Category: Sights

A significant green oasis set at the heart of Kazakhstan’s capital, opened in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of Capital City Day. The park reflects Астана’s transformation into a modern metropolis. Covering nearly 80 hectares, the park was planned to complement the nearby Ak Orda presidential palace and serves as an inviting space for locals and visitors. You’ll find wide lawns, a variety of trees, and distinctive water features, particularly a grand fountain shaped like the mythical Samruk bird – a cherished Kazakh symbol of life and freedom. The atmosphere here changes beautifully with the seasons, offering colorful flowers in spring, verdant stretches in summer, and a tranquil snow-covered landscape during the winter.

The Ailand in Астана stands out as a remarkable destination because the entertainment center is home to the only oceanarium in Kazakhstan, an astonishing spectacle set deep within the country’s steppe, far from any coast. What makes this oceanarium even more unique is its world record status: according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the most distant aquarium from any sea or ocean, situated more than 3,000 kilometers from the nearest coastline. Since its opening in 2003, the oceanarium rapidly became one of Kazakhstan’s main tourist attractions and a point of local pride, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

The Central park in Астана has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century, when the city was still called Akmolinsk and served as a caravan crossroads on the steppe. Over time, the park has witnessed periods of both decline and revitalization, evolving with the city’s dramatic transformation from a regional town to the modern capital of Kazakhstan. One of the city’s oldest living relics, a black poplar tree planted over 130 years ago, still stands in the park and is considered an important symbol of Астана’s heritage and the community’s connection to its past.

The Central Mosque in Астана, also known as the Астана Grand Mosque, stands as a magnificent architectural landmark and the largest mosque in Central Asia. Its grand scale is immediately striking, featuring a massive main dome that is about 83.2 meters high and 62 meters in diameter, making it one of the largest domes of its kind in the world. Surrounding it are four towering minarets each reaching 130 meters tall, symbolically divided into five parts representing the five pillars of Islam. The mosque’s exterior is beautifully detailed with white Arabic calligraphy on a blue background, and the entrance boasts one of the tallest wooden doors globally, standing 12.4 meters tall and crafted from hard iroko wood imported from Africa. This blend of scale and intricate detail creates a sense of awe from the moment you approach the mosque.

Baiterek tower in Астана is a prominent symbol deeply intertwined with Kazakhstan’s modern history and cultural identity. Built between 1996 and 2002 to coincide with the capital’s relocation from Алматы to Астана in 1997, the tower stands 97 meters tall, symbolizing the year of this important transition. Its design is inspired by a Kazakh myth about the Tree of Life, where a sacred bird named Samruk laid an egg in the tree’s branches, represented by the golden sphere atop the tower. This concept embodies the connection between the earth, life, and the sky, making the tower more than just a structural landmark – it signifies new beginnings and the hopes of the nation.