Kazakhstan is a country in Central Asia bordering Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It ranks 4th largest on the Eurasian continent and attracts tourists from all over the world with its diverse landscape: sandy deserts, endless steppes, majestic canyons and modern cities.
Since Kazakhstan has nomadic roots, many attributes of nomadic life, as well as customs and traditions, have survived to this day, which invariably attracts tourists from all countries.
So, let’s look at the main 10 reasons why it is worth visiting Kazakhstan.
1. Petroglyphs of Tamgaly Tash
Tamgaly Tas is located 120 km north of Almaty, near the Ili River and considered one of the favorite places for tourists and rock climbers.
This place is known as written rocks, as there are many stones and rocks on which many petroglyphs are carved with Buddhist inscriptions or images of mystical divine beings. The most famous are the images of Buddha Shakyamuni, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Compassion.
According to some researchers, the inscriptions on the stones were left by the Kalmyks and were used for more than three centuries by the Mongols, who carved Buddha images on the rock. Another group of scientists considers Tamgaly Tas to be a Buddhist temple for prayers and meditations.
2.Lake Balkhash
Lake Balkhash is located in the basin of the Alakol River in southeastern Kazakhstan and is the 14th largest lake in the world. The lake is considered unique because the composition of the water in the lake is noticeably different, if in the eastern part it is brackish, then in the western part the water is almost fresh.
Despite the various chemical characteristics of the water, there are about 20 species of fish, about 60 species of rare plants and more than 120 species of birds.
3.Medeo
Medeo is an outdoor skating rink located in the middle of the majestic mountains on the southeastern part of Almaty.
It is located at an altitude of 1690 meters and considered the world’s largest alpine ice rink. To cover its area of 10 thousand square meters with ice, a sophisticated system of freezing and irrigation is used to ensure the ice of high quality. The construction of the ice rink was carried out from 1949 to 1951. The complex was intended to prepare athletes for competitions in mountainous areas. In 1974, Medeo hosted the European Speed Skating Championships.
4.Charyn canyon
The Charyn Canyon is located along the Charyn River in Kazakhstan, 200 km east of the city of Almaty. The length of the canyon is about 90 kilometers. It is part of the Charyn National Park in the Almaty region.
The canyon is famous for its impressive colorful rock formations of various shapes and sizes, reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in America. This is a unique natural object with rocks in the form of chapels, towers, animals, which were formed under the influence of weathering of sedimentary rocks.
5.Kaindy Lake
Kaindy Lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kazakhstan. This lake was formed as a result of an earthquake in 1911. After the flood in the valley, the spruce growing there remained in the water.
Kaindy is located at an altitude of 1667 meters above sea level in the Kungei Alatau gorge in the south of the country. Its length reaches 400 meters, and its depth is about 30 meters. The lake is surrounded by dense coniferous forest and rocky mountains. Trees rising directly from the water make this lake unique.
From the Kazakh language, the lake is translated as “teeming with birches”. Kaindy got its name due to a birch grove located near the lake.
6.Baikonur cosmodrome
The legendary Baikonur cosmodrome is located in the Kyzylorda region in the south of Kazakhstan.
The cosmodrome is the world’s first and largest operational space complex. It was built in the desert steppe of Baikonur near the Tyuratam railway station. Currently, the cosmodrome has been leased to Russia by the Government of Kazakhstan until 2050. Baikonur is managed by the State Corporation Roscosmos.
7.Kok Tobe
Kok-Tobe is a famous mountain located near Almaty at an altitude of 1130 meters above sea level. At the top of Kok-Tobe there is a popular recreation area. This is one of the favorite places for locals and tourists.
In 1978, on the slope of Kok-Tobe, the construction of a new Almaty TV tower began, providing coverage for the whole of Kazakhstan.
You can climb the mountain by cable car, built in 1967. In a 6-minute ride on a cable car 1127 meters long, you can admire the beautiful panoramic views of Almaty.
8.Nur Astana Mosque
Nur Astana Mosque is a relatively new mosque built in 2005. Nur Astana is the second largest mosque in Central Asia after the Khazret Sultan mosque. The total area of this grandiose structure is more than 3,900 square meters. This grand mosque is designed for 5,000 people to visit at the same time and there is also a balcony designed for 2,000 women.
9.Aral See
Even 65 years ago, the Aral Lake was considered the fourth largest in the world and was a favorite place for many locals and tourists. Many species of fish were found here and ships sailed, large cargo transportation took place between the ports of Aralsk, located in Kazakhstan, and Muynak in Uzbekistan.
But in the 60s, as a result of the excessive use of water for irrigation of fields, the Aral Lake began to dry up quickly, which led to the breakup into two independent reservoirs.
Nowadays, the drying lake, the sandy-salty desert and the sunken ships of the Aral Sea resemble a plot from a movie.
10.Ak Meshit
Ak Meshit Cave is one of the largest caves in Central Asia and is considered a sacred place.
It is located in the Karatau mountains in the vicinity of the village of Kenestobe in the Turkestan region. The name Ak Meshit in Kazakh means “White Mosque”.
Ak meshit cave is 150 meters long, 65 meters wide and about 25 meters high. The temperature in the cave, regardless of the season, always fluctuates between 18-20 degrees.
The mulberry trees growing in the cave give the impression that you are in a forest.
