Kanykey, the mazar

Mazar is located in the northern part of the old Kazakh cemetery, on the right bank of the Nura river, 4 km north of Orkendeu village (Korgalzhyn district, Akmola region).

The base of the mazar has a rounded shape, the diameter is 7 m. An overhead part consists of two parts: the main chamber and the entrance structure adjacent to it. All mazar elements are made of mud brick of standard size. The upper part of the main chamber ends in the form of a spheroconic dome. From the eastern part of the main chamber there is an entrance part, which has a separate additional volume in the form of a 2.2 m long corridor. The corridor is in a rectangular section with a low opening. The main chamber along the central axes of the inside has through niches.

Mazar was examined several times. For the first time, the monument was studied by the staff of the Akmola Regional Museum of Local History in 1979. New studies were conducted by the staff of the National Research and Production Company“Kazrestoration” RSEin 2006, and the emergency state of the monument was recorded: the south-western part of the main structure was collapsed, the walls were made of mud brick faded, the entrance corridor is partially destroyed.

There is no exact identifying information about the affiliation of the mazar. However, in the oral tradition there are several legends associated with the mazar. There is a legend associated with a girl named Kanykey, who accomplished the feat during the period of the Kazakh-Dzungarian military confrontation. According to the data, after the capture of Korgalzhyn lands, the Dzungars, led by the commander Kindikty, settled near Amangeldy Lake and did not give rest to the nearby Kazakh auls. Kindikty, seeing Kanykey, expressed a desire that she voluntarily would stay with him. Kanykey, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, took two daggers and, left alone with Kindikty, plunged them into the hearts.

Among Korgalzhyn people there is another version of the mazar affiliation. According to legends, in the steppes after liberation from the Dzungars in the Orkendeu area, Bai Otekara settled. The wealth of this man was estimated at 10–15 thousand horses. Otekara had the only successor to his wealth, the son Taibek. Sometime later, Taibek died from injury and the evil eye at the age of 16-17 years. Otekara erected a muddomed mazar to perpetuate his son's name. Master Bekbolat, who built the mazar, estimated the construction at 20 horses.

However, the legend of the girl Kanykey was more common in the steppe, and over time she became dominant compared to the story about Taibek.

Currently, Mazar Kanykey is a place of pilgrimage.