Turkistan – a visit to the ancient city that attracts a million pilgrims and tourists every year
Euronews visits Turkistan, the holy city of Asian Muslims and UNESCO’s cultural site with its ancient streets, a 14th century mausoleum, 16th century baths and 21st century tourist attractions.
In partnership with MDQ
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/11/turkistan-a-visit-to-the-ancient-city-that-attracts-a-million-pilgrims-and-tourists-every-
Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.
Euronews visits Turkistan, the holy city of Asian Muslims and UNESCO’s cultural site with its ancient streets, a 14th century mausoleum, 16th century baths and 21st century tourist attractions.
In partnership with MDQ
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/11/turkistan-a-visit-to-the-ancient-city-that-attracts-a-million-pilgrims-and-tourists-every-
Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.
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NewsTranscript
00:00In this episode of the modern nomads we take you to the southwest of Kazakhstan to the holy city of
00:10Turkistan. It is best known for the mausoleum of Hoca Ahmad Yasawi whose verses and teachings
00:15earned him the reputation of the holy teacher, the man who spread Islam in Central Asia and
00:20beyond. It's a place of pilgrimage included in the UNESCO's list of cultural heritage. The
00:25city is host to over a million believers and tourists every year.
00:29When Islam religion passed on the territory of Central Asia, it could not be spread completely
00:34due to the fact that the local population did not know the language. Ahmed Yasawi, in a
00:40very accessible language, in the form of verses, in Dhuwani Ahmed, in his studies,
00:46gave him to understand what the Qur'an represents.
00:55Timberlaine, better known in this region as Emir Timur, was convinced that Hoca saw his
01:02coming and wanted to visit his mausoleum. Then he ordered the construction of a much bigger
01:07and lavish one and the result is this structure that you see here.
01:12It is also likely that Timberlaine realized the importance of this place that had already
01:17become the center of science, philosophy and religion in his realm.
01:21From the 12th century to the 19th, the end of the 20th century, there were about 100,000
01:28students, which he sent from the south of China to the south of the Balkans, and, of course,
01:37to the south of the Arab countries.
01:39When Timberlaine died in 1405, the construction of the mausoleum was halted. It was never finished,
01:44but still served as a royal court, library, school and place of prayer, gathering and burial of the elders.
01:50It became the role model for the Timurid architectural style that spread throughout Asia.
01:55The mausoleum is a breathtaking place, but this city is not just a place of pilgrimage. It has many other things to offer.
02:03In recent years, much has been invested in the renewal of the city so that it can attract tourists.
02:10Indeed, once the awe inspired by the mausoleum subsides, have fun in the ethno village with its yurts, old crafts and sports.
02:17Go see the recently excavated streets and clay houses of the ancient city.
02:32Indeed, once the awe inspired by the mausoleum subsides, have fun in the ethno village with its yurts, old crafts and sports.
02:39Go see the recently excavated streets and clay houses of the ancient city.
02:44The 16th century hammam or the public baths that were fully functional and used by people until 1970s.
02:51Taking adrenaline-fueled flight over Kazakhstan in the flying theater, enjoy the tranquility of the city's park.
02:58The museum holds many artifacts of the civilizations that moved east-west through the past steppes and deserts of Kazakhstan.
03:05This 7th century monument is an excellent example of what a melting pot of culture this region is,
03:11because on this side of the monolith you can see inscription written in ancient Turkic runes,
03:16but go to the other side and there is some very neat Chinese calligraphy.
03:24Do take a walk down the city streets and witness the efforts to make imposing structures full of history and modern decorations blend well.
03:31Kerouen Sarai Shopping Mall, built recently as a reconstruction of a Silk Road Oasis,
03:40boasts many well-known brands and restaurants and its evening show.
03:44The first Kazakh opera, Kizjibek, is in an unusual naval setting.
03:49It's beautiful. It's the first time I see a movie of this kind in any part.
03:55I had to come to Kazakhstan to see a nice movie,
04:00which, as I understand, tells a story, a Kazakh legend.
04:05It's very interesting, beautiful, and fun.
04:17The city has a new airport, but if you choose to travel old-style,
04:21there will be one final pleasure, the railway station, one of the oldest in Kazakhstan, built in 1903.
04:26I mean, look at this railway station.
04:29And it has clay furnaces for heating, three of them.
04:32This is my first time at a railway station with such beautiful old heating system.
04:40But it may not be the last.
04:42The recently introduced tourist hop-off, hop-on train
04:45that takes you to the most beautiful historical cities of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,
04:49Almaty, Turkistan, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara,
04:53is something definitely worth exploring.