Jessik: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Culture

Esik combines a historical and cultural museum reserve with a Saka necropolis. The Esik State Historical and Cultural Museum Reserve was established by Government Decree No. 43 of January 30, 2010, and is located on the Esik Necropolis. The necropolis dates from the 5th to the 4th century BC and extends along both banks of the Esik River near Esik. It comprises more than 80 burial mounds.

The museum reserve displays more than 500 artifacts from periods ranging from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The exhibitions cover the history and culture of the Saka, the Golden Man, the archaeology of Kazakhstan, and changing presentations. The grounds also contain original Turkic stone sculptures, a burial mound converted into a museum exhibit, and a stone labyrinth. The permanent exhibition of the Esik Museum Reserve is housed in four halls: it is dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka, the discovery and study of the Golden Man, the archaeology of Kazakhstan, and the memorial study of Bekmukhanbet Nurmukhanbetov.

The surrounding area includes the Rahat settlement. It is located 5 kilometers from Esik and 3 kilometers south of the Esik Necropolis. Rahat was inhabited by various cultural groups from the Saka period until the 13th century and consists of three fortified structures extending along the foothills.

Things to Do

The Esik Museum Reserve has a hall for temporary exhibitions featuring a regularly updated presentation. In interactive areas, visitors can touch genuine ceramic fragments from different periods, assemble puzzles depicting the Golden Man's headdress, and make and take home a copy of a rock carving.

The offerings also include a quest about the Golden Man. Participants take on the roles of historian-researchers, restorers, or detectives. The quest is designed for children aged eight and over as well as adults.

At the Esik Museum Reserve bus stop, visible burial mounds and a red road sign provide clues indicating the location.

Nature

Lake Esik is a tourist leisure attraction in the mountainous landscape of Ile-Alatau. The activities mentioned there include walks along ecological trails, picnics on the lakeshore, fishing, boating, and cycling. Ile-Alatau State National Park includes Lake Esik on its list of tourist routes.

The easiest road route to Lake Esik leads through Esik. Signposts are positioned along the route; road conditions vary seasonally on the final section.

Getting There

The Esik Museum Reserve can be reached by minibus. Bus route 225 serves the Esik Museum Reserve. Taxi access to the museum reserve is also available near the minibus stop.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Jessik can continue their accommodation search afterward.

For the higher-level travel overview: Enbekshikazakh District.