Kazakhstan is a cultural and ecological treasure trove with major worldwide significance, thanks to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Turan, Kazakhstan's Cold Winter Deserts, was added to the list in 2023 because of its highly diversified ecology, vegetation, and wildlife. Six sites, with thirteen more on the organisation's provisional list, represent the country's historical and architectural past. The majority of these attractions have become must-see destinations for both international and domestic visitors.
Despite its incomplete state, this heritage site in Kazakhstan stands as one of the best-preserved Timurid constructions, showcasing innovative architectural techniques and styles that influenced later developments across the empire. Built in the 14th century by the conqueror Timur, it is dedicated to the 12th-century Sufi mystic Ahmad Yasawi, who is considered the founder of Turkic literature and a spiritual leader of the region.
The mausoleum is located in the city of Turkestan, in southern Kazakhstan, and is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Central Asia. The mausoleum is impressive for its size, decoration, and craftsmanship, as well as for its influence on later Islamic architecture. It features a turquoise dome, intricate tilework, carved wooden doors, and a collection of ancient manuscripts and artefacts.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, this mausoleum not only serves as a major pilgrimage site but also symbolises Kazakh national identity.
Timings: The mausoleum is open to visitors from 9 am to 6 pm daily, except on Mondays and public holidays.
Ticket: The entrance fee is 500 KZT (INR 92) for adults and 250 KZT (INR 46) for students and children.
In the midst of the barren Chu-Ili mountains lies the Tanbaly Gorge, which is a remarkable site of around 5,000 petroglyphs (or rock carvings). These carvings were created between the second half of the second millennium BC and the early 1900s.
The Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly are a remarkable testimony to the ancient cultures that inhabited the steppes of Kazakhstan. The petroglyphs are rock carvings that depict humans, animals, and religious figures dating from the second millennium BCE to the 20th century.
They are located in the Tanbaly Gorge, in the Chu-Ili mountains, about 120 km northwest of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. The petroglyphs are among the best preserved and most diverse in Central Asia and provide insight into the beliefs, rituals, and lifestyles of the pastoral communities that lived in the region. The site also contains tombs, kurgans, and enclosures from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Timings: The visiting hours for this site are from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, except for Mondays and public holidays.
Ticket: The entrance fee is 500 KZT (INR 92) for adults and 250 KZT (INR 46) for children, students, and pensioners.
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a natural site that comprises two nature reserves, the Naurzum State Nature Reserve and the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve, covering an area of over 450,000 hectares.
The site is home to rare and endangered species such as the saiga antelope, the Siberian white crane, the Dalmatian pelican, and the great bustard. The site is also an important stopover and breeding ground for millions of migratory birds from Africa, Europe, and South Asia.
Timings: The reserve is open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 8 pm on weekends and holidays.
The Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor is a transnational cultural site that traces the ancient trade routes that connected China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The site consists of 33 components, including capital cities, palace complexes, Buddhist temples, sections of the Great Wall, tombs, beacon towers, and other religious and secular buildings.
The road connecting Kazakhstan and China facilitated not only trade but also the spread of religion, science, culture, and art. Along the Chang'an-Tian Shan Road, one can find ancient buildings and trails, Buddhist temples in caves, sections of the Great Wall of China, tombs, mountain passes, lakes, deserts, trading villages, caravanserais, and more.
The site spans over 5,000 km and covers an area of over 400,000 hectares. It demonstrates the diversity and adaptability of the architectural styles and urban planning of the different regions.
The Turanian Deserts, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, span multiple nations, showcasing their transnational significance. These expansive deserts are under UNESCO protection in both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. On the Kazakh side, the World Heritage designation encompasses two notable areas: the Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve in Kyzylorda Oblast and the Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park in Almaty Oblast. This designation highlights the global importance of preserving these unique desert ecosystems.
Western Tien-Shan's snow-capped peaks and meadows support unique plant and animal species, as recognised in 2016. Its geological characteristics help us to understand Earth's evolution, and it is a biodiversity hotspot. The property, which Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan share, encompasses the western portion of the Tian Shan Mountain Range. It has a high biodiversity and produces a variety of cultivated fruit crops. Mountain summits exceed 4,500 metres (14,800 feet).