Turkistan Region, Administrative region in southern Kazakhstan.
Turkistan Region sits in southern Kazakhstan and covers a vast area ranging from steppe to dry hills. The Syr Darya river cuts through the territory and supplies water to agricultural zones, while several cities serve as economic centers.
The area formed part of South Kazakhstan Oblast until 2018, when it was renamed Turkistan Region during an administrative reform. This reshaping aimed to highlight the historical importance of the city of the same name, which sat along the Silk Road.
The area takes its name from the ancient city of Turkistan, an important spiritual center in Central Asia that has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Many villages here maintain traditional crafts such as felt making and carpet weaving, which visitors can observe in small workshops.
Travelers reach the area through main transport routes linking it to neighboring countries and other parts of Kazakhstan. The best time to visit falls between spring and autumn, when temperatures are milder and road conditions remain good.
Archaeologists work at Tutta Cave, a site containing evidence of Stone Age settlement that is rarely visited by tourists. The excavations reveal tools and traces offering insight into early ways of life in Central Asia.
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