Aisha Bibi
Aisha Bibi Mausoleum is located 18 km from the city of Taraz, which is the administrative center of Zhambyl Region. The ancient building attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year, including from abroad. According to experts, this unique architectural monument is one-of-a-kind in the world.
The legend says that a beautiful girl Aisha and a brave warrior, the ruler of Taraz called Karahan fell in love. The young man asked for the girl’s hand in marriage from her caregiver, but was denied. That was when Aisha decided to run away to be with her love, despite the prohibition. However, young people were unable to meet – the girl was bitten by a snake which hid in her headdress along the way. As a sign of great grief Karahan had built this mausoleum on the site where she had died.
Nearby, there is another mausoleum of Babaji Khatun. According to the legend, Babaji Khatun was a faithful companion of Aisha-Bibi in her last journey, and later she had been the keeper of the mausoleum for many years, until her death. A mausoleum for Karahan the warrior was built in the city of Taraz, whose history spans more than 2000 years.
This historical and cultural monument of the ancient Kazakhstan dates back to the 12-13th centuries. Today, only fragments of these buildings remained uncorrupted. In the beginning of the century it was decided to restore the mausoleum, which restoration took 4 years - from 2001 to 2004. Craftsmen made tiles by hand, with more than 70 kinds of ornamental patterns. After that bricks were baked in special kilns. As part of the restoration work the foundation of the structure was underpinned; experts erected the walls and faced the mausoleum with terracotta tiles.
