Tour to the Beket-Ata Mosque (Oglandy)
Read a prayer in the underground mosque Beket-Ata –
Holy places of the Mangyshlak Peninsula –
Beket ata (Oglandy) is an underground mosque carved into the rock by a hermit, Sufi, mystic and holy man Beket-ata. The mosque consists of 5 rooms, the light enters the mosque through special places carved into the ceiling. The place is sacred, you can always meet pilgrims here. The legend says that Beket-ata was a healer, he knew how to heal people, instruct them on the righteous, true path. The place where the mosque is located was not chosen by chance, it is a place with a special energy, Beket-ata felt this and built a mosque here. Pilgrims said that after visiting the mosque, miracles happen to them, people here are healed of illnesses, their third eye opens and they begin to see.
From the village of Senek to the Beket-ata mosque, the distance is 115 km, from the city of Zhanaozen to the mosque is 150 km. The mosque is located on the Mangyshlak peninsula in a desert area on a mountain slope. To get to the mosque, you must first make a descent from the ledge, and then again make a small ascent. The mosque is a cult-memorial monument of the 17th century. We recommend visiting the mosque on weekdays, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
GPS coordinates 43°35′44″N 54°04′12″E
Route of the pilgrimage to the Oglandy tract:
Aktau - Zhanaozen city - Kuyu-Tam mausoleum - Oglandy tract - Beket ata underground mosque
- Distance of the route:
277 km
- Season time:
all yeat
- Best time:
Summer season
- Group size:
1-25
- Days & nights:
1 day
Tour itinerary:
Transfer: Aktau - Karagie depression - Zhanaozen city - Kyzylsay village - Kuyu-Tam mausoleum (204 km). Departure at 7.00 from Aktau. Our path lies to the southeast through the deepest depression of Karagie - 132 meters below sea level in the direction of the small oil town of 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 the Kuyu-Tam mausoleum, visiting the mausoleum, photographing, shirakshi prayer. Our further path lies to the underground mosque and the Beket necropolis - a traditional place for pilgrims who go to the Beket ata mosque.
Transfer: Kuyu-Tam mausoleum - Beket-ata necropolis, Kamysty tract - Golbonshe hillock - Oglandy tract (73 km). Gradually, 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 1 kilometer 200 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. Visit to the Beket-ata mosque. 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. Argali horns were placed in the chimneys of the furnace of the Beket-ata dwelling, the smoke passing through the horns came out colorless.
Return along the steps to the upper mosque Beket ata (45 minutes - 1 hour). A wonderful decoration of a trip to the underground mosque of 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.
Return to Aktau (277 km).
Photogallery:
