Buddhist monuments in Kazakhstan -
Excursion to the Tekeli Stupa in the village of Tekeli -
The Tekeli Stupa is an unusual and little-known sacred structure located near the city of Tekeli in the Zhetysu region. This sacred place is also known as: the Kelinshektas monument, the Tekeli Princess or simply a Buddhist stupa, a monument from the era of missionaries from Tibet in Kazakhstan. The stele is a piece of rock on which a Buddhist image of a stupa (pagoda) is depicted, carved in stone. On the back of the stone there is a depression in which water is kept all year round, this water is sacred among local residents and is deeply revered as living water. According to Buddhist beliefs, the stupa personifies Buddha himself, the place itself is a place of strength and grace. This place has become one of the significant symbols of the spiritual presence of Buddhism in the region, where caravan routes once passed and where different cultures and religions met. The Kora River flows next to the stupa, which flows through the Korinsky gorge (Kora), in the upper reaches of which is the famous Burkhan-Bulak waterfall.
How to get there and visit -
Tekeli Buddhist stele (stupa) is located 4 kilometers from the city of Tekeli on the bank of the Kora River, Eskeldinsky district, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 44°52'33"N 78°48'32"E
Information -
The Tekeli stupa is 2-3 meters high, the width of the base is 3 meters, the image is applied to a large stone, on the other side, there are inscriptions, also on the stone at the top there is a depression in which water stands all year round. On one side there is a Buddhist symbol "kalachakra" and inscriptions presumably of a prayer, mantra. The top line in the translation of N. S. Yakhontova contains a request to get rid of diseases and epidemics. The bottom line is a record in Tibetan letters of a mantra in Sanskrit: "om ta mo nip ha tah rgyun na pa sva ha". On the lower plane of the stone stele there is a stupa in the form of a pyramid with a figure of Buddha sitting inside it. The surrounding nature enhances the atmosphere of solitude and peace. Around there are dense forests, alpine meadows, the seething Kora River and the snow-capped peaks of the Dzungarian Alatau. This place is perfect for philosophical walks, retreats and practices related to internal development. And for travelers, the Tekeli stupa is an amazing point on the route, where you can not only learn more about Buddhism, but also feel the breath of the mountains and the spirit of eternity.
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