TAMGALY-TAS

About a hundred kilometers from Almaty there is a real Buddhist temple in the open air. The locals call so the picturesque tract Tamgaly-Tas. On its rocks you can see various petroglyphs depicting mysterious deities. Buddhist inscriptions are also inscribed on the rock formations. People come here from different parts of the world to see the image of the Buddha and the preserved sacred text in Sanskrit with the words of blessing addressed to the lotus-born.

To visit the Tamgaly-Tas Kazakhstan tract, you need to drive 100 km north of Almaty. The attraction is located on the banks of the Ili River, which is considered the largest waterway in Semirechye. An endless steppe stretches along the left bank, turning into the Moyinkum desert. The Malaysara ridge begins on the right near the tract. In spring, residents of Almaty come here to collect white steppe mushrooms.

Scientists have been working on uncovering the mystery hidden behind the unique inscriptions on rock formations for more than 150 years. One of the assumptions they are leaning towards is that the signs application was made by representatives of the Kipchak people. To what time do they relate their appearance on the Tamgaly Tas Unesco tract: by the end of the VIII - beginning of the IX centuries.

The prominence of the rock formations is primarily due to the many preserved Tamgaly Tas petroglyphs, images of deities and inscriptions related to the teachings of the Buddha. On the central rock, tourists can see the image of Bodhisattva Arya Avalokiteshvara, which is considered one of the most revered in Buddhism. There is an inscription near it, which means worship of the holy deity in translation.

Places in this area are famous for beautiful views that you can't take your eyes off. You can come at any time of the year, but it is better to choose spring or autumn to visit a natural attraction shrouded in mystery.

Translated from Kazakh, Tamgaly-Tas tract literally means "stones with signs". The images and inscriptions date back to the XIV – XVI centuries. The rock complex consists of 18 rocks with mysterious signs. Among them, the most impressive are three Buddha images on one rock and two on the others. It is believed that the unusual images represent a Buddhist sanctuary and an open-air museum.

A long time ago, there was a legend associated with the mystery of the origin of Buddhist rock paintings. Local residents believed that when a caravan was walking along the tract to the river, a strong earthquake occurred in those places. As a result of the natural disaster, huge boulders rolled down the steep cliffs, forming a river crossing. The ancient settlement took this as a sign from above, and began to glorify the Almighty by putting unusual drawings on the rocks. Near this place, you can see the effects of an earthquake and a river crossing created by nature.

You can book a Almaty Tamgaly Tas tour from us. Treat yourself and your loved ones with unique impressions, enjoy the beauty of Kazakhstan nature and touch the mysteries of history.