National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan»

The National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan» is one of the fundamental museums of the republic. The museum was opened in Turkestan on March 28, 1977 as the «Republican Museum of Architecture of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi» based on the mausoleum built by Amir Temir at the end of the 14th century in honor of the poet, an outstanding messenger of Islam, known as «Turkistan piri». On August 28, 1989, by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR No. 256, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan» was established. In accordance with the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 24, 2015 No. 585, it was established through the reorganization of the republican state institution «State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan» of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On December 19, 2023, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 415, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-reserve «Aziret Sultan» was awarded the status of the «National» first museum-reserve in the country.

The museum-reserve has departments for the protection and accounting of historical and cultural monuments, Accounting and storage of the museum fund, Research, Excursions and propaganda, Maintenance and operation.

The total area of the historical and cultural monuments that have received a state act is 2306.383 hectares, it includes 43 objects: 1 has the status of international importance, 21-republican, 2-local importance, 19 monuments are on the registration list.

In 2003, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which has the status of international importance, as an unsurpassed masterpiece of medieval architecture, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also, the monument has a special significance as a national pantheon.

In addition to the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the museum-reserve includes: the underground mosque of Kiluet (XII century), the underground mosque of Aulie Kumshyk ata (XII century), the Octagonal mausoleum (XIV–XVI centuries), the mausoleum of Rabiya Sultan Begim (XV century), the mausoleum of Yesim Khan (XVII century), the Oriental Bath (XVI V.) and others.

More than 300 historical figures such as Zholbarys Khan, Yesim Khan, Zhangir Khan, Tauke Khan, Abylai Khan, Kazybek bi, Zhanibek batyr, Bogenbai Batyr were laid to rest in the holy place. As a result of the research conducted by the staff of the museum-reserve, 231 graves were identified.

The fund of the museum-reserve consists of 25594 valuable historical exhibits. In order to preserve written, archaeological and numismatic materials, special devices that meet modern requirements were purchased and installed in the fund’s storage.

The historical and Cultural Museum-reserve «Aziret Sultan» closely cooperates with all republican and regional museums of Kazakhstan and is the most visited among all museums in Kazakhstan.

As a result of the joint work of the entire team, the museum-reserve was awarded the diploma «Museum of the Year» by the international Union ICOM in 2015. According to the results of 2016, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan» won a Gold Rating in the «Growth Rate» nomination under the National Business Rating program and was recognized as an «Industry Leader», awarded a special gold medal «Altyn Kiran» and an international certificate.