Taraz City

Taraz is the oldest city in Kazakhstan.  It has gone through various name changes, but has at last been returned to its original.  Thousands of years ago, it was a major crossroads for the silk road.

The people here are very proud of their city.  There is a historical museum that has artifacts from Kazakhstan's past -- particularly Taraz -- and several historical sites.  In this area and in the nearby mountains that separate Kazakhstan from Uzbekistan, archeologists have found ancient sculptures, rock carvings and tablets of an early written language.

Currently, there is a MAJOR archeological dig where a central market place was located.  The market has been moved and the buildings taken down.  Underneath, they are unearthing the ancient city.

More recent history provides beautiful mausoleums and mosques that are still in use.

There is a sense here of people discovering their past and their culture's historical significance, and it has created a great deal of pride.