Written sources tell that there were many towers, mosques, tombs, and
other monuments. We have some wonderful architectural buildings
remaining. The Tower of Burana is one of them. What do you know about
this tower?
Pupil: Burana means munara (tower). It is close to the town of Tokmok.
In old times there was a city called Balasagun there. Balasagun is famous
because a prominent Kyrgyz thinker and scholar, Jusup Balasagyn, lived
there in the eleventh century.
Teacher: Good. The caravan-sarai of Tash-Rabat also occupies a special
place among our historical monuments. Tash-Rabat is situated 70
kilometres south of the ruins of the city Koshoi-Korgon (medieval city
At-Bash). It is on the bank of the river Tash-Rabat in the Naryn oblast. Unlike
others, this monument is located far from the medieval civilization centres.
Who can tell us why was it built there?
Pupil: As the name implies, it was used by the caravans that travelled east
to west and west to east along the Great Silk Route. Caravans used to stop
over in Tash-Rabat.
Te a ch e r : Right. We also have the mausoleum of Shah Fazil. It is an
architectural monument built between the eleventh and fourteenth
centuries. It is located in Ala Buka District, in the village of Gulistan. It is
rectangular and built of fired bricks (baked, not sun-dried). The width of
walls is between 163 and 167 centimetres, and the height is 15.37 metres.
It has three gates. Inside, it is decorated with patterns, and the ceiling
features Arabic and Persian scripts. One of the rulers of the Karakhanid
State is buried inside. Who can show us where Shah Fazil is on the map?
(He pointed towards the map).
Pupil: (from her seat) It is in Ala Buka District.
Teacher: Okay. ... Our government spends a lot of money to protect
these monuments. What do you think is the reason for protecting them?
Pupil: To attract tourists....
Teacher: Yes, that is one of the reasons, but it is not the main reason....
Pupil: They have historical value for us....
Teacher: That is right. We have so many monuments and other ruins. They
tell us about our history. Despite the fact that there are very few historical
monuments in Kyrgyzstan, their historical significance is great. They are