Ascent to the peak “Shaghan”

Mount Shagan is a landmark of Zhetysu in the Koksu district near the village of Aktekshe, 60 km from the city of Taldykorgan.

The total length of the ascent to the peak of Mount Shagan – is 13 km, includes various difficult natural obstacles, with an ascent to a height of 2 551 meters above sea level. When climbing there is a great load on the legs, not everyone can withstand it. You need to do special exercises and have a good physical preparation.

For centuries Mount Shagan served as an outpost on the way of numerous enemies, as from its top their movements were perfectly visible and sentries burned fires, informing the neighborhood about the appearance of the enemy.

Many legends are connected with the mountain Shagan.

They speak about the rock image of a girl’s face, which some vacationers can see from certain points.

According to one legend, a guy and a girl loved each other very much, but quarreled. The girl in despair threw herself from the top of Mount Shagan, and the guy grieved for a long time, carved the silhouette of his beloved on a rock and planted trees nearby.

Another legend says that a beautiful girl lived in one village, her enemies stole her and took her through the Shagan Pass. The girl escaped from the hands of her enemies and threw herself down from the top.

Now good people can see her appearance on the rock, and bad people can see the appearance of Medusa Gorgon. And some people cannot see the beauty at all – she is so willful.

Another attraction of Mount Shagan is a white stone near the mountain spring with a human footprint

It is said that this is the footprint of a holy man who lived here centuries ago. He was very pious and wise, prayed a lot and helped others with advice. However, he grieved that there was no disciple to whom he would pass on his knowledge. And here is his amanat (memory) to descendants – a trace on a stone near the spring. It is noteworthy that the key is literally 200 meters from the top of the mountain Shagan, that is high for mountainous areas and not typical. Apparently, this location is a place of power and has a special energy.