Monumental mosques and a futuristic museum: Kazakhstan’s Astana was full of surprises

While Kazakhstan’s former capital Almaty is usually often called the town of tradition, Astana remains to be nicely price a go to for beautiful structure, pleasant locals and a style of nomadic tradition. 

Not like many metropolis breaks, an Astana itinerary gained’t be full of artwork galleries. Due to Kazakhstan’s nomadic tradition, the performing arts prevailed over bodily. This has given rise to quite a lot of drama, ballet and opera theatres. 

I spent six days exploring the town and listed here are my prime picks of issues to do.

The perfect time of yr to go to Kazakhstan: Plan rigorously if you happen to don’t just like the chilly

Astana is the second coldest capital on the earth, simply behind Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar. Town’s Ishim river is often frozen strong from mid-November to early April.

Some travellers love a chilly metropolis break. However if you happen to favor to be hotter, head to Kazakhstan throughout the European summer time when the common temperature is round 30C. 

I visited in September and the temperature was round 19C. When the solar shone it introduced with it beautiful heat however the mild breeze made it nice for exploring. Be sure to pack layers for the morning and night.

Common prices of a visit and the best way to get to Kazakhstan

For Europeans travelling to Kazakhstan, the alternate price may be very beneficial and so, aside from fancy wine in very excessive finish eating places, Astana is reasonably priced. A mean two course meal with a drink will value round €20-25 per particular person. 

Air Astana presents almost-daily direct flights between Frankfurt and Astana, in addition to two in a single day flights from London Heathrow to Astana by way of Almaty. There are also simple connections as much as thrice every week from Amsterdam to Astana by way of Atyrau

A fast sensible observe: Kazakhstan makes use of commonplace European plug sockets (C, E, F) so no have to pack an adapter. 

The Grand Mosque: for spectacular structure

I’m not spiritual however I used to be nonetheless wowed by the structure and sheer scale of Astana’s Grand Mosque, the most important in Central Asia. 

Sitting on the sting of the town, the dramatic white, gold and turquoise constructing cuts a surprising silhouette. The within isn’t any much less spectacular. 

Guests should take away their footwear earlier than coming into and robes are offered for ladies to cowl themselves. Be sure to’re not sporting comedy socks as I, sadly, was on the day of my go to.

Every room is exquisitely embellished with the lads’s prayer room being essentially the most magnificent. Right here you’ll be able to see the world’s largest hand woven carpet with a conventional Kazakh spiral sample and a wall adorned with the 99 names of Allah glistening in gold. Ladies can enter this room however some elements are off limits throughout the prayer periods which occur 5 occasions a day. 

Depart time to take the elevate as much as the highest of one of many minarets for nice views over the town. 

Baiterek: for views throughout the town

The Baiterek monument (generally spelt ‘Bayterek’) is the enduring image of Astana. The identify means ‘tall poplar tree’ and is impressed by a conventional folktale a couple of magic chook of happiness who lays her egg on the highest of a tree, representing the switch of Kazakhstan’s capital to Astana in 1997.

I visited within the night however this isn’t the most effective time of day – you’ll get significantly better views from the highest of the 105m tall tower throughout the day. At night time the within lights replicate off the glass so that you miss out on among the view.

There’s a pleasant picture alternative due to a golden handprint of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the primary President of unbiased Kazakhstan.

When you’re carried out within the monument, have a stroll round this a part of the town, taking within the riverside and park. You’ll be handled to stunning mosques, theatres and an unusually formed buying centre. 

Nur Alem Museum of Future Vitality: for a household time out

This museum is good for a wet day or if you happen to’ve acquired children to entertain. They’ll be saved busy by the interactive shows and adults will benefit from the spectacular spherical constructing that homes all of it.

Every of the eight flooring is devoted to a special kind of non-fossil gasoline power: photo voltaic, wind, hydro, kinetic and so forth.

The museum presents free guided excursions by request – ask on the ticket workplace if you happen to’re . For those who select to wander round by yourself, there are pleasant employees available to reply your questions.

What’s Kazakh meals like?

As a vegetarian, Kazakh delicacies isn’t essentially the most herbivore pleasant and whilst a journalist prepared to strive all forms of conventional dishes to assist my writing, there was nonetheless a bit an excessive amount of horse. 

That being mentioned, I like to recommend being courageous and attempting all of the nationwide delicacies, which the locals are all too delighted to share with you. 

‘Beshbarmak’ is a conventional Kazakh dish of horse meat served with a pasta-type noodle and onions. The a part of the horse platter that appealed to my tastebuds essentially the most was a slice of sausage with a barely spiced and smokey flavour. 

You’ll discover ‘Plov’, although Uzbek in origin, is extensively out there. It’s a tasty rice dish flavoured with meat, spices, carrots and onions and served on an enormous sharing platter (think about a Eurasian paella). An Uzbek buddy of mine beneficial a restaurant referred to as Altyn Palau for the most effective within the metropolis. 

Vegetarians, worry not, many eating places serve a sizzling aubergine salad starter which is scrumptious and would make for a terrific most important course. There’s at all times a number of scrumptious bread to maintain you sated. Lastly go away house in your baggage for a bar of Kazakh chocolate. 

Hannah Brown was a visitor of Air Astana.