The «Uly Dala Yeli» Museum

The «Uly Dala» Museum of Ancient Art and Technology of the Great Steppe, meaning «Land of the Great Steppe,» opened its doors in the city of Turkestan in the autumn of 2020. This center’s primary mission is to reveal and popularize the historical treasures outlined in Nursultan Nazarbayev’s influential article, Seven Facets of the Great Steppe.

Within this two-story, 6,000-square-meter building, several themed exhibition sections are arranged. The underground floor hosts storage for exhibit equipment, an interactive hall, a computer room, a conference hall, and various technical rooms, all equipped with the latest technology. Display areas combine real artifacts seamlessly with projection technologies, offering an immersive experience. The ground-floor exhibits include halls dedicated to “Metallurgy of the Great Steppe,” “Culture of Horsemanship,” “Pearls of the Great Steppe,” and “Kazakhstan—Cradle of the Turkic World,” utilizing concave screens and ambient projections to set the scene and bring model presentations to life. Many ground-floor pavilions are structured as yurts, whose curved surfaces provide ideal projection screens, enhancing the exhibits’ visual appeal.

The «Metallurgy of the Great Steppe» hall traces the history of metalwork from the Bronze Age to the medieval period. Real historical artifacts—such as furnaces, tools, and cauldrons—are displayed alongside a video that chronicles the metallurgical history of Kazakhstan. As visitors stand beside these exhibits, they can see on a concave screen, echoing the curve of a yurt’s wall, demonstrations of how each item was historically used. The yurt’s design is styled to resemble a cave, with a projected starry sky overhead, evoking the view that ancient ancestors may have seen through smoke vents.

The «Horsemanship Culture» hall showcases the deep-rooted traditions of horseback riding and horsemanship that originated in the Great Steppe and spread worldwide. Displays of horse gear and riding equipment are set against dioramas with video projections, depicting the skilled Kazakh horsemen of old.

On the museum’s second floor, visitors are greeted by the “Great Silk Road” installation, a vibrant portrayal of life in the ancient cities of Talhiz (Talgar), Taraz, Yassy, Otrar, Sauran, Syganak, and Saraishyk, highlighting the Silk Road route across Kazakhstan, known as the crossroads of nine roads. Also on the second floor are themed areas showcasing the “Kazakh Khanate,” “Urban Culture of the Great Steppe,” “The First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” “Kazakhstan—Homeland of Apples and Tulips,” and “Kazakhstan of the Future.”

In the hall devoted to the Kazakh Khanate, visitors can see and listen to messages from eight khans who were instrumental in the formation and unification of the Kazakh people.

One of the museum’s most impressive features is the glass bridge, which spans over a large map of Kazakhstan. Projected posters along the bridge reflect key milestones in the history of the Great Steppe, embodied in the grand narrative of «Uly Dala.»