Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askhat Oralov visited Otyrar district. The Minister, who arrived on a working visit, visited the mausoleum of Arystanbab and the mausoleum of public figure Uzbekali Zhanibekov, where he got acquainted with the state of architectural monuments.
During his working trip, he visited the medieval city of Otyrar, where he got acquainted with the objects uncovered during archaeological research and restoration work carried out on them. During the acquaintance with the objects of the ancient city of Otyrar, which became an open-air museum, theatrical performances from the life of the 16th and 17th centuries, prepared by the district department of culture and museum staff, were shown.
It is worth noting that in the period from 2020 to 2022, archaeological and restoration work was carried out in the ancient city of Otyrar as part of a three-year project. As a result, archaeologists discovered the Khanaka, built by the ruler of the Ak Horde, Yerzen Khan, the mausoleum of Saganaly, characteristic of the XV century. At the entrance to the city through the gates of "Zharakty", a complex with residential buildings and a pottery workshop was discovered. Next to the residential buildings there are industrial premises, where archaeological excavations of a two-chamber oven for the manufacture of ceramics and an area for drying ceramic products were also carried out, as well as on the Market Square of the XVII century, where a bakery complex and a residential quarter were identified, restoration and conservation work was carried out.
In addition, specialists partially reconstructed the mosque from burnt bricks and the Berdibek Palace, where at the beginning of the XV century Amir Timur received the ambassadors of Toktamysh Khan, completely restored the "Zharakty", the Northern and Sopyhan gates.
As part of a large-scale project that lasted three years, to preserve monuments and ensure the safety of tourists, CCTV cameras were installed on the territory of the city of Otyrar, streets were illuminated with electric lights, paths for pedestrians and electric cars were built, benches for tourists, fountains, modular toilets and garbage cans were installed.
After getting acquainted with the works on the museumification of the medieval city of Otyrar, the Minister visited the Visit Center at the settlement of Otyrar. After getting acquainted with the exposition of the Visitor Center and visiting the halls of Al-Farabi, he noted that it is necessary to increase the number of tourists, gave a number of instructions.
