Sherkala Mountain
Шерқала
A solitary hill rising about 300 meters from the flat landscape. From one angle it looks like a crouching lion, and from another like a giant yurt. At its base are the ruins of a medieval Silk Road city.
Sherkala means “Lion City.” From one angle, the hill resembles a reclining lion, and from another, it looks like an enormous felt yurt. At the foot of the hill are the ruins of Kyzyl-Kala, a city on the Silk Road dating from the 10th to 13th centuries. Visitors can see the remains of city walls and building foundations, and there is a spring nearby. You can hike around the hill or climb part of the slope for views over the steppe. Sherkala is about 170 kilometers from Aktau. It is often combined with the Torysh Valley of Balls, Airakty, and Shakpak-Ata as a one- or two-day trip on the northern route.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Airakty Valley of Castles
- Torysh Valley of Balls
- Karagiye Depression
- Shakpak-Ata Underground Mosque
- Sultan-Epe
- Koshkar-Ata Necropolis
- Mangystau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore
- Aktau Lighthouse