Bukhar-Zhyrau District: Kurgans, Mausoleums and the Nura

Mausoleum and Kurgans

The Bukhar-Zhyrau Mausoleum was built in 1993 and is 12 m high. It stands at the foot of Mount Dalba, about 25 km north of the village of Schalkar. As a sacred site, it is frequently visited by tourists and pilgrims. Its location and height make it a prominent destination in the district; for planning a holiday, the distance from the village of Schalkar provides a clear geographical reference.

A different impression awaits you at the Botaqara Kurgan: its earthen embankment is 3 m high, and its preserved dimensions are 24.5 × 28.5 m. The kurgan lies 2.5 km south of Senokosnoye and 3 km west of Petrovka, on a rise between the left bank of the Nura to the north and an oxbow of the river to the south.

The Koytas Kurgan also combines a distinctive architectural form with a specific location: it stands on a rocky rise, 100 m from the Nura River. When it was excavated, a square stone mausoleum measuring 8 × 8.25 m was discovered and attributed to the Begazy-Dandybai culture. The find gives the site a distinct cultural and historical perspective and sets it apart from kurgans with earthen embankments or stone enclosures.

Stone Structures and Different Archaeological Sites

The district’s archaeological sites differ not only in their locations but also in the forms that have survived. Ten stone structures were documented at the Temirkash burial ground in 2001; by 2008, eight remained. The site lies on a floodplain terrace on the left bank of the Nura.

The Kulsa burial ground comprises earthen kurgans, kurgans with stone enclosures, and stone enclosures; up to 30 structures have been documented. It lies 4 km west of the settlement of Botakara, south of the Karaganda–Karkaraly road and on a slope. Ten structures were documented at the Ordabay burial ground; structures 1 and 2 are relatively well preserved. It is located in the Vodopad tract, in a mountain-forest massif on the left bank of a seasonal stream.

The Belagash enclosures are another type: they consist of stone enclosures and stone settings and lie 2 km south of the village of Belagash. Those wishing to explore historical sites will find that the district does not contain a single uniform group of monuments, but rather different structures and landscape settings. When choosing a holiday rental, it may therefore help to first consider which of these sites you want to make the focus of your stay.

The Nura, Waterways and Getting Around the District

The Nura flows through Bukhar-Zhyrau District and shapes the location of several of the archaeological sites described here. The district’s water bodies include dams and reservoirs with a combined area of 16,232 ha. They are home to pike, crucian carp, perch, tench, burbot, carp and roach, among other species. If you would also like to explore river and waterside landscapes alongside cultural sites, you can include this in your travel plans.

Three national highways cross the district. Baiterek Resort is a countryside holiday complex in the village of Ushtobe. The area therefore offers several geographical reference points for choosing where to stay: Ushtobe, Botakara, Belagash and the area around Schalkar. If historical sites are your priority, it is best to compare your preferred location with the places named for each site; if you are mainly interested in the Nura landscape, you can also take this into account when searching for a holiday rental.

You can also discover Temirtau.

For the broader travel overview: Karaganda.