Tamgaly Petroglyphs
The last of the top destinations to visit in Kazakhstan that we recommend is Tamgaly Petroglyphs. Thousands of Bronze Age petroglyphs mark this ancient location, according to reports on the 3,500-year-old rock art in Kazakhstan's Tamgaly canyon, which reveals information about the civilisation that created it.
In Kazakhstan's extreme south, grassy steppes stretch to the horizon. The protection and shade of the Tamgaly canyon, some 100 miles northwest of the former Kazakh capital, Almaty, has been a particular location for humans for millennia in a region blasted by summer heat and winter cold. They have left their imprint in the shape of 5,000 colourful rock sculptures, the oldest of which date back to the middle of the Bronze Age, 3,500 years ago.
Some of these engravings are buried, while others are strategically placed to maximize exposure. The petroglyphs show out against the black rock, exposing a plethora of drawings: Sun deities with rays emanating from their heads, soldiers on horseback, shamans dancing, and herds of animals
All tell the story of the many peoples that resided here: Their topics trace the changes felt throughout the region from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, and even far later: Kazakh shepherds of the twentieth century also made their mark, depicting the region's recent conquerors with images of Soviet-era cars.
The Tamgaly gorge is one of numerous petroglyph-rich locations in Kazakhstan. Tamgaly means "marked" or "painted site" in Kazakh, and as evidenced by 20th-century shepherd carvings, Tamgaly's rock art was well known to Kazakhs for many years.
- Entrance fees:
- Locals :500 KZT
- Foreigners: 1,000 KZT
- Tips:
- Bring your own snacks and drinks.
- Drink lots of water. There’s almost no place to get shade.
- Bring cash. Nowhere takes credit cards.
- Bring a bathing suit if you want to swim.
- If you want to go with a group tour, check with multiple tour companies. Not every company runs this tour consistently.
- Location: southeastern Kazakhstan
