Bukhar-Zhyrau District: Mounds, Mausoleums and the Nura

Bukhar-Zhyrau District draws attention to archaeological sites that differ markedly in their construction and setting. A mausoleum, mounds, stone enclosures and sites along the Nura make cultural history the central theme of a trip. At the same time, elevations, riverbanks and distances provide practical guidance for planning a stay.

The Mausoleum and Botaqara Mound

The Bukhar-Zhyrau Mausoleum was built in 1993 and is 12 m high. It stands at the foot of Mount Dalba, about 25 km north of the village of Shalkar. As a sacred site, it is frequently visited by tourists and pilgrims. Its year of construction, height and location give this mausoleum a distinctive profile among the district’s attractions.

Botaqara Mound has a 3 m-high earthen embankment and preserved dimensions of 24.5 × 28.5 m. It lies on a rise between the left bank of the Nura to the north and an old river channel to the south. Nearby settlements provide further reference points: the mound is 2.5 km south of Senokosnoye and 3 km west of Petrovka.

Mounds and Stone Structures

Koytas Mound lies on a rocky rise, 100 m from the Nura River. When it was excavated, a square stone mausoleum measuring 8 × 8.25 m was discovered. It is attributed to the Begazy-Dandybai culture. The site thus combines a specific archaeological structure with a cultural classification.

The Temirkash burial ground lies on a floodplain terrace on the left bank of the Nura. Ten stone structures were documented there in 2001; eight remained in 2008.

The Kulsa burial ground includes earthen mounds, mounds with stone enclosures, and stone enclosures, with up to 30 structures documented. It lies 4 km west of the Botakara settlement, south of the Karaganda–Karkaraly road and on a slope. The variety of structures makes it a distinctive part of the district’s archaeological landscape.

Ten structures have been documented at the Ordabay burial ground; structures 1 and 2 are relatively well preserved. The site lies in the Vodopad tract of a mountain-forest massif on the left bank of a seasonal stream. The Belagash enclosures are notable for their stone enclosures and stone settings. They lie 2 km south of the village of Belagash.

The sites differ in both their structures and their locations: Koytas’s square mausoleum stands alongside mounds and stone enclosures; the landscape ranges from rocky rises and floodplain terraces to a mountain-forest massif and seasonal stream banks.

The Nura, Waterways and Orientation

The Nura River runs through the district. Bukhar-Zhyrau’s waterways also include dams and reservoirs with a total area of 16,232 ha. The Nura and its riverbanks are a recurring feature of the landscape, while each site occupies its own specifically named type of terrain.

The district’s waters contain pike, crucian carp, perch, tench, burbot, carp and roach, among other species. Three national highways cross the area.

Plan Your Hotel and Stay

Baiterek Resort is a countryside holiday complex in the village of Ushtobe.

Discover more destinations: Temirtau.

Go to the main travel overview: Karaganda.