Manas Ordo

Manas Ordo is built around a small domed mausoleum of the fourteenth century, decorated in carved terracotta, which an inscription attributes to a woman of the period but which Kyrgyz tradition holds to be the tomb of Manas, the hero of the epic that carries the same name; the standard explanation is that his wife had it inscribed misleadingly to prevent the grave being disturbed. Around it a complex has grown up with a museum, a statue, a hill viewpoint and space for gatherings, and the site functions as a national symbol as much as a monument. The Manas epic itself, half a million lines recited from memory by manaschi, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage, and reciters sometimes perform here. It matters to Kyrgyz visitors in a way that is worth understanding before arriving.

History

The mausoleum resembles other monuments of the 14th century, with Kufic script around its outer edge, and its inscription names a woman; but when archaeologists opened the tomb they found the skeleton of a man about 2 m tall, which many took as support for the tradition that it is the tomb of Manas. Kyrgyz horsemanship games have been held here every summer since 1995 (Wikipedia, Manas Ordo).

What to look for

• The domed mausoleum - the fourteenth-century tomb with carved terracotta.
• The museum - displays on the epic and on Kyrgyz history.
• The hilltop viewpoint - the overlook above the complex.
• Ceremony and recitation - gatherings and manaschi performances on occasion.

When to go

May to October for the roads and the site. National holidays and festivals bring performances and crowds. The Talas region is cut off by passes in winter and hard to reach then.

What to expect

Much of the complex is modern construction rather than historic fabric, and the attribution of the tomb to Manas is tradition rather than established fact, which the site does not much dwell on. Talas is a long detour from the main routes. Interpretation is mostly in Kyrgyz and Russian.

Nearby

Besh-Tash park lies south; the Kirov reservoir is west.

Key facts