Despite the fact that Almaty (in Soviet times - Alma-Ata) almost two decades ago lost the status of the official capital of Kazakhstan, it is still the largest and most interesting city in this country. In this regard, today the title of the southern capital of Kazakhstan is firmly entrenched in Almaty. We suggest taking a short walk through the memorable places of this magnificent city, which is located at the foot of the mountains of Zailiysky Alatau.
Almaty: historical background
This city is located in the southeast of the Republic of Kazakhstan and has a long history. So, according to scientists, the first people appeared here more than two thousand years ago. Later, several urban settlements were founded on the territory of the modern Almaty region, one of which was called Almaty. It was from him that the name of the southern capital of Kazakhstan subsequently came about. Not far from the city passed the Great Silk Road connecting Europe with China. In those days, local cities flourished. In the XIII century, Almaty fell into decay, like many other settlements in various countries in connection with the invasion of Genghis Khan. Soldiers of the Russian Empire breathed new life into the future capital of Kazakhstan , having founded a military fortification here in the middle of the 14th century. The city began to develop very rapidly, mainly due to numerous immigrants from Russia. This place was given the name Faithful. 10 years after the Soviet power came to Kazakhstan, the city was returned to the city with minor changes. Then Alma-Ata became the capital of the Kazakh SSR. This city remained the capital after Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991. Then it was decided to rename it in Almaty. The city lost its status as the official capital in 1997.
Today, Almaty is the largest economic, financial and cultural center of Kazakhstan. More than two million people live here. The sights of Almaty and Almaty region deserve special attention. We offer further to learn more about interesting places to visit in the southern capital of Kazakhstan.
Almaty, Kazakhstan: attractions
Many foreigners coming to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and in particular to Almaty, note the huge natural wealth of this country. After all, there are high picturesque mountains, and a magnificent canyon, and rivers, and lakes. In addition, the historical and architectural sights of Almaty and the Almaty region deserve special attention. These include the high-mountain skating rink Medeo, Kok-Tyube hill, which offers magnificent views of the entire southern capital, parks, fountains, museums, monuments and other buildings of the city. So, if you have a map of Almaty with sights in your hands, then you will see that interesting places here are concentrated not only in the central part of the city, but are scattered in its most diverse areas. So, we offer a closer look at the main places, the visit of which will be interesting to tourists.
Kok-Tyube
As a rule, local residents begin to show the sights of Almaty to their guests from Kok-Tyube. This name bears a hill whose height is 1130 meters, as well as the park zone located on it. It should be noted that Kok-Tyube is not only a landmark of the city, but also a place of republican importance, because there is a three-hundred-meter television tower, which can be seen in all panoramic pictures of Almaty. You can get to Kok-Tyube either on a special shuttle bus or by cable car. Typically, tourists prefer the second option, since on the way from the cabin of the funicular opens a magnificent view of several areas of the city. For travel by cable car you will need to pay 2,000 tenge round-trip, and by bus - 500 tenge. In addition, you can make a walking ascent to the hill, but few dare to do so. On Kok-Tyube you can take a walk in a small park, look at the magnificent panorama of Almaty, watch the inhabitants of the mini zoo, buy souvenirs, have lunch at a national restaurant, and take pictures at the Beatles Monument. Thus, if you are studying the sights of Almaty and considering which one to visit in the first place, then we advise you to give preference to Kok-Tyube.
Palace of the Republic
The sights of Almaty without fail include the Palace of the Republic. It is located at the intersection of Dostyk and Abay avenues. This architectural structure has been the pride of the city for several decades. Here, various concerts are held both by local and foreign performers, various festive events, etc. At one time, the architects of the Palace of the Republic (then called the Palace of Culture) were awarded the USSR State Prize.
Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen
Many sights of Almaty are inextricably linked with historical events of the Great Patriotic War. The Park named after 28 Panfilov guards located in the Medeu district of the city also belongs to them. The park is spread over a vast territory of 18 hectares. It was founded back in the 19th century and had various names. The park got its modern name in honor of 28 fighters who accomplished a feat during the defense of Moscow during the Great Patriotic War. The territory of the park is very green and well-groomed. In addition, he is known for a number of his buildings, such as the Memorial of Glory, the Ascension Cathedral, the Museum of Folk Instruments.
Ascension Cathedral
The sights of Almaty, photos of which can be seen in various guidebooks and postcards, always include the Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen. This wooden structure, erected at the beginning of the last century, is truly unique. So, the cathedral was among the few buildings in Almaty that survived the devastating ten-magnitude earthquake that occurred here in 1911. After the Soviet power came to Kazakhstan, the cathedral was no longer used for worship, and the museum of local lore was located in its building. The Russian Orthodox Church, the temple was returned only in 1995. Today, regular services are held here, and many tourists come here to admire the beauty of this magnificent building.
Memorial of Glory
This object is also located on the territory of the Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen. It was built in 1975 in honor of the thirtieth anniversary of the Great Victory. Then the Eternal Flame was also lit here.
The most popular sights of Almaty for tourists: Medeo skating rink
This sports complex is located near Almaty in the tract Medeo of the same name and is the highest mountain skating rink in the world. It is located at an altitude of one and a half thousand meters above sea level. The Medeo skating rink is famous for its clear ice, on which 126 world records were set. It was built in 1972. With the independence of Kazakhstan, Medeo began to be held on the territory of the skating rink, which later became very famous, the international music festival "Asia Dawes" or "Voice of Asia". In 2009, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out in the sports complex, and it again opened its doors not only to athletes, but also to residents and guests of Almaty. By the way, in the winter every day several thousand people come here to skate. Entrance fee to Medeo costs 1800 tenge. If you don’t have skates with you, you can rent them for a fee.
Independence Monument
If all the above-mentioned sights of Almaty appeared even during the existence of the Soviet Union, then the Independence Monument, majestically rising in the central square of the city, is already a tribute to a new milestone in the history of the country's development. This is a large-scale object, reflecting the entire history of the formation of Kazakh statehood. In the center of it is a tall pillar, on top of which is the figure of the "Golden Warrior".
Fountains
In the summer, on the territory of Almaty, you can see a huge number of working fountains of various shapes and sizes. In total, there are 120 such objects in the city. The first of them appeared in Almaty in 1948. Every year on May 25, Fountain Day is held in the city, when at nine o'clock in the evening fountains begin to work in the entire metropolis. You can enjoy the water splashes and the beauty of these structures from May 25 to September 15.