The locals are extremely warm and welcoming. Though, English is not as widely spoken. You will find English-speaking people as you move towards the cities. But I would suggest you go beyond the city of Almaty, which not many people have the courage to, since most of the scenic places are far away from the city and it becomes quite a task to travel to far off places when you don’t have a car as most of the places are only connected by road.
Kazakhstan has great geographical diversity, making it a unique travel destination. From snow-capped mountains to beautiful deserts, ancient scenic structures to bustling modern cities, the country has you all covered. The country experiences long, hot summers and cold winters, making it favourable to visit during the summer months of April and May when it is not too cold. Unless you’re somebody who loves skiing and could manage to survive in sub-zero temperatures, you would be pleased to visit during the winter season as well.
The former capital Almaty is often where the tourists start from. The city has spectacular natural diversity and a number of tourist attractions. Also called the Rome of Kazakhstan, the city is easily accessible and well connected and one can easily get there by train, bus or air. There are a number of museums in the city dedicated to art, history, and archaeology and one can easily find something of their interest. I visited the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan which is the largest in the city. It is focused on the history of Kazakhstan exploring different aspects like archaeology, anthropology and ethnography. There are artefacts ranging from the olden times to artefacts that have relevance in the modern day. The museum very well preserves the cultural heritage of the country and allows for a dynamic understanding of the rich history.
When in Almaty, how can one not visit the big Almaty Lake? Surrounded by hills from all sides, it has breathtaking views to offer. It is a natural reservoir and a major source of drinking water for the city. It is, however, a little away from the hustle-bustle of the city which makes it even more tranquil.
My next destination was the Medeu Skating Rink which is the highest skating rink in the world. It is a popular tourist attraction even in summers as it is said that the skating rink is turned into a sports arena where volleyball, football and other games are played. It is an exciting place for children and adults alike.
During my last day in Almaty, I decided to visit the recreational centre at Koke-Tobe Hill. It is one of the major landmarks of the city because of its high altitude. The view from the cable car was astonishing. Once I got there, I enjoyed the fast coaster ride at the amusement park and had lunch at one of the restaurants there. Lastly, had a good walk around the place and got back to relax and prepare for the next day which was going to be equally thrilling.
I was going to travel to Nur-Sultan, the capital city. But I decided to take a halt at Shymkent as I had heard that it is less crowded than most of the cities and people often come here to relax and get lost in nature as it is one of the most untouched beauties of the country. There are many parks and monuments at Shymkent. People who enjoy the outdoors will find it a pleasurable experience going around the open parks and shopping at the most popular markets. The grandeur of the Independence Park is unique in itself. It was built to commemorate the 20thIndependence Day. It has 137 steel pillars representing 137 nationalities that reside in the country. I was also planning to go to Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve which is the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia. It is named after river Aksu and the mountain chain Zhabagly. I dropped on that plan as it was quite far from Shymkent and I had to catch the flight to Nur Sultan from Turkistan the next day. However, it is fascinating to know how it is home to so many rare species of flora and fauna. It also houses snow leopard, Himalayan bear and other endangered species of animals.
After a 2-hour long car ride from Shymkent, I reached Turkistan. I decided to go around the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which is a declared UNESCO world heritage site. It is one of the most prominent monuments that were built during the Timurid period. It is still one of the most well-preserved and largest structures in the city. It was dedicated to the famous Sufi mystic, Ahmad Yasawi and served as a model for later buildings constructed during Timur’s reign.
With not much time left in hand, I flew for Nur Sultan from Turkistan and arrived in about 3 hours. Nur-Sultan is home to high-rise futuristic buildings, the parliament house and other government buildings. I was tempted to visit Baiterek as it is a popular tourist attraction here. It is symbolic of a new phase in the life of the Kazakhs. It was built as a symbol of the proclamation of the city as the capital of the country. If you go inside the observation tower, you will get to experience the beauty of the city through the golden glass dome. It is located on Nurjol boulevard which is a long pedestrian zone in the centre of the city. The passage has exquisite gardens and singing fountains which leads up to the Khan Shatyr entertainment centre, the largest shopping centre in the city.
There are also a lot of wonderful eateries to try out. Though most of the Kazakh dishes are centred around meat, you will find vegetarian alternatives if you ask for it. The Kazakhs were traditionally pastoral nomads and that reflects in their cuisine which focuses on dairy products and meat to keep them warm. They had portable homes called yurt as their lifestyle demanded them to migrate during winters in search of pasture for their livestock. Kazakhstan, as the name suggests has always been a home to wanderers. Other than the indigenous Kazakhs, the country is also home to Russians, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, Ukrainians and Tatars who add to the ethnic and cultural diversity of the country.
What I realised by the end of my journey was that Kazakhstan has a lot to offer. The landscape is incredible and untouched. The local people are warm and accepting of other cultures. Moreover, it is a perfect offbeat travel destination for avid travellers and adventurers. Ancient mausoleums and structures make it a fascinating place. While it’s easy to go around between the cities, it is quite difficult a task to travel to remote places. So, you must have a car or, if you do not, you may have to rely on hitchhiking. Nonetheless, the people are friendly, and the country is rather safe for solo travellers.
I look forward to making more fruitful visits to the country.
This Travelogue has been written by Dr Himanshu Talwar
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