Novyy Kyrlay: Tukay’s Literary Heritage and Fairy-Tale World

• Gabdulla Tukay lived in Novyy Kyrlay from 1892 to 1895.
• The State Literary and Memorial Museum Complex includes the Gabdulla Tukay Museum, Saghdi House, and Akhmatkhan Bai House.
• Many of Tukay’s fairy tales are set in the village; seasonal programs featuring Kysch Babai and Kar Kyzy are also available.

The town’s connection with the poet can be traced through several specific sites. From 1892 to 1894, Tukay was raised in the family of his foster father, Saghdi Salikhov. Saghdi House, the Salikhov homestead, was rebuilt on the site where Tukay had lived. He stayed in Novyy Kyrlay until 1895; this period and the years he was raised in the Salikhov family refer to different stages of his life.

Another distinctive house has a story connected with Akhmatkhan Bai: the two-story wooden house dates from 1893 and is decorated with carved and applied ornaments. Its architectural form and decorated surfaces offer a separate perspective on the village’s historic architecture. The information about this house should be distinguished from Tukay’s personal residential history.

The Gabdulla Tukay Museum complements the houses with biographical and literary context. Its collection includes editions published during the poet’s lifetime and photographs of him, newspapers and magazines whose editorial offices he worked with, as well as personal belongings and documents belonging to people in his circle. Individual holdings may change.

The museum’s surroundings also reference Tukay’s work: spruces and pines mentioned in his poem “Shurale” grow in the museum garden. Many of his fairy tales are set in Novyy Kyrlay. The village thus brings together places associated with his life and literary settings, although these offer different kinds of experiences: the houses convey the connection to Tukay’s life, while the fairy-tale characters provide an entry into his fictional worlds.

In the spruce forest of Novyy Kyrlay stands a terem, a traditional wooden house designed as the home of Kysch Babai—the Tatar Father Frost—and Kar Kyzy, the Snow Maiden. A map of Shurale leads visitors along a fairy-tale path to the residence; along the way, they encounter riddles and fairy-tale characters. The Fairy-Tale Forest also has a puppet theater and children’s slides.

The “Forest of Wonders” park surrounds the residence of Kysch Babai and Kar Kyzy. Activities include sledding and horseback rides. Seasonal interactive programs, quests, and workshops are offered in the park. Programs at the residence also vary by season. This experience is therefore different from the permanent literary and historical connections offered by the museum and houses.

If you would like to plan around the seasonal activities, check current dates and visiting options before your trip. The season affects the program at the residence; however, the available information does not specify a fixed schedule for all visits. Sledding and horseback rides are additional activities, and you should check in advance when they are available. This way, you can include the fairy-tale activities in your plans without assuming that the program remains the same year-round.

Discover more destinations: Zelenodolsk, Bolgar, Leninogorsk, Vysokaya Gora, Rybnaya Sloboda, Almetyevsk, Izhevka and Beloozerka.

How long did Gabdulla Tukay live in Novyy Kyrlay?

The Tatar poet lived in the village from 1892 to 1895. He was raised there in the family of his foster father, Saghdi Salikhov, from 1892 to 1894.

Which places are part of the museum complex?

The State Literary and Memorial Museum Complex of Gabdulla Tukay includes the Gabdulla Tukay Museum, Saghdi House, and Akhmatkhan Bai House.

Which season is important for the fairy-tale program?

Programs at the residence vary by season. Check current dates and visiting options before your trip.

What experiences are available besides the museum houses?

The fairy-tale world includes a path with riddles and fairy-tale characters, a puppet theater and children’s slides in the Fairy-Tale Forest, as well as seasonal programs in the “Forest of Wonders” park.

For the broader travel guide: Republic of Tatarstan.