Burana Tower
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The Burana Tower is a large minaret tower in the Chui valley of Kyrgyzstan and is, besides some earth mounds and grave markers, 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
Yusuf Has Hajib, who is known for writing the Kutadgu Bilig, was born in Balasagun in the 11th century.
