Under Tamerlaine’s reign Chimkent was the most powerful trading centre in Kazakhstan, an important staging post on the great Silk Road. Located near the border with Uzbekistan, the town still engages in trade and has a booming bazaar open from 8am till 8pm. It is a good stopping place between Tashkent and Almaty.

About 10km East of Chimkent is Sayram, a mighty fortress, now in ruins, which was one of the most famous cities in the Syr Darya region. It is famous for its unique water supply system, which enabled the city to withstand sieges for several months. Sayram is the birthplace of the famous holy man Hodja Ahmed Yassaui (see Turkistan section) and you can see three small 14th century mausoleums for Hodja’s sons and his mother.