Besshatyr Saka Mounds (Bes-Shatyr is "five tents" in Kazakh) is a complex of royal tombs, dating back to the 1st millennium BC, one of the most remarkable objects of the historical and cultural heritage of the Altyn-Emel National Park and the whole Semirechye (Jetysu, Seven Rivers) region.
Location
The Besshatyr necropolis is located in the western part of the Altyn-Emel National Park on the right bank of the Ili river, in a place named Shylbyr, between the Degeres ridge (Dzhungarian Alatau) in the west and the Small Kalkan mountains in the east, 35 km from Checkpoint 1 (you should enter the park from the village of Shengeldy).
Besshatyr and Tanbaly Tas: Trail of Saka Nomads
This is a special tourist route in the southwestern part of the Altyn-Emel National Park. In this place, the outermost spurs of Dzhungarian Alatau (the Sholak Mountains) almost reach the floodplain of the Ili river (in the place where it flows into the Kapchagai reservoir), forming a narrow entrance to the valley.
Here, in the foothills of Sholak, numerous petroglyphs of the Bronze Age, Saka epoch (I millennium BC), the Middle Ages and so on, up to the present, are scattered on the rocks. Besides pagan symbols, the Tanbaly Tas petroglyphic complex also includes Buddhist inscriptions. Scientists suggest that one of the abodes of Buddhist lamas could be located in this area.
There is a complex of the Besshatyr royal burial mounds in the valley nearby. These are the tombs of the leaders of the Saka Tigrahaud (Tigrahauda, Tigraxauda) nomadic tribe, which inhabited this territory in the 6th-4th centuries BC.
The grandiose mounds which look like pavilions from afar, along with altars and menhirs surrounding them, stand solemnly in the silent steppe, the whole scene keeping its ancient appearance up to now.
Historical and Cultural Landmark
Besshatyr (bes means "five" and shatyr - "tent, pavilion" in Kazakh) is the necropolis of the leaders of the Saka Tigrahauda nomadic tribe (in the Western world they were called the Eastern Scythians), which inhabited this territory in the 6th-4th centuries BC.
The age of Besshatyr mounds is about 2.5 thousand years.
The mounds, which look like pavilions from afar, are made of stones. A total of 31 burial mounds were discovered in this area. Of these, 21 burial mounds are with stone cover and 10 are with an embankment of rubble and ground.
The mounds stretch 2 km from north to south and 1 km from west to east. The total area of the Besshatyr burial ground is about 2 km².
The mounds are divided into large, medium and small. For the leaders of tribes and unions, rulers, kings, burial mounds with a diameter of 50-100 m were erected; for famous warriors, heads of clans, nobility - from 30-40 m; mounds from 15-25 m were erected for simple men-at-arms.
The largest, the so-called Royal Mound, is 17 m high and 105 m in diameter.
Complex underground passages have been discovered in the large mounds. From the inside, the burial mounds are trimmed with wood from the Tien Shan spruce, which was harvested in the Zaili Alatau mountains, 200-250 km from this place, and floated down the Ili river.
The Besshatyr necropolis was explored by the Semirechye archaeological expedition in 1957, 1959-1961. During the excavations, many historical artifacts were discovered that gave an idea of the Saka nomads lifesyle.
Unfortunately, the royal burial mounds were plundered in ancient times, and from the remaining objects and the grandeur of the structures, one can only guess about the value of the missing things. However, the Besshatyr mounds themselves are of great cultural value as a historical artifact.
The burial mounds of Besshatyr are called Semirechensky, or Saka pyramids.
The name "Besshatyr" ("five tents") comes, apparently, from the number of the largest tombs in this territory. On the way, you can see many smaller burial mounds scattered throughout the territory between the Sholak mountains and the Ili river.
Menhirs
The mounds were not only a burial place, but also a place for religious ceremonies.
Altars in the form of circles made of laid down and vertically installed stones (on the eastern side), which could be correlated with the cult of the sun, characteristic of the Saka culture, are of a great historical and cultural value.
The biggest megaliths, or menhirs (from Brittonic languages: men - "stone" and hir - "long"), are installed at the Royal Mound.
Many menhirs are carved with images of animals, symbols of the sun, as well as tamgas of Kazakh clans.
About 30 km east of the Besshatyr mounds, at the foot of the Small Kalkan mountains, there are similar structures, the Oshaktas steles.
Scientists suggest that the entire territory between the Dzhungarian mountains and the Ili river was a place of pagan rites of the ancient nomads.
Tourist Attraction
Besshatyr gives you a sense of antiquity with the traces of the nomadic civilization of the Saka, who inhabited the entire territory of modern Kazakhstan in ancient times.
To get to the Besshatyr Saka mounds, you need to drive into the national park through Checkpoint 1 from the village of Shengeldy.
The road to the necropolis of Besshatyr passes through a picturesque valley between the Dzhungarian Alatau mountains and the Ili river. This is the most secluded and protected part of the Altyn-Emel National Park - here you can see kulans and gazelles. For the sake of saving these graceful animals, the through passage from the Besshatyr mounds to the Singing Dune was closed so that the animals could freely descend to the river for watering.
In this part of the national park a new "Altynemel" visitor centre has been built, there are camping sites, toilets, gazebos, and an observation deck.
Travel Advisory
- The park is open for visitors only during daylight hours.
- Overnight stays, camping on the shore of Kapchagai/Ili River, and fishing are prohibited.
- It is prohibited to move around the park during dark hours.
- Through drive to the Singing Dune is prohibited.
- There is almost no mobile communication in the park and the Internet does not work.
- The road along Route 2 is very bad, hilly and rocky in places, it is recommended to have a strong and reliable 4x4.
- Travel to Besshatyr and Tanbaly Tas is possible only through Checkpoint 1, via the village of Shengeldy. It is impossible to buy a permit there.
Learn more about the route to know how much time you will need to visit the park.
- Passport
- Small handy backpack for personal items
- Personal hygiene items: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel, etc. in case of overnight stay in a hotel or a campsite
- Antibacterial wet wipes
- Paper tissues and toilet paper (plain, white, non-perfumed brands)
- Sunscreen cream
- Cream or spray against blood-sucking insects
- Smartphone / camera + chargers
- Personal medikit
- Drinking water (in the hot arid climate of the Altyn-Emel Park, you may need a lot of drinking water)
Wear comfortable nonstainable outdoor clothing: pants, a T-shirt or a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a raingear. Summer outfit should be suitable for a very sunny, hot, as well as windy and dusty weather.
A headdress that protects from the sun and wind is a must.
Shoes should be lightweight, with good grip soles designed for hiking. Don't wear slippers.
Bring a set of clothes for the evening and flip-flops in case of overnight stay at a hotel or campsite (keep in mind that nights can be cold).
For the cold season, you will need warm hiking clothes and shoes, as well as thermal underwear.
The distances in the Altyn-Emel Park are large, so clothes, shoes and headgear should be as comfortable as possible for long hikes.
Be careful in the mountains and near the cliffs. Keep to the elaborate tourist routes.
Wear a sun hat and drink enough clean water to prevent dehydration in the desert climate.
Use an anti-tick spray on all clothing during the active period (May-June). Take care also of mosquito and midge repellents.
Do not touch animals, lizards and rodents, which can be infection carriers.
With normal wildlife safety and hygiene practices, you will enjoy your vacation and your exciting journey through the national park.
Tourism in the Altyn-Emel National Park is pro-environmental.
Garbage. Wherever you are, do not leave garbage (including organic) behind you, such as plastic, glass, metal, food waste, cigarette butts, napkins, tampons, pads, etc. Pack the garbage carefully in bags and take them out to specially designated places. Bring drawstring trash bags. Do not burn any kind of garbage.
Toilet. If you are away from a toilet, find a spot that is away from paths and water sources, and be sure that human feces do not contaminate water. In a hot desert, human waste does not biodegrade easily because there is little organic soil to help break it down. Do not bury them, but lightly cover them with soil so that the heat of the sun and light can speed up the decay process. Used toilet paper should also be sprinkled with soil. Use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands.
