Tamgaly-Tas

Tamgaly-Tas, meaning marked stones, is a stretch of rock along the Ili river where Buddha figures, Sakyamuni, Avalokiteshvara and others, are carved in relief into the cliffs alongside Tibetan inscriptions including the mantra om mani padme hum. The carvings are generally attributed to Dzungar Oirat Buddhists moving through this corridor, most likely between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, and later inscriptions and graffiti have been added. It is a different site from the Tanbaly petroglyphs to the west, which are Bronze Age and World Heritage listed, and the two are often confused because of the similar name. The setting is red rock, river and desert, and the site is unfenced and unstaffed.

What you actually see

• The Buddha reliefs - the carved figures on the riverside cliffs.
• Tibetan inscriptions - the mantras cut into the rock beside them.
• The Ili river - the water and the red cliffs it runs between.
• Later graffiti - the modern additions scratched over the site.

When to go

April to October; the site is exposed and very hot in July and August. Spring and autumn are best. Morning and late afternoon light suit the carvings and the river.

Honest expectations

The site is unprotected, unstaffed and has suffered from graffiti and damage. The access track from the highway is rough. There is no shade, water or facilities. It is easily confused with the Tanbaly petroglyphs, which are a separate World Heritage site.

Nearby

Kapshagay reservoir lies upstream; the Tanbaly petroglyphs are west.