Kazakhstan's Hidden Underground Mosques Vie for UNESCO World Heritage Glory

Five underground mosques and necropolises in Kazakhstan's Mangystau Region have been added to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage sites. The locations, including Chopin Epe, Sultan Epe, and Beket Ata, lie along historic caravan routes and serve as key pilgrimage centres. A final decision on their inclusion will be announced in 2027.

The sites span vast necropolis complexes, blending burial grounds, worship spaces, and medieval architecture. Among them, the Chopin Ata necropolis holds 1,640 identified monuments, positioned on the ancient trade path linking Mangystau to Khorezm. Nearby, the Sultan Epe underground mosque sits close to the peninsula's northern shore, its rocky cliff housing a well that once supplied fresh water to pilgrims.

The Beket Ata mosque stands out for its chalk-carved chambers, nestled within a mountain gorge. Built by Beket Myrzagululy—a revered teacher, architect, and warrior—it features four rounded rooms. Meanwhile, the Shakpak Ata complex is renowned for its walls, covered in inscriptions and carvings dating from the 14th to 19th centuries.

The Karaman Ata necropolis includes medieval gravestones, mausoleums, and saganatams, its history woven into local legends. These sites lie near settlements like Chopin Ata village and the district centre of Karakiya, roughly 20–30 km from the Uzbekistan border in the Karatau Mountains.

All five locations—Karaman Ata, Shakpak Ata, Sultan Epe, Beket Ata, and Chopin Ata—remain active as places of worship, burial, and cultural heritage.

UNESCO's evaluation process for these sites will conclude in 2027. If approved, the underground mosques and necropolises could gain formal World Heritage status. Their recognition would highlight Kazakhstan's role in preserving Silk Road-era religious and architectural traditions.