The Burana Tower (Kyrgyz: Бурана мунарасы) is a large minaret in the Chüy Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. It is located about 80 km east of the country's capital Bishkek, near the town of Tokmok. The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. The tower was built in the 11th century and was used as a template for other minarets. An external staircase and steep, winding stairway inside the tower enables visitors to climb to the top. It is one of the oldest architectural constructions in Central Asia.[1]
The tower was originally 45 m (148 ft) high. However, over the centuries a number of earthquakes caused significant damage to the structure. The last major earthquake in the 15th century destroyed the top half of the tower, reducing it to its current height of 25 m (82 ft).[2] A renovation project was carried out in the 1970s to restore its foundation and repair the west-facing side of the tower, which was in danger of collapse.[1]
The entire site, including the mausoleums, castle foundations and grave markers, now functions as museum and there is a small building on the site containing historical information as well as artifacts found at the site and in the surrounding regions.[3]
^ ab"The Burana Tower". Journal of Nomads. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2019-11-09.
The BuranaTower (Kyrgyz: Бурана мунарасы) is a large minaret in the Chüy Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. It is located about 80 km east of the country's...
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the ancient city. It includes the BuranaTower and a field of stone petroglyphs, the Kurgan stelae. The BuranaTower is a minaret built in the 11th century...
been born in this area. About 15 km south of Tokmok is the 11th-century BuranaTower, located on the grounds of an ancient citadel of which today only a large...
2023. "The Uzgen Minaret". discovery-kyrgyzstan.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018. "BuranaTower". discovery-kyrgyzstan.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018....
town until the 11th century. All that remains of Balasagun today is the BuranaTower, whose exact original use is unclear. The Sogdian temple of Jartepa,...
shaped lower part and a tapering cylindrical middle part, similar to the BuranaTower in northern Kyrgyzstan. The upper part with arched windows and a cupola...
their elimination at the BuranaTower that they would be able to earn the ability to return to the competition. At BuranaTower, Ron Shahar informed the...
Some of the remaining sections of wall are 10m high, with regularly spaced towers. There is a massive gateway, battlements with crenellated tops, ramparts...
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