KARKARALINSK

Discover the beauty and wonders of Kazakhstan

Interesting facts

The history of the city is linked to the name of Abai Kunanbayev, a great Kazakh enlightener, poet-translator, and composer. His father, Senior Sultan Kunanbai, erected a Muslim mosque and left a charitable legacy.
Karkaralinsk occupies an important place in the economic and cultural life of Karaganda region.
There are more than 10 rest houses, a mountain hotel, health camps, a local history museum and a nature museum.

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Karkaralinsk

Karkaraly is developing primarily as a resort town. Surrounded by natural beauty, with small wooden houses and narrow streets, its name comes from the traditional type of hats adorned with beads and lace worn by women in the region. At a significant elevation above sea level, there are mountain lakes fed by snowmelt and underground springs.

Legends

Shaitankol lake || Impregnable rocks of steppe warriors

Shaitankol lake (devil's Lake) was formed during the Dzungarian invasion. The forces were clearly not equal. Then Kazakh batyrs asked the Almighty to turn the bodies of the killed into stones to protect the people from the enemy. The prayers were heard. Instantly the bodies of the fallen turned into impregnable rocks, which surrounded the Dzungars. Oirats wanted to run away, but in panic only crushed each other. And mothers of Kazakh warriors, seeing their sons petrified, wept bitterly. Their tears turned into Shaitankol lake.

Jirensakal Peak

There is a legend about Jirensakal Peak, which says that in ancient times a holy man lived on the mountain, the spirit of this holy man still dwells on the mountain and fulfills people's wishes. Mount Zhirensakal is considered a magical, sacred mountain, the mountain is very popular among travelers, as well as Mount Zhirensakal is a place of pilgrimage. According to Yerlan Mustafin, in ancient times people came here seeking healing from various diseases. The childless hoped to have a child, the blind hoped to regain their sight. The mentally ill and paralyzed were also brought here.

Shaitankol lake || The tale of Sulushash and her love

Another legend about Shaitankol says that in ancient times a girl named Sulushash lived in these parts. Her father was noble and rich. They were helped at home by a family of poor people, who brought up a son, named Altai. The young man grew up and fell in love with the beautiful Sulushash, but the father was against the union of his daughter with a poor man. Having persuaded his friend Kaisar and Sulushash, Altai planned an escape. At night all three set out on their way, but on the way to the desired love and freedom they heard the roar of a lion. The girl was frightened of the fearsome beast and, trying to hide from the predator, jumped off the cliff into the lake, followed by Altai, but unable to swim ashore, the lovers drowned. Kaisar decided to save his friend and the girl. He too jumped into the waters of Shaitankol, but like the lovers, he could not reach the shore and drowned. Since then, as the legend says, three innocent souls have languished in the waters of the lake, who sometimes come to the surface from the depths to perform their frightening and sad dance.