Almaty
This stone column is surmounted with a replica Golden Man standing on a winged snow leopard. Around its base are statues of a Kazakh family; behind is a…
Must-see attractions in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
For a taste of the bazaar atmosphere for which Taraz used to be celebrated, have a wander round busy Shakhristan Market, across the road from the now…
Turkestan
The History Museum, in the Yasaui Mausoleum grounds, focuses mostly on Kozha Akhmed Yasaui, Sufism and Islamic learning. There are models of the Yasaui…
Ethnography Museum Korpus No 1
Kazakhstan
The Ethnography Museum is in two buildings facing opposite corners of Park Zhastar. This branch exhibits the traditional culture of the Kazakhs of east…
Almaty
Central Almaty’s biggest recreational park is a somewhat untidy place whose boating lakes, funfair rides, pony rides, a waterpark, rather sad zoo, cinema,…
Almaty
Almaty’s multitowered, gold-domed, white-marble central mosque, built in 1999, is one of the largest in the country, with space for 3000 worshippers in…
Shymkent
The central bazaar is now somewhat diminished after the conversion of its outlying sprawl into parks and the removal of many traders to markets on the…
Kazakhstan
This clearing, 6km south of Burabay, is where the warrior hero reputedly once assembled his forces during his Zhungar campaigns. A tall, eagle-topped…
Transport & Communications Ministry
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The tall, gleaming, copper Transport & Communications Ministry, has been dubbed the ‘Lighter’ by irreverent locals. Ironically, there was a fire inside…
Kazakhstan
This is a modern reconstruction of the 9th- to-12th-century mosque in which Aulie-Ata, a revered Karakhanid potentate, is believed to have prayed, but you…
Kazakhstan
The pretty, beautifully maintained central park makes for a pleasant stroll, and several of Ust-Kamenogorsk’s oldest buildings and some worthwhile museums…
Kazakhstan
Rising about 15m high, this circular, brick-built minaret likely dates from the 10th century. You can climb up inside to view the Aksu-Zhabagly mountains…
Kazakhstan
The leafy Central Park stretches over 2km from north to south, with a large lake at its heart. Its main entrance is off the west side of mid–Bukhar Zhyrau.
Shymkent
The tall Altyn Shanyrak monument in the middle of Independence Park – a sort of tall, metallic funnel – represents the central roof opening of a yurt.
Kazakhstan
The statue of Ukrainian poet and exile Shevchenko stands on the boundary between Mikrorayons 4 and 5, looking mournfully out to sea.
Kazakhstan
This poignant memorial is inscribed with a poem, dedicated to the mothers of soldiers who never returned from Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan
This is a group of mostly wrecked buildings belonging to scientific research institutes, used as a landmark by hikers.
Kazakhstan
This fighter plane from WWII sits on the concrete plinth overlooking the sea, in between Mikrorayons 7 and 9.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
East of Khan Shatyr, across a park, stand the grand headquarters of the state energy company, KazMunayGaz.
House of Ministries – Northern Wing
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This curved golden building, along with its southern twin, have been dubbed the 'Beer Cans' by locals.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The Atameken – a 200m-long, walk-around country map with models of major buildings – is quite fun.
House of Ministries – Southern Wing
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This curved golden building, along with its northern twin, have been dubbed the 'Beer Cans' by locals.
Shymkent
This monument consists of a tall, red granite column topped with the figure of Mother Earth.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The egg-domed National Archive stands just west of the Bayterek Monument.
Kazakhstan
A leading 10th-century Islamic scholar lies buried in this mausoleum.
Kazakhstan
This museum, dedicated to the victims of the Polygon, is due to open in 2018, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Semey's founding. It will be…
