Sheishenaly Maksutov, who held the position of head of the Kyzyl-Beles rural council, shared information about the geographical location of the pasture. To the east, At-Kulak borders the rural district of Ak-Kuduk, and to the west, it borders the village of Togolok Moldо. The pasture is intersected by the mountain ranges of the Moldо-Ashuu pass, among which the highest point stands out — Babyk-Choku. Additionally, there are areas such as Bel-Bulak, Korzhoy, Sharkyritma, and Turdubai, as well as well-known sites by their names: Kholodilnik, Baizhan-Ungkur, and Salyk-Ungkur.
According to Maksutov, locals remember that once, these places were inhabited by snow leopards and bears. Currently, wild herbivores such as "kaiberens" can be found in the pasture, as well as forest lynxes, wolves, foxes, and marmots. Although the old-timers claim that snow leopards used to roam here, they are no longer found. Ancestors hunted bears, and their skins were used in daily life.
There is an opinion that the At-Kulak pasture was once settled by Kalmyks. There is a clearing where, according to legend, a fortress once stood. Nearby, there is also the Salyk-Ungkur cave, which is surrounded by legends of hidden gold. Locals have come here several times in search of treasures and conducted excavations.
Maksutov himself visited this cave and noted that it contains stones resembling marble, as well as a hollow part at the bottom that could have been artificially carved. He pointed out that over time, the cave has decreased in size due to changes in the upper soil layer.
At the border of the At-Kulak and Son-Kul pastures lies the Manas hearth, which is made of stones.
According to information provided by the historical museum of the Ak-Tal district, there are hearths in this area, each consisting of nine stones, stretching from south to north. The diameter of each hearth varies from 335 to 366 cm, the length of the stones reaches 91.3-152.4 cm, and the distance between the hearths is 11-44 meters.
Near the fourth and fifth hearths, there are graves and two stone pillars intended for tying horses. An additional 2 km away, on the hills, there are more graves, with heights reaching 153-183 cm and diameters of 9-15 m.
These archaeological monuments are known as the "Manas Hearth," which was made of stones, as well as a post for tying his horse named Akkulu. Similar monuments can be found in Altai and Tienir-Tuu. Legends say that Manas, preparing for war, trained in this valley with his 40 warriors.
The At-Kulak pasture is recognized as one of the most promising places for tourism development. Six years ago, a tourist base was established near the Manas hearth, which receives guests from both the country and abroad. Tourists can traverse the stretch of road from Tash-Tulga to Bel-Bulak on horseback, after which they are shown a waterfall that is 10 meters high.
Maksutov describes that the pasture is characterized by a variety of vegetation: on one side, junipers grow, on another, fir trees, and on the third, there is a stunning view of the high mountain ranges. The fourth side is filled with feather grass, and two large rivers flow through both banks, where medicinal herbs can be gathered.
The pasture got its name "At-Kulak" due to the shape of the leaves of local plants, resembling horse ears.
Additionally, there is a picturesque place known as Baizhan-Ungkur. Previously, herders wintered near this cave. In the vicinity, there is an area called "Turdubai atany araly" [“Island of Turdubai Ata”]. This place is cool even on the hottest summer days. Maksutov explains that a man named Turdubai Baatyr lived here, who invented a special device resembling a yoke. In it, residents stored meat to prevent it from spoiling in the summer heat. These devices were hung in this area, and Turdubai Baatyr distributed meat when necessary. This place is still called the "refrigerator."
Photos were taken by a resident of the village of Kyzyl-Beles, Nurbek Baisheriev
