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Suleyman-Too

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Kyrgyzstan (Asia and the Pacific)

Date of Submission: 29/01/2001
Criteria:
Category: Mixed
Submission prepared by:
Kyrgyz National Commission for UNESCO
Coordinates:
40°32'23" N - 72°48'23" EOsh region, Osh City
Ref.: 1515

Description

Suleyman-Too has several names: "Takhti?i Suleyman" in Arabic language, "Sulayman?tag" in Iranic language, "Sulayman?too" in Kyrgyz language, "Suleyman?gora" in Russian. Suleyman?Too (Suleyman?Mountain) is the main holy and pilgrimage place for Muslims of southern Kyrgyzstan and the Ferghana Valley. This is a unique separately located lime rock outcrop with 5 separate peaks, the hights of which are: 1162 m, 1141 m, 1175 m, 1144.5 m, 1119 m. There are 7 caves in the mountain, the entry to each of them is a grotto, in the sacred niches of the caves neolithic ritual knives were found. The mountain has petroglyphs dating from the third millennium B.C. to the medieval period, Zoroastric sanctuaries, sacrificial altars and architectural sites, Bronze Age settlement of priests. The Suleyman?Too Complex includes the Takhti?i Suleyman one?chamber mosque or the House of Babur, the founder of the Great Mogols dynasty in the 16 century, the Asaf ibn Burkhiya Mausoleum of the 18 century, Ravat Abdullakhan Mosque of the 16 century, medieval hamam, ancient channels Jannat?aryk and Jupas?aryk, on which there remained water lifting wheels of the medieval chigiri type. At present time pilgrimage to the Suleyman?Too is a sacred action for muslims in Central Asia and is considered to be equal to pilgrimage to Mekka.