Kyluet Ethno Museum

In Shymkent lives an extraordinary man—Kendebay Karabdalov—an ethnographer, art historian, painter, and skilled master of pottery. In the early 2000s, he was inspired by the dream of creating an ethnographic museum. With the help of his brothers, Karabdalov brought his vision to life, and within a few months, the museum opened its doors. Every detail here is handmade by the dedicated artist himself. Oil paintings line the walls, while clay jugs and musical instruments crafted by Karabdalov sit on shelves. Notably, the museum’s creator is also a musician who plays every instrument on display, often giving impromptu performances for guests.

Shortly after opening the museum, Karabdalov had a dream of an underground mosque, or hilvet, and took it as a call to action. Over nine months, he painstakingly dug out rooms beneath the earth by hand, ultimately creating a profound space for reflection. The mosque now descends seven meters below ground, housing four rooms and evoking the traditional underground mosques found in southern Kazakhstan. According to tradition, even Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the revered Sufi mystic, spent his final years in such a hilvet. This underground sanctuary offers a tranquil space for communion with the divine.

Visitors can follow a narrow path that leads steeply down to the seven-meter-deep hilvet, designed for solitude and meditation. Here, in the quiet depths, one can retreat into peaceful silence. Karabdalov often visits to clear his mind, as the temperature here remains a constant 15 degrees Celsius, even on the hottest days. Another room is constructed in the form of a yurt, with twelve openings in its dome representing the months of the year, and an ever-burning lamp nestled in a wall niche.

Karabdalov also serves as a guide in his museum, passionately sharing fascinating facts about Kazakh history and the nation’s traditional arts. A prominent South Kazakh potter, he is also an art expert and ethnographic designer who plays a variety of musical instruments and paints. The museum is a testament to his artistry; its walls are adorned with his paintings, and the shelves hold a diverse collection of clay pots, some inscribed with commemorative messages.

A pottery workshop is also part of the museum. During his university days, Karabdalov traveled to the ancient city of Otrar with an archaeological expedition, where he encountered historic pottery kilns and ceramics. This experience inspired him to revive the traditional Otrar pottery techniques, which he continues to use in his workshop today.