A significant phase of scientific restoration work has been completed at the mausoleum of Alkozha Ata (12th–14th centuries) in Turkestan. Specialists from Kazrestoration have fully restored the interior burial chamber of this sacred monument for the Muslim world, reports infohub.kz.
For historians and pilgrims, this mausoleum holds immense significance. Alkozha Ata (Abd al-Malik) was not only a righteous man but also the favorite disciple and son-in-law of the great Sufi Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, having married his daughter Gaukhar.
According to legends, Alkozha Ata was a direct descendant of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the closest companion and first righteous caliph of Prophet Muhammad. By marrying Ahmed Yasawi's daughter, he became related to the dynasty of the great sheikh, whose lineage traced back to the fourth caliph Ali ibn Abu Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. Alkozha Ata was revered as a great healer. The republican-level monument is located just 2.5 km from the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and is a mandatory stop on pilgrimage routes.
To preserve the original spirit and medieval architecture, restorers approached the object with maximum precision. The interior burial chamber (gurkhana) has been fully recreated, with careful cleaning and painting of the walls of the ziaratkhana (prayer hall). The large dome and external wooden columns were also restored. The flooring was completely replaced using specially made antique-style bricks produced with centuries-old technologies.
Work on the site continues. The next stage will focus on restoring support columns, facades, brickwork, and surviving ancient decorative paintings. "The dome and external surfaces of the monument will undergo special chemical treatment, and certain sections of the aiwan (terrace) will also be restored, along with landscaping of the surrounding area," specialists reported. All work is carried out strictly in accordance with international standards for preserving world heritage monuments.