Taraz, one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, is located in the south of the country in the valley of the Talas River.
The city was founded in the era of the ancient Saka and Usun tribes. Over its long history, it has seen the rise and fall of many civilizations. Taraz was an important trading point of the Great Silk Road, at one time it was part of the state of the Samanids, Karakhanids, Mongol Empire, Kokand Khanate and it was later annexed to the Russian Empire.
The city changed its name eight times; it was called Zhambyl until 1997, when it was finally renamed Taraz.
Today Taraz is a small town with Soviet buildings and several attractions that interest curious tourists from over the world. These include the Zhambyl Museum of History with a unique archaeological collection; mausoleum of Karakhan, a monument of the Karakhanid dynasty, dating back to the 11th century; architectural complex Tekturmas; Abdykadyr Mosque, built in the early 19th century; bath of Kali Yunus, an architectural construction of the late 19th century.
