The Ordabasy Historical and Cultural National Reserve began functioning on January 1, 1994. The reserve is located on the left wide terrace of the Badam River, 40 km west of Shymkent. The total area of the reserve is 1134 hectares. The historical and cultural reserve is organized on the basis of the historical burial ground "Ordabasy", as well as complex and individual archaeological, architectural monuments of the Ordabasy area. There are 10 monuments of historical and cultural significance on the territory of the reserve-museum.[1]
Monuments of historical and cultural significance
The researchers who conducted the examination revealed petroglyphs and a complex of ancient graves, which were also part of the reserve.
At the top of the mountain stands a stele whose height reaches 28 m, reminiscent of the tragic years of 1723–1727. The stele has three faces overlaid with white marble. Faces have their own direction:
- the first one points to the west — Syr Darya;
- the second to the north is the Karatau Mountains;
- the third to the southeast is Mount Kazygurt.
The stele was erected in 2001 in honor of the 275th anniversary of the monastery community — Kurultai, as well as in the year of the 10th anniversary of independence of the state of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The authors of the ensemble are the sculptor, A.Mamyrbayev and the architect G.Sadyrbayev.
A pyramid-shaped museum is located on the territory of the historical and cultural reserve. The museum fund consists of 1,376 exhibits.[2]