Otrar (Otyrar; earlier Farab) was one of the great cities of the middle Syr Darya, an oasis of canals, mosques, baths and potters’ workshops at the meeting point of several caravan roads. The philosopher al-Farabi, known to medieval Europe as the "Second Teacher" after Aristotle, was born in this district around 872.
The city is remembered above all for the "Otrar catastrophe". In 1218 its governor, Inalchuq, seized a caravan sent by Genghis Khan and had the merchants killed; the Khwarazm Shah then refused to hand him over. The Mongol armies arrived the following year, took Otrar after a siege of several months, and went on to conquer Central Asia. The city recovered, and it was here, in February 1405, that Timur died on his way to invade China. Otrar was finally abandoned in the 18th century. A few kilometres away stands the mausoleum of Arystan Bab, the mystic honoured as the teacher of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.
Top things to do at Otrar & Arystan Bab
Climb the Otrar mound
The central tell rises about 18 metres above the plain. Walkways lead past excavated and partly restored sections: a stretch of city wall and gate, the foundations of a Friday mosque, a bathhouse, residential blocks and kilns. Much is still unexcavated, and the scale only becomes clear from the top.
Visit the Arystan Bab mausoleum
The present building, with its long façade, twin minarets and domes, dates from the early 20th century and stands on the site of much older shrines. Inside are the tomb, a mosque and carved wooden columns kept from an earlier structure. Pilgrims drink from the slightly salty well in the courtyard.
See the museum in Shauildir
The small Otrar museum in the nearby village of Shauildir displays ceramics, coins and jewellery from the excavations and explains the irrigation system that kept the oasis alive.
How to get to Otrar & Arystan Bab
- From Shymkent: roughly 150 km north-west, about 2–2.5 hours by car via the Turkistan highway and the turn-off towards Shauildir.
- From Turkistan: about 60 km, around an hour by car.
- Public transport to Shauildir exists but is slow, and the sites are several kilometres apart, so nearly everyone visits by private car or on a guided tour that continues to Turkistan.
Insider tips
- There is no shade at Otrar and very few facilities. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen even in spring.
- At Arystan Bab, dress as you would for a mosque and remove your shoes where asked.
- A guide makes a real difference at Otrar; without one it is easy to see only earth walls.
Best tours & tickets for Otrar & Arystan Bab
These experiences are the easiest way to see Otrar & Arystan Bab:
Guided day trip from US$220 From Shymkent: Turkistan and Otrar Day Tour with Guide
The best-reviewed Shymkent departure on GetYourGuide: a full day by car with a guide to the three great historic sites of the south — the mausoleum of Arystan Bab, the ruined Silk Road city of Otrar and the Timurid mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan.
- Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (UNESCO)
- Arystan Bab mausoleum
- The excavated ruins of Otrar
Guided day trip from US$75 From Turkistan: Arystan Bab, Otrar & Sauran Day Trip
If you are sleeping in Turkistan, this is the day to add: a guided loop to Arystan Bab, the Otrar excavations and the fortress city of Sauran. Few reviews so far, but all of them top marks, and the per-person price is the lowest of the full-day tours.
- Arystan Bab mausoleum
- Ruins of Otrar
- The standing walls of Sauran
Day trip from US$150 From Shymkent: Turkistan and Otrar Day Tour
A second operator’s version of the classic Turkistan-and-Otrar day, at a lower per-person starting price. Only one review so far, so compare the inclusions with the better-known tour before choosing.
- Turkistan and Otrar in one day
- Guide included
- Lower per-person price
Guided tour from US$33 Turkistan: Otrar, Sauran & Arystan Bab Guided Tour
A compact, low-priced guided outing from Turkistan to the ancient cities of Otrar and Sauran and the Arystan Bab mausoleum. New and unreviewed — check group size and what transport is included.
- The cheapest way to see Otrar
- Sauran’s medieval walls
- Arystan Bab mausoleum
