Tour to Shopan-Ata Mosque
Journey from Aktau to the Shopan-Ata Mosque –
A trip from Aktobe to the Mangistau mosque –
Shopan-Ata is one of the underground mosques of the Mangyshlak Peninsula, a place of pilgrimage, a sacred place, a tourist architectural landmark of the region. The mosque is quite large, the main room is 7 meters long and 5 meters wide, the light in this room comes through a hole cut in the upper part of the cave, there is also a wooden pole and stones. In this room they read prayers and spend time. A mulberry tree grows near the mosque, which is considered sacred, and there is a well nearby where you can drink water, and the water in the well is considered sacred. The mosque is located in a desert area, it is quite hot here in summer, but it is very cool in the mosque. The mosque was built by a saint, a Sufi Shopan-Ata, he was a student of the famous Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, philosopher, mystic. The Shopan-Ata Mosque is very popular; here you can always meet pilgrims and travelers from all over the world. Near the mosque there is the Boszhira valley (tract) and the Beket-ata mosque, so traveling to the mosque we will visit all these places.
The route of the pilgrimage to the mosque Shopan-ata:
Aktau - the city of Zhanaozen - mazar Kostam - necropolis, mosque Shopan-Ata (X - XIII centuries)
- Distance of the route:
206 km
- Season time:
all season
- Best time:
Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Group size:
1-25
- Days & nights:
1 day
Tour itinerary:
Transfer: Aktau - Karagie depression - Zhanaozen city - Kyzylsay village - Kostam mazar (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 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 drive along the grader road towards 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 Shopan ata - a traditional place for pilgrims who head to the Beket-ata mosque.
Transfer: mazar Kostam - necropolis Shopan ata in the tract Kyzylsu (2 km). Arrival at the necropolis of 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 - Aktau (206 km).
Photogallery:
