Manas Ordo

About this place

Manas Ordo is a historical park in the Talas Valley of north-western Kyrgyzstan, built around a 14th-century mausoleum that people associate with Manas, the hero of the great Kyrgyz epic. Kyrgyz people come here as a place of visitation and a reminder of their heritage, making it one of their most important spiritual sites, with a museum and broad grounds. The mausoleum was probably built around 1334. An inscription on its front says it belongs to a woman named Kenizek-Khatun, daughter of the emir Abuka. Legend says Kanykei, the widow of Manas, ordered this wording to mislead her husband's enemies. Excavators are said to have found the skeleton of a man about 2 m tall, but some researchers still doubt that Manas lies here, and there is no conclusive proof. The brick mausoleum has a tall front with a deep arch, covered in geometric patterns and finely worked Arabic inscriptions, so the facade looks like a textile of brick. The modern complex adds a museum on the Manas epic, modern statues, two large cemeteries and a yurt where parts of the epic are sometimes recited. A hill behind offers a wide view of the valley. It is about 11 km in a straight line from Talas city, on a paved road, with taxis and minibuses from Talas bus station. Mornings in spring and summer suit it best, and traditional horsemanship games are held here each summer. Dress modestly and respect other visitors, as people come here to pray.