Bakai-Ata (until 2001 — Leninpol)
A village, the administrative center of the Bakai-Ata District in the Talas Region, located in the northwest of Kyrgyzstan, 35 kilometers from Talas. It is the administrative center of the Leninpol rural district.
Population. In 1999, the population of the village was 6,552 people (3,299 men and 3,253 women). According to the 2010 census, the village had a population of 6,834 (3,491 men and 3,343 women). Currently, there are 7,008 residents.
The village is located at the northern foothills of the Talas Ridge in the valley of the Talas River. It was founded on the Urmaral River (a tributary of the Talas) in 1882, after this region was annexed to the Russian Empire. Initially, it was named Nikolaital, and during the Soviet era, it was called Leninpol. In 1999, the village received its current name.
Bakai-Ata has well-developed infrastructure. As part of the Rural Investment Project, a wrestling hall has been commissioned. A mini-football field has been opened. There are four kindergartens, a school, and a rehabilitation center for the disabled.
To the south of Bakai-Ata, several kumbez-mausoleums from the 17th to 19th centuries have been preserved in an ancient cemetery, each distinguished by original architecture.
Arzymat-Ata (father of Arzymat) - The Mazar is a mausoleum. It is built on a low mountain that is located above the village. Next to the mausoleum are graves. According to Bysada Mombekova, this mausoleum was built in the 19th century from bricks that were fired in the fat of seven thousand goats. The height of its walls is approximately 6 meters, and the material is juniper wood.
Oral History
From the words of the healer Mombekova Bysada: In the 19th century, there lived a very wealthy man who owned an immense number of livestock and successfully engaged in trade, supporting his people. Not dividing the country into north and south, he often traveled throughout the region and traded. Once, his envious rivals plotted to rob him and waited for him beyond the pass, but the solitary silhouette of Arzymat-Ata suddenly turned into a thousand shadows, and the frightened bandits swore never to stand in his way again. The spirit-protector of Arzymat-Ata was strong. His mausoleum was built while the merchant was still alive.
Sasik-Bulak (foul spring) - A sacred place that represents a spring at the foot of a mountain in dense sea buckthorn thickets. The spring forms drop by drop, flowing from a swamp, and people have installed a pipe at the source for convenience. The water has a taste reminiscent of sodium bicarbonate.
