# Ordabasy Square, Shymkent > Ordabasy Square is the historic main square of Shymkent, where Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi streets meet. At its centre stands the 2009 Independence Monument, crowned by the Zher-Ana (Mother Earth) figure. It is free and open 24/7. The square itself takes 20–30 minutes, but it is the natural start of a walk: a mosque, a bridge into Independence Park and the citadel are minutes away. Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/ordabasy-square - City: [Shymkent](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent), Kazakhstan - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 20 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: 24/7, every day - Where: Junction of Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi streets, Al-Farabi District - Buses: Stop “pl. Ordabasy” (пл. Ордабасы): routes 6, 23, 84, 158 among others - Taxi: ≈ 10 min from the railway station, 20–25 min from the airport - Walk from the station: ≈ 1.5 km as the crow flies, about 25 min - Time needed: 20–30 min for the square; 2–3 h with the park and citadel - Paying: Tenge; carry cash for buses and small kiosks — foreign cards work in hotels and bigger shops - Coordinates: 42.30850, 69.60109 - Facts checked: 02.11.2026 ## Key facts - **3 streets** — start at the square — Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi, named after three Kazakh judges (source: Russian Wikipedia: Shymkent; Kazakhstan.travel) - **2009** — the Independence Monument was unveiled on 22 September (source: Russian Wikipedia: Independence Monument (Shymkent); Sxodim) - **1726** — the Ordabasy assembly of the three Kazakh zhuzes against the Dzungars, after which the square is named (source: Russian Wikipedia: Kurultai in Ordabasy (after the Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia)) - **34 m** — the monument’s height in tourist guides; Wikipedia gives a 24 m stele plus an 8 m figure (source: Kazakhstan.travel; Welcome.kz; Russian Wikipedia; Sxodim) - **8 m** — the Zher-Ana (Mother Earth) figure on top of the stele (source: Russian Wikipedia: Independence Monument (Shymkent); Kazakhstan.travel) - **7 swallows** — released into the sky by the figure at the top (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Shymkent; Shymkent.info) - **3 faces** — on the stele, each carved with sayings of one of the three judges (source: Russian Wikipedia: Independence Monument (Shymkent); Kazakhstan.travel) - **Bazaar Square** — its 19th-century name — a market stood here before moving to the Upper Bazaar (source: English Wikipedia: Shymkent; Kazakhstan.travel) - **Koshkar-Ata** — the river runs under the square, with fountains in it beside the monument (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Shymkent) - **104 m** — the footbridge from the square into Independence Park (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Shymkent) ## Is Ordabasy Square worth visiting? **Yes, as your starting point — not as a destination on its own.** The square takes 20–30 minutes: walk round the stele, look at the carvings, sit by the fountains. What makes it worth it is location. From here you can walk to the Kattani Mosque, across the footbridge into Independence Park and up to the citadel mound in 10–12 minutes, and see most of old Shymkent in 2–3 hours. Don’t expect a quiet plaza. This is a working city junction with buses, taxis and office traffic around a broad pedestrian centre. Come early in the morning or towards evening: Shymkent summers are very hot, the fountains help, and the stele looks best in soft light. ## The Zher-Ana Independence Monument The centrepiece is the **Independence Monument**, unveiled on 22 September 2009. It is a three-sided stele topped by an eight-metre female figure, Zher-Ana — “Mother Earth” — releasing seven swallows into the sky. Its Kazakh name is Täuelsızdık monumentı; many guides simply call it the Zher-Ana or Mother Earth monument. Each face carries sayings of one of three 18th-century judges, or *bi*: Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi, one from each of the three Kazakh zhuzes (tribal unions). The base is wrapped in Kazakh ornament. Tourist guides give the height as 34 m; Wikipedia gives a 24 m stele plus the 8 m figure. For a photo of the whole thing, step back to the edge of the square by the fountains — up close, the figure gets cut off, but you see the carved ornament. > **Searching for “Ordabasy” mostly finds football** Ordabasy is also Shymkent’s football club, a district in Turkistan Region, the hotel on the square and a nature reserve by the Badam river. Search for “Ordabasy Square” or “Independence Monument Shymkent”, and tell taxi drivers “ploshchad Ordabasy”. ## How to get to Ordabasy Square 1. By **city bus** to the stop “pl. Ordabasy” (пл. Ордабасы). Two city guides agree on routes 6, 23, 84 and 158 among others — check the live route in the 2GIS app. 2. From **Shymkent railway station**: about 10 minutes by taxi, or about 25 minutes on foot — the square is roughly 1.5 km north-west of the station. 3. From **Shymkent Airport (CIT)**: 20–25 minutes by taxi or pre-booked transfer; ask for “Ordabasy Square” or the Independence Monument. 4. **Driving**: Sxodim lists free parking on the Tole Bi side, though spaces go fast at rush hour. 5. Once there, everything is on foot: the Kattani Mosque is on the edge of the square, the footbridge leads into Independence Park, and the citadel is beyond it. ## Things to do around the square - Read the sayings of the three judges carved into the **stele** and look up at Zher-Ana and her swallows. - Cool off by the **fountains** set in the Koshkar-Ata river, which runs right under the square. - Visit the [Abdulhamid Kattani Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/kattani-mosque) — a working mosque on Tole Bi Street, at the edge of the square. - Walk about 250 m south to the old Koshkar-Ata mosque and mausoleum — the mosque dates from the mid-19th century. - Cross the 104 m footbridge into [Independence Park](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-independence-park), opened in 2011 with the Altyn Shanyrak monument. - Climb the [Shymkent Citadel](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-citadel) mound, about 600 m south-west, for the view back over the centre. - Stroll up Kazybek Bi Street — once Nikolaevskaya, the main street of the 19th-century “New Town”. > **Going into the mosque? Dress modestly** The Kattani Mosque on the square is a working mosque. Cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Avoid going in during Friday midday prayers. ## Why is it called Ordabasy? The name recalls the **Ordabasy assembly of 1726**. After crushing defeats by the Dzungars in 1723–1725 — remembered as the “Years of Great Disaster” — khans, judges and warriors of all three zhuzes met and agreed on a joint army under Abulkhair Khan, which won several victories in 1727–1729. Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi led the judges at the assembly, which is why their names are on the three streets and the stele. The assembly did not take place here but in the Ordabasy hills near the Badam river, in today’s Turkistan Region, now a historical reserve. Some guides say a peace treaty was signed on this square in 1728; the Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia dates the assembly to 1726 and places it at Ordabasy hill. The square itself is older than the name. In the 19th century the town’s eastern edge and the gates to Sayram and Taraz were here, beside a market — so locals called it Bazaar Square until the market moved to the Upper Bazaar. ## Money and practical tips The square costs nothing. For buses, taxis and kiosks you will want tenge. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets and restaurants in Kazakhstan’s big cities, but small vendors and some transport are cash-first. Kaspi QR, the local payment app, needs a Kazakh bank account unless your wallet supports Alipay+. Bring water and a hat in summer, and comfortable shoes if you carry on up the citadel mound. ## Ordabasy Square vs Independence Park, the citadel and Arbat | | Ordabasy Square | Independence Park | Citadel | Arbat | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Main square with the monument | 2011 park with the Altyn Shanyrak monument | Ancient town mound, open-air museum | Pedestrian promenade | | Entry | Free | Free | 1,000 ₸ for foreigners (unofficial) | Free | | Time needed | 20–30 min | 30–45 min | ≈ 1 h | 40–45 min | | From the square | — | Over the bridge, 2–3 min | ≈ 600 m, 10–12 min | ≈ 1.7 km, 20–25 min | | Best time | Morning or early evening | Morning or early evening | At opening, before the heat | At dusk | The square, park and citadel are one walkable block — do them in a row. Save Arbat for the evening. ## Shymkent’s historic sights compared Every historic place in Shymkent rated by YesGo. - [Ordabasy Square](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/ordabasy-square) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Independence Park](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-independence-park) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Shymkent Citadel](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-citadel) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 1,000 ₸ for foreign visitors - [Regional History Museum](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-regional-museum) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 400 ₸, students ≈ 200 ₸ - [Sayram](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/sayram) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Shrines free; museum fee not published ## Old Shymkent in half a day The monument square, the Kattani Mosque, the bridge into Independence Park and the citadel mound — all on foot. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [Ordabasy Square](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/ordabasy-square) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 2. [Abdulhamid Kattani Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/kattani-mosque) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 3. [Independence Park](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-independence-park) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 4. [Shymkent Citadel](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-citadel) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 1,000 ₸ for foreign visitors ## Good to know Don’t confuse the square with the Ordabasy historical reserve near the Badam river, where the 1726 assembly met, or with Ordabasy District in Turkistan Region. The Ordabasy Hotel stands on the square itself, on Kazybek Bi Street. Al-Farabi Square, where Arbat begins, is a different square 1.7 km to the north-west. ## Tips - Make Ordabasy your first stop: the Kattani Mosque, Independence Park and the citadel are all walkable from here. - For the full stele in one frame, shoot from the edge of the square by the fountains. - In summer come early or late — the paving gets hot by midday, and it is cooler by the water. - Pause halfway across the 104 m footbridge for a view back over the square and the mosque dome. - Type “Ordabasy Square” in taxi apps, not just “Ordabasy”, or you may end up at the football stadium. - End the day on [Arbat](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-arbat), a 20–25 minute walk along Kazybek Bi Street. ## Questions ### Where is Ordabasy Square in Shymkent? In the historic centre, Al-Farabi District, where Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi streets meet — next to Independence Park, the citadel and the Kattani Mosque. ### Is Ordabasy Square worth visiting? Yes, as a starting point. The square takes 20–30 minutes, and the mosque, Independence Park and the citadel are all within a short walk. ### What is the monument on Ordabasy Square? The Independence Monument, unveiled in 2009: a three-sided stele carved with sayings of three Kazakh judges and topped by the Zher-Ana (Mother Earth) figure. ### How tall is the Zher-Ana monument? Tourist guides say 34 m. Wikipedia gives a 24 m stele with an 8 m figure on top. ### Why is it called Ordabasy? After the 1726 Ordabasy assembly, where the three Kazakh zhuzes agreed on a joint army against the Dzungars. The assembly itself met in the Ordabasy hills near the Badam river, not on this square. ### How do I get to Ordabasy Square? City buses stop at “pl. Ordabasy” (routes 6, 23, 84 and 158 among others). A taxi takes about 10 minutes from the railway station and 20–25 from the airport. ### Can I walk from Shymkent railway station? Yes — it is about 1.5 km north-west of the station, roughly 25 minutes on foot. ### Is there an entrance fee or opening time? No. It is a public square, free and open around the clock. ### What else is near Ordabasy Square? The Kattani Mosque on the square, the Koshkar-Ata mosque and mausoleum 250 m south, Independence Park over the footbridge and the citadel about 600 m away. ## How we checked It is a public square, so “free and open 24/7” follows from its status. The unveiling date is confirmed by Wikipedia and Sxodim. Heights disagree — Kazakhstan.travel, Welcome.kz and Shymkent.info give 34 m, Wikipedia and Sxodim a 24 m stele plus an 8 m figure — so we show both. Only Wikipedia names the sculptors, so we leave them out. Welcome.kz says a treaty was signed on this square in 1728; the Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia dates the assembly to 1726 at Ordabasy hill near the Badam river, and we follow the encyclopedia. The bridge length and the fountains are from English and Russian Wikipedia. We list only the bus routes that appear in both Sxodim and Welcome.kz, marked as being checked. Distances to the station, citadel and mausoleum are our own calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates; taxi times are unofficial. “Is it worth it” is YesGo’s own judgement. ## Sources - Russian Wikipedia: Independence Monument (Shymkent); Wikidata Q16677771 - English Wikipedia: Shymkent — Ordabasy Square section; Russian Wikipedia: Shymkent - Russian Wikipedia: Kurultai in Ordabasy (after the Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia, vol. IV, 2006) - Russian Wikipedia: Abdul-Hamid Kattani Mosque - Kazakhstan.travel — Ordabasy Square and Independence Park - Welcome.kz — Ordabasy Square, 2023 - Sxodim — Independence Monument “Zher-Ana”: address, bus stop, routes, parking - Shymkent.info — Monument Zher-Ana at Ordabassy Square - Bento.travel — payments in Kazakhstan - OpenStreetMap (Nominatim) — monument, mosque, Koshkar-Ata mausoleum, hotel, railway station --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.