Saka Kurgans in the Almaty Region -
Architectural Monuments of the Ancient Tribes of Kazakhstan -
The Boralday Saka Kurgans Archaeological Park is one of the most mysterious and impressive places in Kazakhstan, allowing visitors to peer into the depths of time and experience the legacy of ancient civilizations. The complex contains 47 Saka burial mounds, which were part of a vast necropolis left behind by the Saka and Wusun tribes, who inhabited these lands over 2,500 years ago.
The complex is a unique open-air museum where visitors can see restored models of ancient dwellings and even enter specially opened burial mounds to experience the atmosphere of those distant eras. This place amazes with its scale, silence, and the power of history, which seems to resonate in every gust of wind.
Discovered in 2006 during aerial surveys to create a 3D map, the Boralday archaeological complex immediately attracted the attention of scholars. At the initiative of the Almaty mayor, the burial mounds were fenced off and placed under state protection. Archaeological research began, followed by restoration and museum work. In 2018, the Boralday archaeological complex was included in the list of national sacred sites of Kazakhstan and became one of the key centers for the study of the Early Iron Age in the region. Work continues today to create a Saka culture center, which will become part of a future open-air museum.
Information and History
The Boralday burial mounds are part of a grand necropolis of the Saka-Wusun tribes who lived in the Semirechye region in the 8th and 3rd centuries BC. Covering an area of over 435 hectares, the site contains 47 burial mounds, many of which have retained their original form. The largest reaches 14 meters in height and is approximately 100 meters in diameter.
Scientists have established that these burial mounds were the burial places of representatives of the ruling dynasties of ancient tribes. Excavations have revealed that Saka leaders were buried with weapons, jewelry, utensils, and even horses, whose tails were decorated with gold threads. This testifies to a high level of culture and a belief in the afterlife.
Models of ancient Saka dwellings have been recreated within the archaeological park. One such dwelling is a reconstruction of a house from the 4th century BC. While externally resembling a hut, the interior is designed like a yurt. The original dwelling was discovered in the 1970s near the Medeu skating rink, where archaeologists accidentally stumbled upon a well-preserved dwelling buried beneath a layer of rock and earth.
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How to get there and visit
The Boralday Archaeological Complex is located on the left bank of the Big Almaty River, near the village of Boralday, in the suburbs of Almaty, Ili District, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°20′15″N 76°52′07″E
The easiest way to reach the Boralday burial mounds is by car or taxi – take the Burundai Highway or Aerodromnaya Street. If you're traveling by bus, take routes 10, 431, or 456 to the "Military Town," from where you'll have to walk about 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus service to the park itself.
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Legend
Locals say that on quiet evenings, when the sun sets over the burial mounds and the wind barely rustles the grass, you can hear a soft ringing sound, like the sounds of ancient jewelry left by the leaders of the Saka tribes. It is said that the spirits of ancestors guard these lands, and anyone who comes with pure thoughts and respect receives their blessing.
There is a belief: if you make a wish while standing on the top of a burial mound, whether it concerns a search for truth, strength, or inspiration, it will surely come true for the spirits of the ancient Sakas hear those who come with an open heart.
Touch of History
A visit to the Boralday burial mounds is not just a tour, but a true journey through time. Here you can feel the breath of antiquity and imagine how the people who inhabited these lands lived and believed thousands of years ago. This is a place where the past comes alive in every detail – from the shapes of the burial mounds to the reconstructed dwellings and artifacts that tell of the greatness and faith of ancient peoples.
Boralday is more than just an archaeological site. It is a living connection between generations, a symbol of strength, spirituality, and memory, preserving the history of Kazakhstan for millennia.
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