Burana Tower

Burana Tower and an ancient settlement are located in 12 kilometers from the city of Tokmak, they are the part of the archaeological and architectural museum and are protected by the state as a first-class monument of cultural heritage.

According to the studies of historians and archaeologists, the Burana ancient settlement may be the remains of the ancient city of Balasagyn - the former capital of the Karakhanids Khanate. The city was founded by Sogdians in the 6th - 7th centuries and was later named Balasagyn. According to the references in the sources and to archaeological excavations, it was a developed city with communications: roads, running water, social structures. Tap water went for 15 - 20 km to the foothills, where there were reservoirs - sedimentation tanks. There were ceramic pipes, and they were fully functional until the 10th century. This development of the city was also due to the location on the trade routes.

Perhaps the most famous resident of the city is Yūsuf Balasaguni, the author of many books, and of the famous one the poem "Blessed Knowledge".He was born approximately in 1010-1016 (1018) years in the capital of the medieval Karakhanid state - the city of Balasagyn. He was a highly educated man of his era - he had thorough knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, medicine, he knew history, philosophy, aesthetics, ethics, literature, Arabic and Iranian-Tajik poetry, Turkic folklore and Farsi. His portrait now you can see on the 1000 soms denomination.

Now around the tower there is a "garden of stones" where you will find the so-called "balbals" - ancient tombstones, ancient millstones.

The original height of the minaret was 40 m, now 24 m, the rest was destroyed by the earthquake.

The city of Balasagyn existed until the XIV - XV centuries. But at that time it had already lost its former significance. By the XV century. The buildings of the city turned into ruins. The former capital of the Karakhanids had disappeared and even the name of the city was forgotten. The texts of the epitaphs of local Nestorian Christians, as well as the grave pebbles with the Arabic text of the epitaphs indicate that the inhabitants of Balasagun were killed by the plague that raged here in the 1930s. XIV century. At present only the remains of the fortress and the tower are preserved.

Like any other notable place, the Burana tower acquired its own legend, according to which a powerful local khan built a minaret in order to save in it his only daughter from the oracle predicted the deadly bite of black karakurt, which in these places was abundant. Despite the efforts of his father, the prediction is coming true, and the daughter dies from the bite of the karakurt, brought into the shelter with clusters of black grapes. The tower becomes the tomb of the khan's daughter.

We invite you to visit this interesting architectural monument and admire the views that open to the Chui Valley and the Kyrgyz Range.

Clothing and Equipment

Sunscreen (at least 20SPF)
Chapstik or equivalent lip balm
Sunglasses with UV protection
Fleece jacket or pullover 
Down vest and/or jacket (optional) 
Waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex) with hood
Warm fleece hat