Akyrtas

More than a millennium after it was founded, the palace complex of Akyrtas still holds numerous mysteries that even the world's top historians have been unable to unravel. One of the main ones - how could they have built something so monumental so long ago?

Walking through Akyrtas today, you'll see the large red stones that were used to construct the site as early as the 8th century. More than 1.5m metres long, the building blocks are much larger than any others in the region, so it's not known how the architects had the technology to achieve such a feat.

Even the exact purpose of Akyrtas is a mystery. Some of the site was clearly used as a prosperous trading centre from the 11th to the 14th centuries, with the ruins of a number of caravanserais. But the origin of the palace complex is not so clear. The ruins tend to indicate that the medieval construction was similar to Arab Caliphs buildings of that time, but it is still a unique and unparalleled complex in Central Asia. Despite the importance of Akyrtas on the Great Silk Road, the palace was never completed.

Perhaps, when you visit, you can try to work out why the palace complex of Akyrtas was built here and what it was used for. There have been plenty of theories, including in the 20th century when some people even advanced a possible connection between Akyrtas and the Pyramids of Giza. Even if this idea was not supported nor pursued further, the mystery is still present and attract enthusiasts from all over the world - as well as pilgrims who believe the red stones can make wishes come true.

Visiting the red stone ruins is an experience like no other given the rarity of this type of construction. Even though the secrets of Akyrtas have not yet been revealed, you'll be able to see plenty of evidence of the ancient complex, including grandiose stones, watchtowers, and guard rooms of the palace.