Turkestan was one of the most important commercial centers of the Silk Road. The city was founded over 15 centuries ago and is now the historical center of Kazakhstan’s culture.
Turkestan is now known for the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a Turkic Sufi saint who was the first man to introduce the Islam religion in Central Asia. His mausoleum attracts yearly thousands of pilgrims. It was designed by Amir Timur, who also has other spectacular architectural creations in Uzbekistan.
Turkestan is about two hours away by mashrutka (minibus) from Shymkent. Here’s a detailed description on how to get from Shymkent to Turkestan by public transport.