Akmeshit, the cave
The unique natural and sacred object of the South Kazakhstan is located 10 km north of Akmeshit village, 30 km from Shayan settlement, 80-90 km from Shymkent city (Algabas district, South Kazakhstan region).
The cave represents a significant space inside the limestone cliffs that form the southwestern slopes of Karatau: a large hall, about 30 m high, 135 m long, about 65 m wide, stretched along the line of SW-NE. The air temperature is 9-17° - comfortable both in the heat and in the cold. Elm tree, mulberry and grapes grow, and interesting natural effects are observed. If you stand in the middle of the cave and look up, you can see the rain from the droplets (tears of Akmolda) flowing down from the cave vault. Birds singing is always heard.
Several legends are related to the Akmeshit Cave. The first and the main one says: in the olden days there was an underground mosque, which was one of the important places on the sacred map of the South Kazakhstan. From the central hall to four sides of the world, underground passages were diverging, two wagons wide, connecting the surrounding fortresses. Over time, the underground passages collapsed, and the mosque became deserted... Legends of the existence of the mosque in this cave were passed down from generation to generation. At the beginning of the XX century the dome of the mosque partially collapsed and it was revealed to the world. After the wide failure of the vault the light opened up to the cave. At the same time, unique local natural phenomena related to the interaction of the environment: constant - underground and changing surface. Even now we can see blocks of collapsed rock, almost completely covered with soil. The soil turned out to be fertile, with grass and grove growing on it - up to 40 mulberry trees. About half of them have never been exposed to direct sunlight. Over the past decades, the cave has been undergoing an almost vertical 10-meter descent, which is now equipped with a metal staircase. The opening view is amazing. Visitors can see a huge underground hall with high dark vaults stretching for tens of meters.
The local shyrakshy continues his father's work, lives next to the cave and takes pilgrims there. From his house, the trail runs down the concrete stairs into the gorge and then rises to the cave. The cave makes an indelible impression due to its grandiosity, unique climatic conditions, to which more than one legend, the landscape, easily "clings" to. The keeper conducts specific "sacred" excursions: he tells about the honored places, legends, prays, tells about the wonders that are regularly repeated here.
Apparently, now it will be difficult to confirm the existence of a mosque here in the Middle Ages without conducting large-scale archaeological research, but it is quite possible, because the first mosques were located in the natural environment, it was important to equip the mihrab with an orientation to the Kybla. Similar ventilated caves were quite suitable for such objects, until man-made early medieval cult objects with set parameters were built: orientation, layout, size, etc., strictly corresponding to the requirements of the canon. In general, preliminary archeological research was carried out on most of the famous caves of the Karatau Ridge, which are abundant in the region. The natural conditions of South Kazakhstan contribute to the formation of the cult of the cave, where all year round the ideal conditions for life and most importantly - for worship. However, as well as in a significant part of Eurasia, in caves and grottoes sacred places were created everywhere in antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Thus, Kh.A. Alpysbayev reports on the studies of caves in the region of Karatau, gives a description of them, including the caves of Akmeshit. He reports interesting facts, in particular, that the bottom of the cave is located below the bed of the river Kursay (which has the cave) by 8 m. In some corners of the cave there are stalactites. At the bottom of the cave, the scientist noticed many bone remains of fossil animals. Shurfovka conducted by Kh.A. Alpysbayev in the depth of the cave, gave stone tools of the Neolithic, next to the cave he found products of the Ashelian-Mustier appearance.
Thus, the caves of South Kazakhstan attracted the population from the Stone Age, in favor of this say the discovery of archaeologists. But even in later times the caves were used, in the Middle Ages, perhaps, by preachers of Islam and its servants. Most often, sacred legends tell only a small part about the real events of antiquity. Akmechet Cave is a unique monument of this kind, where many pilgrims come to pray and ask for the essentials, regardless of religious affiliation. It is quite possible that many requests and desires are fulfilled.