Karaman-ata Underground Mosque, Mangystau
Karaman-ata stands as one of the oldest necropolises in the Mangystau region, with its earliest tombs tracing back to the 8th and 9th centuries. This site also includes an underground mosque built in the 12th and 13th centuries, where, according to local lore, the remains of the revered Kazakh Sufi sage Karaman-ata are enshrined. Both the mosque and the surrounding necropolis have been designated as nationally significant monuments in Kazakhstan.
Spanning over 7 hectares, the necropolis houses hundreds of graves of Kazakh and Turkmen locals. The most ancient gravestones originate from the era of the Oguz and Kipchak peoples in the 8th century, while the majority of the burial sites date from the latter half of the 19th century, associated with the Adai, a Kazakh tribe predominant in this area. The graves are often marked by small, ornately decorated mausoleums with reliefs and paintings. The latest mausoleum was erected in 1970 during the Soviet period.
The underground mosque is delicately carved into a hillside and descends roughly 5 meters, providing a cool sanctuary even on the warmest days. It consists of a twisting corridor and two chambers supported by columns, with the back chamber's circular design meant for Sufi rituals and dances. Visitors must remove their footwear to respect the sanctity of the soft-carpeted interior.
The Karaman-ata necropolis is a sacred site, revered for its peace and inviolability where historical truces were often negotiated. Local legends abound, including tales of Karaman-ata's friendship and subsequent fallout with the prominent Sufi Khoja Ahmed Yassawi. The exact cause of their dispute remains a mystery.
Today, the necropolis is enclosed and features amenities for pilgrims, including a home with a kitchen for meals and rest after their travels. The underground mosque is 145 km from Aktau, with the final stretch being a rough dirt road through the vast Kazakh steppe, occasionally dotted with a solitary shepherd and flock. Nearby is the village of Beki, which marks the turnoff towards this sacred site, and not far west lies the captivating Ybykty canyon, another natural wonder of the Mangystau region.