beautiful places

This blooming city was founded in 1854 as a Russian frontier fort, when the Kazakhs were still nomads, on the site of the ancient settlement of Almaty, which was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan until late 1997.

Almaty (literally "The City of Apples", alluding to the many apple trees in the locality) is not only one of the most spectacular natural landscapes on earth, with deep river gorges, babbling streams, lakes and hills crowned with apple, cherry and apricot orchards, but also a site of ancient history, a major industrial, educational and business centre, and Central Asia's most cosmopolitan city.

Almaty is located at an elevation of 600 – 900 meters above sea level. Around Almaty there are many unique sites that enjoy a reputation as world-famous tourist recreation resorts, such as the Medeo Skating Rink and Chimbulak Skiing Resort. Among the most popular sites is the Khan Tengri International Mountaineering Camp, which serves as the base for climbing Kazakhstan’s highest peak – Khan Tengri (7,010 m). Besides, only 500 km north of Almaty there is the fine-grained sand of the Prebalkhash desert, and the cliffs of Charyn Canyon.

The Russian Orthodox Christian Cathedral (Svyato-Voznesenskiy Cathedral) in the Panfilov Park is an Almaty landmark. The 56-meter high Cathedral is the largest wooden building in the world by cubic capacity and the second tallest. Built from 1904 to 1907 by the famous architect Paul Zenkov without a single nail or bolt, it is an architectural masterpiece. The Cathedral is one of the few buildings in Almaty that withstood the devastating earthquakes of 1910 – 1911.

Almaty’s main square is a regular venue for holding parades, festivals and celebrations. The Independence Monument in the middle of the square features the most important periods of Kazakhstan’s history. The six-meter figure of the Golden Man and a winged snow leopard in flight crown the Independence Monument.

The Golden Man is an ancient Sacae warrior's golden costume discovered in the Issyk burial mound near Almaty in 1970; it is now on display in the Central State Museum in Almaty. The snow leopard, according to ancient Kazakh philosophy, guards the Universe. Together, they symbolize the freedom, peace, stability, grand spirit and spiritual unity inherent in the Kazakh people and Kazakh traditions since ancient times. The base of the tower has a group of allegoric sculptures – Mother Heaven and Mother Earth, and two children riding colts, who symbolize the future of Kazakhstan.

One of Central Asia’s biggest mosques is located in Almaty. The imposing building is decorated with local white marble and coloured glazed tiles, featuring the finest Kazakh masonry tradition. The dome is 20 meters in diameter and 36 meters high. The height of the minaret is 47 meters.

Founded in the early '30s in Almaty, the Central State Museum comprises four exhibition halls. This is primarily a history museum, with exhibits covering the development of Kazakhstan and its people from the Bronze Age to the Russian Empire, the Communist Period, and onwards. The museum also has exhibits of Kazakh handicrafts, and three souvenir shops where rugs, jewelry and other objects are available for purchase.

A member of the International Union of Museums, the Kasteyev State Museum of Arts features traditional, modern and contemporary art of Kazakhstan, other Central Asian and CIS countries. It also has exhibits of 19th and 20th century French and Italian art. A souvenir shop offers Kazakh and Russian art products (jewelry, paintings, etc.) for sale.

Medeo – one of the world’s largest speed skating-rinks, where former Soviet Olympic champions once trained. Located at an altitude of 1,690 m, Medeo is probably the most visited site within the Almaty area. It derives its name from an ancient nomad, Medeo, who once founded a village in that fabulous place. The road to Medeo snakes along the Maloye Almatinskoye Ushchelye (canyon). The modern Medeo skating rink represents a unique feat of engineering construction, providing excellent ice quality. This is where mountain resorts, sanatoriums and private estates are located. Once a year the Medeo stadium is de-iced and transformed into a huge concert stage. It becomes the venue for the popular song festival, "The Voice of Asia" (Azia Dauysy), which brings together young people and world famous singers from around the world.

Those who seek stomach-turning sensations may check out Central Asia’s top skiing spots at Chimbulak (http://www.chimbulak.kz) located beyond Medeo at an altitude of 2,230 meters. It is remarkable for its mild climate with many days of sunshine, consistent snow quality from November through April and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountain peaks and ridges. Amenities include attractive accommodation, restaurants and ski and snowboard equipment for hire. A new chair lift has been installed up to the Talgar pass (3,200 m above sea level). Among the spectacular trails are a 3.2 kilometer downhill run from the Talgar Pass and a giant slalom (1,500 meters).

In the Tamgaly Gorge, not far from Almaty, archaeologists have discovered about a thousand rock-paintings, hitherto unknown to the world. This ravine is an ancient sanctuary with displays of primitive art dating back to the Bronze Age. It is in effect a prehistoric outdoor art gallery, featuring pictures of people and animals, including sheep, goats, deer, camels, horses, bulls and dogs. There are also images of chariots and inscriptions of prayers and tamgas (family songs). The gallery of Tamgala's petroglyphs is a world heritage site under the protection of UNESCO.

At the foot of the Zailiiskii Alatau Mountains, the Turgen Gorge is a site of wild natural beauty, famous for its waterfalls, pure mountain river and trout fishing farm. From the “Sinegorie” (“Blue Mountains”) tourist base, visitors can tour the picturesque Batan Gorge, Asy-Turgen Observatory and the archeological findings of ancient burial mounds.

The lake is in the upper part of the Grand Almaty Gorge 2,511 m above sea level. Next to the lake there are many (up to one hundred) comfortable sites suitable for setting up camps. A popular hiking trail leading to Issyk-Kul Lake goes round the Great Almaty Lake, up to the Ozerniy mountain pass that seals the upstream end of the gorge.

The Almaty School of Mountain Climbing rightfully claims to be among the best in the world. The most recent proof is provided by Denis Urubko's solo ascent of Everest, without oxygen gear, in May 2000. Mountain sports are an inherent part of the lifestyle for many of those who live in Almaty. The region around Central Tien Shan including peak Khan Tengri (6,995 m) and Victory peak (7,439 m) - the most northerly seven thousand meters high peak - provides major challenges for mountain climbers. The area is located between the borders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China, and is referred to as the Mecca of alpinists.

Khan Tengri, the lord of spirits, is the holy mountain of the Turkic people. Few peaks can compare in their beauty with this magnificent snow-capped giant, especially at sunset when the surrounding mountains are wrapped in a grey shawl, whereas Khan Tengri turns pink, resembling a gigantic tulip in blossom within the realm of eternal ice.

Charyn Canyon, the famous Castle Valley, is nearly 200 meters long and 100 to 300 meters high. The red clay walls of the canyon are carved with deep fissures, caves and grottoes of different shapes and sizes. They create an impression of a huge ghost city inhabited by fantastic creatures.

Tourists usually draw a parallel between Castle Valley and the Grand Canyon in the United States. Mongolian invaders destroyed all the ancient cities in the area, but nature preserved for many centuries the unique curves of the Charyn ‘castles’, designed and developed by river and wind out of stone. Encouraged by nature, tourists' imagination can discern among the numerous Charyn boulders the outline of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, a gigantic penguin waddling away from its relatives, a duck hatching - even in winter - and a generous Winnie-the-Pooh, carrying a honey pot to his friend.

It is here, on Charyn River, that you may enjoy the thrill of rafting down the stream in a catamaran, or test yourself in a unique Kazakh «Tarzan» attraction in wild life conditions. You may also brave Snake Valley or wander through an ash tree grove. And in the evening you can enjoy a Scythian sauna right on the bank of the river.

The Singing Dune is no doubt the most mystical place in the vicinity of Almaty. Nobody knows exactly how this colossal mountain of sand occurred in the steppe valley between two crests of the Ulken Kalkan Mountains, nor to whom the dune sings its songs.

The height of the dune is 180 meters and it is three kilometres long. It is easier to climb to the top from its low-pitched northern side. Proceeding along the crest of the dune, you can hear its famous singing. At this time the sand beneath your feet begins sliding down and the dune utters sounds similar to that of a flying aircraft or the siren of riverboats. Most likely the enigmatic sound, which can also be set off by strong winds, is caused by friction between different sand layers.

From the top of the dune, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the nearby Ili River. If lucky, you can catch sight of saigacs or kiang antelopes. Then you may slide down the dune’s steep side, as if descending a snow mountain. Some extreme tourists even hold exotic downhill ski tournaments here.

The Kolsai Lakes comprise three mountain lakes located at an altitude of 1,000, 2,250 and 2,700 meters above sea level. Surrounded by rocks, forests of broad-leaved trees, pines, spruces and mountain meadows, the lakes create an enchanting picture. There are plentiful opportunities for diverse forms of outdoor and water recreation: swimming, trout fishing, horseback riding, hiking; skiing and skating in winter. The lakes are open for boat excursions. If you get a chance, don’t fail to visit all three lakes and see the most glamorous «necklace» that the Northern Tien Shan is wearing.

The tomb in the Issyk burial mound dates back to the late 4^th century B.C. and is located on the south edge of an extensive grave site consisting of more than 40 burial mounds. According to anthropologists, the young man buried in the Issyk mound was 17 to 18 years old. He would have been wearing a costume lavishly decorated with gold and a cone-shaped hat up to 65-70 cm high, also richly adorned with gold plates of different shapes and sizes. All in all, there would have been about 150 decorative items. Most of them would have borne embossed images of a snow leopard, a mountain goat, a horse or birds. The front of the hat would have been embellished with sculptured images of winged horses with goats’ horns, as well as two pairs of broad-spanned birds’ wings and many other figurative plates. Around his neck the Issyk warrior would have worn a gold spiral-shaped grivna – a necklace ornamented with sculptured tiger head symbols.

Near the junction of the Arys River and the Syrdarja River lie the ruins of the medieval city of Otrar. This location, near the main stream of the Syrdarja, used to be the focus of the Southern Kazakhstan region. The first settlers came there back in the early years of the Christian era. Archaeological excavation layers dated to the 7^th and the 8^th centuries show that Otrar was a well developed city. This was the period when the plain coins that have been discovered in Otrar and the oasis settlements were minted. Otrar at that time occupied an area of 200 hectares.

The analysis of buildings detected there has given us a full picture of the way of life practised in Otrar in late medieval times. The city was constructed in blocks. Sets of houses were grouped along one or both sides of the streets. The archaeologists have been able to identify the handicrafts associated with different blocks of houses. For example, a settlement in the east of Otrar used to be the home of potters and bakers. During the course of excavations of the late medieval city, a great quantity of ceramics, coins, metal objects, decorative articles and stone carvings have had been unearthed. Ancient coins and semi-finished products found there lead us to believe that there was a mint within the city limits. The coins prove that Otrar was developing rapidly between the middle of the 15^th century and the first half of the 17^th century, which was the period of the Kazakh Khanate. The city later bore the brunt of invasions by the Dzhungars and was abandoned in the middle of the 18^th century.

No less interesting as an historic monument is Tourkestan or Yassy, which was the first capital of the Kazakh Khanate. Unlike other cities in the south – Otrar, Saouran or Isphidjab – that are somewhat older and just as significant in terms of their historic background, Yassy used to play a specific role as a well developed spiritual and political centre in this medieval nation. The original settlement dates back to the 4^th- 6^th centuries of the Christian era. In the 11^th - 12^thcenturies, a home for Sufis belonging to the order of Yassavites emerged there, half-way between the settlement and its necropolis. In the 14^th century, Emir Timour constructed hanaka over the grave of Sheikh Akhmed Yassavi. And between the 15^th and 17^th centuries the headquarters of the Kazakh Khans was established there.. The mausoleums of Taouke, of Tavakel, of Zhangir, of Yessim and of Ablai - the founders of the Kazakh independent state - were constructed in the necropolis. All that enabled a small town to become the capital of the whole country.

Saouran was a powerful fortress and one of the best known cities in the Syrdarja River area. It was first mentioned in the 10th century. Due to its massive construction, its water supply system and its food stores, the fortress could withstand a siege for many months. It remained operational until the middle of the 18th century.

The overriding qualities of Astana, its central geographic position at the heart of Kazakhstan, its proximity to major economic regions at the crossroads of important trade routes, and its well-developed transport infrastructure were among the factors behind this decision.

Astana was founded in 1824 as a Russian military outpost and became an administrative centre in 1868. The Akmola steppes have always been a territory of inter-ethnic communication between various nations and cultures. In the middle of the first millennium BC, the celebrated Great Silk Road ran through these steppes. Numerous caravan routes gave birth to cities founded on prosperous trade and handicrafts.

The city's importance was greatly enhanced during the Soviet period by the government's Virgin and Idle Lands Campaign of the mid-1950s, which aimed to turn vast Kazakh steppes into wheat fields. The city was known as Tselinograd at that time. It became the centre of an important grain-growing region.

At the present time the city of Astana is growing, changing, gaining power and enhancing its international prestige and reputation, becoming the symbol of Kazakhstan's fast development. It is symbolic that Astana has been granted the status of "The City of Peace" by decision of UNESCO. The capital is growing very rapidly as the administrative and business centre of Kazakhstan, in accordance with the concept of the social and economic development of the city.

The Government has outlined a series of measures designed to assist the harmonious development of the capital city as an administrative and business centre, and to strengthen its consolidating role in the country's social, economic and cultural life. Astana has been given the status of Special Economic Zone, which creates very favorable business conditions for foreign investors and local enterprises operating in Astana.