Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Қожа Ахмет Ясауи кесенесі
Turkestan, Kazakhstan UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a brick structure built in the 15th century in the Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan. Known locally as Қожа Ахмет Ясауи кесенесі, it was commissioned by Timur and is part of the Azret-Sultan complex. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ranks as one of the most looked-up sights in Kazakhstan.
Planning a visit
The climate in Turkestan features hot summers and cold winters. Daily highs reach 35 °C in July, while January temperatures drop to a low of -7 °C. Mild weather occurs in April and May, with average highs of 20 °C to 27 °C, and in September and October, with highs between 19 °C and 28 °C. Rain is infrequent during the summer months, with only 1 to 2 rainy days in July and August. The site is open Monday through Sunday from 08:00 to 19:00.
The mausoleum is located 23 km from Hazrat Sultan International Airport in Turkistan. Travelers arriving from the capital, Astana, will need to cover a distance of 903 km to reach the city. The site is part of the Azret-Sultan complex, which can be explored alongside the mausoleum.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 35 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 2 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 27 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 28 | 19 | 11 | 4 |
| Average low, °C | -7 | -5 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 1 | -5 |
| Rainfall, mm | 32 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 30 | 34 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
