Trip from Almaty to the Bayan-Zhurek mountains -
Rock paintings in Zhetysu region -
The Bayan-Zhurek Mountain range, located in the Zhetysu region, is known not only for picturesque landscapes and archaeological sites, but also for unique petroglyphs dating back to different eras – from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages. This is one of the largest and most significant rock art collections in the foothills of the Dzungarian Alatau. The first images appeared here back in the II millennium BC, during the Andronovo culture. Later, in the Iron Age, the Saka tribes continued the tradition of rock art, adding their own images and symbols. There are also later images dating back to the Turkic period on some of the rocks. Thus, the Bayan-Zhurek petroglyphs reflect the continuity of the cultural traditions of the region over the millennia. The famous ancient settlement of Bayan-Zhurek is also located in this place, where the remains of ancient dwellings and places where settlements were located have been preserved. The famous pilgrimage site and Kalakai Shrine are located in the eastern part of the valley. You need to travel to the petroglyphs through the city of Taldykorgan and then through the village of Kapal.
How to get there and visit -
The Bayan-Zhurek petroglyphs are located in the picturesque Bayan-Zhurek Mountain valley, Aksu district, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 45°07'01"N 79°12'54"E
Information -
The Bayan-Zhurek petroglyphs are not the biggest name in the world of rock art, but one of the most important in the Zhetysu region. Each drawing is not just an ornament, but a ritual, prayer, record of hunting, nomadism or cosmic order. Here you can find images of deer, horses, wild boars, mountain goats with massive horns, the images were carved with amazing precision, as if capturing not just an animal, but its spirit. There are also hunting scenes here – people with bows, moving in formation, riding a horse. The images of the sun with rays are especially impressive – probably a symbol of the supreme deity or the cult of the luminary, common among the ancient steppe peoples. Scientists attribute most of the petroglyphs to the II–I millennia BC, although some drawings may be younger – from the Scythian or even Turkic time. The depth of the indentations, the hatching style, the composition – all this helps to decipher the age and meaning of each fragment. But science is not the only way to understand these images. It is enough just to stand in front of the stone, touch it with your hand and feel – someone was here. Someone was thinking, praying, afraid, hoping. The locals still have a special respect for this place. Some call it "tanbalau zher" – "the place of signs", others say that the spirits of the ancestors live here, and the drawings are not just art, but protection, a spell, a map of the way to another world. There is a legend that on rainy night new images appear on the stones, which disappear with the first rays of the sun. No one can explain why, but many claim that after visiting the petroglyphs, vivid dreams come, and a sense of peace comes.
Today, the Bayan-Zhurek petroglyphs are part of the archaeological heritage of Kazakhstan. They are not always well guarded, and this is alarming: wind, moisture, and most importantly, the irresponsibility of people can erase what has survived for thousands of years. It is worth coming here not for the sake of photos, but for the sake of a sense of connection with antiquity. You can come here in silence, without fuss, just to stand, look and hear what no textbook says. The Bayan-Zhurek petroglyphs are the voice of the stone. A voice that reminds us: we are not the first. And not the last. And somewhere in these drawings is our image too.
Attractions nearby:
Zhongar-Alatau National Park
Burkhan-Bulak Waterfall
Kora Gorge
Kora River
Kapal River
Karatal River
Koksu River
Tamshybulak Spring
Sievers Apple tree in Zhongar-Alatau Park
Semenov-Tyan-Shansky Peak
Tekeli Stupa (suburgan)
Lake Miketovo
Uygentas kurgan (stone hill)
Medieval town of Almalyk
Talapty Settlement
Maly Koytas settlement
Tasbas Settlement
Balpyk Bi Mausoleum
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