simple, but magical. When the sun set, its shadow turned into a huge lion, guarding the peace of the entire area. People said that a good spirit lived inside the mountain - Shal Kempe - an old man who knew all the fairy tales of the world and protected this land from troubles.
One day, evil storms and robbers flew into the land of Mangistau. Everyone hid, and only the mountain stood as a protector.
Then the spirit of Sherkala said:
- "I will shelter everyone who is kind at heart. Come to me." And people found shelter at its foot. They heard fairy tales sounding in the silence inside the mountain, and at night the stars rolled down the slopes like golden berries. Since then, people have called Sherkala not just a mountain, but the ancient yurt of the Great Steppe Lion. And if you listen quietly on a windy night, you can hear a fairy tale hidden in its rock.

Authority:
"Steppes Will Come to Life." Anatoly Kostenko, Esbol Umirbayev. Alma-Ata. "Oner". 1984.