Burana Tower
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Burana Tower is a large minaret tower in the Chui valley of Kyrgyzstan and is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun. It is located about 80 km east of Bishkek and 15 km south of Tokmok.
The tower itself is a minaret built in the 11th century on the ruins of the old city Balasagun, established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. The tower is 24 m (79 ft.) in height, though when it was first built it topped 46 m (138 ft.). Several earthquakes through the centuries caused much damage, and the current building represents a major renovation carried out in the 1970s.
The open-air museum near the tower hosts a unique collection of bal-bals, ruins of 3 mausoleums, and a small indoor museum.
A legend connected with the tower says that a witch warned a local king that his newly-born daughter would die once she reached the age of eighteen. To protect her, he built a tall tower where he sequestered his daughter. No one entered the tower, except the daughter's servant who brought her food. The daughter grew up alone and became a beautiful young lady. One day, however, a poisonous spider was hiding in the food brought by the servant. The spider bit the girl, and she died in the tower, eighteen years old.
[edit] People
Khas Khadjib Yusuf Balasaguni, who gained popularity in the Turkic world with his book Kuttu Bilim, was born here in the 11th century.
