Memorial estate "Hazret-sultan".

 “If you follow the ancient maps written on the stars, no person will ever understand you. So if you could read these maps, would you follow them? And forever be misunderstood? Or would you close your eyes tightly and pretend to be like everyone else?” 

C. JoyBell C.

Sacred places of Turkestan.

The Mausoleum of Eesim Khan of the XVIIth century is located 14 meters in the southeastern part of the mausoleum of Ahmed Yasavi on the territory of the Azret Sultan State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum in the town of Turkestan, Turkestan region.
Turkestan was the spiritual and political centre of Turk nations and it was the eldest capital of Kazakh khans. Amongst South-Kazakhstan towns, great popularity belongs to Turkestan (Yasy). It was located on the branch of the Great Silk Road in XVI - XIX centuries and it served as the residence for Kazakh khans.
Good geographical location of Turkestan on the Great Silk Road encouraged the development of trade. Caravans were sent from west to east, from south to north and vice versa. Delegations from the neighbouring countries were coming to Turkestan to Kazakh khans.
There are written materials about the Russian delegation to Tauke-Khan, which came to Turkestan on 22 July, 1694. Turkestan was not only the residence of Kazakh rulers. It was the place for holding all the meetings of Kazakh aristocrats to solve the important state issues.
There are documents that have records about such meetings of Kazakh aristocrats in Turkestan.Turkestan was also the place where great teacher of Turk nations. Poet, philosopher and sophist Khodzha Akhment Yassaui lived and conducted his preaching activities.
In XII century on the territory of Turkestan in his honour the mausoleum was constructed. Since that many pilgrims come to the mausoleum. Pilgrims say: three trips to Yassaui Mausoleum in Turkestan are equal to small Hadj to Mecca.
Yassaui Mausoleum was erected by Great Ruler Tamerlan in the name of sophism. Yassaui Mausoleum in Turkestan is a magnificent complex of palaces and temples. 44-meter building consists of 30 rooms and halls; diameter of the main dome is 22 meters.
Elegant decorations of the mausoleum, ornamented arcs and the ceiling, and colourful mosaics look really amazing. Construction of Yassaui Mausoleum has significantly predetermined the role of Turkestan for many centuries not only as an economic and political centre but also as a spiritual-religious centre of whole Central Asia.
Before the October Revolution in 1917 whole Central Asian region was divided into two parts: Western and Eastern Turkestan. The 1500 –year old Turkestan city became well-known fame thanks to the preaching of the most famous  Sufisheikh, the outstanding poet  and humanitarian Khodzha Akhmed Yassawi, called Khazret-Sultan.
At that time the city was known as Yassy. The theological school established by Yassawi attracted those craving for knowledge both  from the neighboring cities and outlying steppes of Kazakhstan.  The city became the most significant center of enlightenment in Kazakhstan.
The memorial complex, which appeared at the grave of the great Yassawi, turned into the most visited places of worship  in the Central Asia. In the late XIV Turkestan acquired  a unique construction – large complex of the premises centered around the Mausoleum of Khodzha Akhmed, built by the Great Timur.
In the Moslem World Khodzha Akhmed Mausoleum is considered as the second Mecca.
Geographic coordinates of the mausoleum of Yesim Khan: N43 ° 17'50.27 "E68 ° 16'16.52"

Authority:
Archaeological and architectural heritage of the Southern Kazakhstan area. Within the regional .www.faesah.kz program "Cultural heritage".

Photos
Alexander Petrov.