A Brotherhood Forged in Battle

Karasai Batyr and Agyntai Batyr defended the Kazakh land from Dzungar invasions in the 17th century. Their names are inseparable in history and legend, and their brotherhood strengthened through decades of warfare.

Karasai Batyr served as one of the commanders in the army of Yesim Khan. After the khan’s death, he became a mentor to his son, Jangir Khan. Together with Agyntai Batyr, he took part in numerous military campaigns aimed at protecting the steppe from external threats.

According to historical accounts and oral tradition, the two batyrs fought side by side for nearly fifty years, participating in almost two hundred battles. Their enduring alliance became a symbol of courage, loyalty, and martial honor in Kazakh history.

A defining episode in their lives was the Battle of Orbulak in 1643. Jangir Khan’s force of roughly 600 warriors faced a Dzungar army said to number around 50,000. The balance shifted with the arrival of a 20,000-strong allied force led by the Bukharan commander Jalantos Bahadur. The victory at Orbulak became one of the most remarkable episodes in Kazakhstan’s military history and solidified the reputation of Karasai and Agyntai as outstanding warriors of their era.

Last Years and Rediscovery

Karasai Batyr died in 1671 from wounds sustained in battle. A year later, Agyntai Batyr also passed away. They were buried side by side atop Kulshybay Hill overlooking the lands they had defended.

Over time, the graves were lost. Only in the early 1990s local farmers uncovered fragments of stone tombstones and weapons while plowing the fields. Archaeological excavations followed, and two burial sites were identified as belonging to the legendary warriors.

Architecture of the Memorial Complex

In October 1999, a memorial complex was established over the burial site. The ensemble includes two mausoleums with a mosque positioned between them.

Each mausoleum rises 16 meters (52 ft) high, while the mosque reaches 12 meters (39 ft). The mausoleums are designed in the form of battle helmets. It seems like two great warriors laid down their arms forever at their final resting place. Between the domes stand enormous crossed spears – an emblem of courage and military honor.

Inside the mausoleums rest the batyrs’ tombstones, created in the traditions of Turkic funerary art. Each memorial includes a koitas (a stone block shaped like a ram’s body) and a kulpytas (a tetrahedral commemorative stele).

The surrounding territory is also an ancient necropolis. Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of a warrior approximately two meters tall (6’6 ft), alongside a heavy sword and elements of armor.

A Place of Memory and Living Tradition

Today, the memorial is not only a historical monument but also a place of spiritual significance and public gathering. It regularly hosts sports tournaments, equestrian competitions, and commemorative ceremonies. Newlyweds, pilgrims, and visitors travel here to honor the legacy of the batyrs. For many, the site symbolizes loyalty, brotherhood, and the selfless defense of the homeland.

How to Get There?

The memorial complex is located 26 km (16 mi) south of the village of Saumalkol in the North Kazakhstan Region. It can be reached by car in approximately three hours from Borovoe and about three and a half hours from Petropavlovsk. Vehicles cannot reach the memorial itself; visitors walk approximately 400 meters (~440 yd) up the hill to the site.

Other tourist attractions near the memorial complex:

• Botai Settlement
• Lake Imantau
• Lake Shalkar
• Aiganym Manor
• Museum of Shoqan Walikhanov in Syrymbet