Mausoleum of Man Ata
If you drive along the Shetpe-Beineu highway, at one point you will suddenly see snow-white chalk mountains rising in the middle of the endless desert. This place is known as the Manat Pass. Not far from the pass, stands the mausoleum of Man Ata, a significant pilgrimage site.
Who was Man Ata?
Man Ata is a mythological character, as there is no reliable historical information about him. According to legend, he was born in Hindustan (modern-day India), where he taught people how society should run. He is also believed to have laid the foundations for administrative and civil law. As a result of migration, the laws he had created spread to many countries of the East, where they later formed modern social norms. The name of Man Ata remained in the myths of many peoples of the Eurasian continent, who still consider him their ancestor and call him the First Man or the Progenitor of all People.
Man Ata was mentioned in Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism. It says that the spirit of Man Ata entered the mind of Zarathustra as soon as he was born. In Avesta, Man Ata is also described as a messenger of Ahura Mazda (the creator god in Zoroastrianism) who possessed supernatural powers.
Legend has it that towards the end of his life, Man Ata came to Mangystau and found his resting place on the Ustyurt Plateau. There is now a mausoleum standing over his alleged grave. Stylistically, it is quite different from other traditional burial structures. In its four walls, there are 18 oval windows through which one can see the burial inside.
How to get there?
The Mausoleum of Man Ata is located 40 kilometers (25 mi) southeast of the village of Otes (Sai-Utes). The distance from Aktau to the village is approximately 244 kilometers (152 mi). From Aktau, first drive to the village of Shetpe. There are two roads to Shetpe: through the villages of Munaishy, Zhetibay, and Beki or through the village of Tauchik. When you pass through Shetpe, drive east to Otes. The Manat Pass has some steep descends and ascends so you need to drive carefully.