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Konyr Auliye: the granite cave at Bayanaul from inside

Konyr-Auliye cave: two caves, one name, and how to reach the right one

Two different caves share this name: one with an underground lake in Abai Region, another in granite at Bayanaul. Check which you mean before you set out.

  • 200–300 km from Semey
  • 115–120 m long
  • Water near +4 °C
  • A second one at Bayanaul
See photos · 5 When to go Plan the trip

Photo: Yakov Fedorov · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Konyr-Auliye cave: when to go, month by month

  1. January: off season
  2. February: off season
  3. March: off season
  4. April: possible
  5. May: good
  6. June: best time
  7. July: best time
  8. August: best time
  9. September: good
  10. October: possible
  11. November: off season
  12. December: off season

Trips to the area run from late April to late October, as frost gets in the way in winter. The cave is cool even in summer.

Konyr-Auliye cave: why go

Konyr-Auliye's underground lake

A lake of about 8–17 by 12–15 m, up to 5 m deep, with fresh water near +4 °C. Pilgrims wash here as a ritual.

Two caves, one name

The other cave lies in Bayanaul National Park, in Mount Akkaragay, hundreds of kilometres away. Check the location on any programme.

Sacred since at least the 1800s

An 1892 newspaper already called it a sacred cave of the Kazakhs. It is tied to the legend of the brothers Konyr, Kyran and Kulan.

Stairs and a narrow entrance

The way in is a slit about 2 m high facing the Chaganka stream. Larch stairs and shelters for pilgrims were added in 2017.

Konyr-Auliye usually refers to a cave with an underground lake in Mount Aktas, Abai District, in the Abai Region of eastern Kazakhstan. It runs 115–120 m, its water sits near +4 °C, and the entrance is a slit about 2 m high. Semey is 200–300 km away, depending on the source. A separate cave of the same name lies in Bayanaul National Park, so check which one your driver or tour means.

Two caves compared

Abai RegionBayanaul
LocationMount Aktas, Abai DistrictMount Akkaragay, 17 km from Bayanaul village
BaseSemeyPavlodar, Ekibastuz
Size115–120 m long, 10–40 m wide30 m hall and a narrow passage
Waterfresh lake up to 5 m deepsmall salty pool

For Bayanaul’s cave, see the Bayanaul guide. The rest of this page covers the Abai Region cave.

Inside the cave

The entrance faces the Chaganka stream at the northwest foot of Mount Aktas, and Inbusiness warns that it is hard to find. About 10 m inside stands a stone figure locals call “Kalmyk”; to the right is the main hall and its lake, roughly 8–17 m by 12–15 m. The air stays at or below +10 °C. In 2017 the district cleared rubbish and torch soot and built larch stairs and shelters. We did not confirm their current state.

A newspaper of 1892 already called this the sacred cave of the Kazakhs. Legend says God saved three brothers from the flood, and Konyr’s log came to rest at the cave’s mouth. See our map of sacred sites for context.

Getting there

No public transport we could find runs here. Hire a car and driver in Semey and go via Karauyl, about 80 km from the cave, towards Toktamys village, about 20 km away. Go with someone who knows the entrance. Tours usually add Zhidebay, and Caravan (2021) says trips run from late April to late October.

Bring a torch, non-slip shoes, a warm layer, water and food. Dress modestly and keep your voice down.

Not verified yet We could not confirm the exact distance from Semey, the road’s condition, whether a fee applies, or whether a caretaker is on site.

Konyr-Auliye cave: tips before you go

  1. Bring a torch and warm clothes: the cave's air is at most +10 °C.
  2. Go with someone who knows the entrance, as it is hard to find.
  3. Dress modestly and keep quiet: this is a working pilgrimage site.

More to see nearby

Frequently asked questions

Which Konyr-Auliye should I visit?
The larger cave with the underground lake is in Abai Region, reached from Semey. The other is in Bayanaul National Park, near Pavlodar. They are hundreds of kilometres apart.
How far is Konyr-Auliye from Semey?
Sources differ: about 200 km (Inbusiness, 2017) or about 300 km (Wikipedia). Karauyl village is about 80 km from the cave.
Can you swim in the cave lake?
We found no ban, but the water is about +4 °C and up to 5 m deep. Treat it as a sacred site, where pilgrims wash as a ritual.

Sources

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