Tour to the mosque Shopan ata and Beket ata
Pilgrimage tours on Mangyshlak - Mosques of the Mangystau region -
This tour includes a visit to the mosques Shopan-ata and Beket-ata. Both mosques are located on the Mangyshlak peninsula in the Mangystau region, in a desert area. Our journey to the mosques starts from the city of Aktau and will take place in jeeps, comfortable SUVs, accompanied by a guide. On the way to the mosques, we will pass the Karagie depression, which is 132 meters below sea level. You can see a more detailed program with a route grid, distances and a detailed description below in the detailed description of the tour.
The Shopan-Ata Mosque is located on the territory of the village of Senek, more than 200 kilometers from the city of Aktau, was built by a student of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Sufi Shopan-ata. The legend says that Shopan-ata found his mentors here and decided to build a mosque there, consisting of eleven underground chambers. Another legend goes on to say that the tree grew in the desert on the site of a mosque, and it still grows to this day, 800 years have passed since it was planted. According to the legend, by going around the tree three times, you will get rid of all diseases.
The Beket-Ata Mosque is an underground mosque in the Mangistau region, the mosque is carved into the rock in the Oglandy gorge and consists of three rooms. Beket ata was born in 1750 and was known not only as a healer, seer, but also as a scientist who knew the laws of physics, mathematics, and astronomy well. After studying in Bukhara, he again comes to his region and builds five mosques.
The route of the pilgrimage to the shrines of Mangyshlak:
Aktau - Zhanaozen city - Kostam mausoleum - Shopan ata necropolis (X - XIII centuries) - Oglandy tract - Beket ata underground mosque
- Distance of the route:
277 km
- Season time:
Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Best time:
Spring time
- Group size:
1-25
- Days & nights:
1 day
Tour itinerary:
Transfer: Aktau - depression Karagie - the city of Zhana Uzen - the village of Kyzylsay - Mazar Kostam (204 km). Departure at 7.00 from Aktau. Our path lies to the south-east through the deepest depression of Karagie - 132 meters below sea level in the direction of the small town of oil workers Mangistau Zhanaozen, along a beautiful asphalt road.
The number 132 meters below sea level sounds unusual.
We pass Zhanaozen, then the path to the village of Kyzylsay after it ends with asphalt, turn left onto the grader. We will go along the grader road to the Oglandy tract. Soon to the left of the road there is a park area for cars, here is a mausoleum. Kuyu-Tam, visiting the mausoleum, photographing, shirakshi prayer. Our further path lies to the underground mosque and the Shopanata necropolis - a traditional place for pilgrims who go to the Beket-ata mosque.
Transfer: mazar Kostam - necropolis Shopan ata in the tract Kyzylsu (2 km). Arrival at the necropolis Shopan ata. Walk to the underground mosque Shopan ata, past the mazars and the necropolis Shopan ata. Photographing the necropolis and the underground mosque, the prayer of the local mullah, the garden, the ritual passage through the upper part of the underground mosque. End of the ritual.
Transfer: Shopan ata mosque - Kamysty tract - Golbonshe hillock - Oglandy tract (73 km). Gradually, after the Shopan ata necropolis, the road rises to the Golbonshe hill from which beautiful panoramas open to the north and south. From the Golbonshe hill, a magnificent view opens to the south - to Mount Bokty, which rises alone in the middle of a huge chalk basin.
Before turning to the northeast, on the right is the famous Boszhira tract. Soon the road turns to the north and leads us to the Oglandy tract. After visiting the mausoleum of Oglandy-ata, descend the steps made of shell slabs to the underground mosque of Beket-ata. The distance from the descent from the chink to the underground mosque is approximately 1300 meters, in time it will take from 25 to 30 minutes.
The difference in height from the edge of the Ustyurt cliff (cliff) to the Beket-ata mosque is about 200 meters. Visiting Beket ata mosque, prayer shirakshi, sadakh. Walk to the oldest necropolis, which is even lower than the mosque (300 meters).
According to legend, Beket ata lived in chalk rooms; his dwelling consisted of a kitchen and two rooms carved in shell rock. The horns of argali were placed in the chimneys of the furnace of the dwelling of Beket ata, the smoke passing through the horns came out colorless.
Return along the steps to the upper mosque Beket-ata (1300 meters, 45 minutes - 1 hour). A wonderful decoration of a trip to the underground mosque Beket ata can be meetings with the Ustyurt mouflons, who have chosen the Oglandy tract for themselves, here they live and breed under the protection of St. Beket ata. Visiting the upper mosque Beket-ata, tea drinking, lunch.
Transfer to Aktau (277 km).
Photogallery:
