UNESCO designates historic Kazakh rock-hewn mosques as World Heritage site

Five rock-hewn mosques and associated sacred sites in Kazakhstan have been officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, Euronews reported. The decision was adopted by the World Heritage Committee during its 48th session on 25 July in Busan, South Korea. The nomination follows instructions given in 2024 by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to pursue World Heritage status for the monuments. [1]

The complexes date from the 12th to the 18th centuries and preserve centuries of Sufi tradition alongside older beliefs, according to Euronews. Located in the landscapes of Mangystau, the sites are named after revered Sufi masters, including Beket-Ata, Shopan-Ata, and Karaman-Ata. [1]

Kazakhstan is a landlocked Central Asian nation that borders Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The nation's capital is Astana, and its largest city is Almaty. [2]

The World Heritage List is administered under a convention adopted by UNESCO in 1972. The organization has designated more than 1,100 cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value across 167 countries to aid in their preservation. [4]