The Underground Mosque In Turkistan

It gets hot in Turkistan, so hot during the summer that the only civilized place to pray is underground. When in doubt, dig.

Mosque entrance. Nothing significant above ground, except souvenir stalls disguising the place.

Heading down. Prayer hall area. The mosque is an active archeological dig.

Another section of the mosque, restored and now a museum.

Ancient artifacts. Old book, old robes.

Detail of a diorama that depicts the place as a teaching madrasa. Study up!

Seeing The Sites In Turkistan

There are other ancient sites to see in Turkistan, Kazakhstan beyond the main, amazing site, the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Time to take a little wander.

The delicate, simple, Juma mosque. A traditional design of whitewashed walls and a portico of wood carved columns.

Kahn's mosque. Small courtyard, nicely restored plaster interior.

Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum. Octagonal, domed, strong.

Inside the Begum mausoleum, a group of gravestones. Sometimes all that is left are foundations. The Khan Ordasy complex.

Ancient meets modern meets fake ancient. The old Silk Road era fortress walls with a modern sculpture in front of it. The sculpture imitates a typical old caravan of traders and camels.