Adventures in Almaty: An Ancient Silk Road City
Kazakhstan’s largest city leads with cultural attractions.
Traveling to the largest country in Central Asia and a landlocked one at that may not be a first choice for many when thinking vacation but the lack of shoreline is more than made up for by the lakes and waterfalls in Kazakhstan. While Astana is the capital, Almaty, the second largest city, is the commercial and financial center, and the most populous. The Almaty Film Festival and Almaty Marathon are annual events hosted but don’t wait for that time of year to visit when you can visit now. Here are some points of interest around the city of Almaty to get you started on your adventure:
Ascension Cathedral: Located in Panfilov Park, this structure is hard to miss given its beautiful bright colors. Made entirely of wood and no nails, it is one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. Built in the early 1900s, the architectural style here is called eclecticism, like the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, where a mixture of elements from different architectural styles are brought together to create an original piece. The interiors are as stunning as the exteriors.
Rahat Chocolate Factory: Kazakhs swear by the quality of their chocolate and the only way to know is taste test some from the store location on Zenkova Street. The variety of chocolates will make anyone feel like a kid in a candy store, but the packaging is even more enticing, with bright colors and intricate patterns. This is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the country and offers everything from bars and toffee to waffles and marshmallows.
Green Bazaar: To experience all of Kazakhstan’s culinary delicacies in one spot, head to this central community market to shop, taste, or simply wander around snapping pictures. The lively space features multiple shops selling spices, meats, cheeses, produce, and prepared foods such as salads and pickles. If it looks like you’ve been in here before, you’ve probably seen parts of the market in multiple episodes of the television show The Amazing Race.
Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments: Also located near Panfilov Park, this structure’s interesting exteriors attract visitors into an exhibition space with multiple halls dedicated to the history of Kazakh music, musical instruments, performers, and the importance of music as a language without boundaries. Another section houses musical instruments from across the world and if you are lucky, you might get to watch a demonstration of some of the traditional instruments.
Shymbulak Mountain Resort: Popular with Kazakhs and visitors, this famed holiday location is just minutes’ drive away from Almaty and known for both hiking and skiing depending on the season. This is situated in the Medeo Gorge which is also known for the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam here protecting the city below. Closed gondola/open chairlift rides stop at multiple levels, the highest point being the restaurant La Skala where you can enjoy a meal.
Falcon Farm: A sanctuary for endangered bird species that are bred here and then released into the wild, this farm has more than falcons. There are also owls, vultures, eagles, hawks, and other species nurtured in this space. A little demo show of the different birds is presented by a resident ornithologist and bird trainer, and all proceeds from the visit go toward maintaining the facilities so more birds of prey can be cared for.
Arba Wine: The charming wine tasting venue in the city offers locally made wine from the vineyards in Assa Valley, and offers varietals such as Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and more. Enjoy a tasting flight here while also watching a few videos about the winemaking scene locally. Thanks to the combination of geographical location, climate, exceptional natural purity, harvesting, and vinification technology, these award-winning wines are a welcome sip.
Zhibek Zholy Street (Arbat): This is the main shopping street in Almaty and one where you can spend hours strolling around with a pause here and there for some shopping, refreshments, or maybe a meal. There is also plenty of street art, sculptures and other decorative works displayed here as well as street performers some days. Never a dull minute so if you have a leisurely few hours to spare then stop by this stretch.
A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts: This is the largest museum in the country and named after one of the founders of Kazakh art. The collection covers the decorative and applied arts, fine arts, and European and Asian art. Of special note are the decorative handmade furnishings such as carpets and curtains seen within yurts and the traditional jewelry women adorn. Save a few hours of your day as you won’t be leaving here anytime soon.
Central State Museum: This towering castle-like structure is a landmark in the city and a well-recognized image anywhere in the country. The collections include exhibits covering the natural history of the area, archaeological and ethnographic artefacts, rare books and manuscripts, and a porcelain and ceramic art collection. To learn more about the country, the history of the land and the people who call Almaty home, this is the place to be.
Kok-Tobe: An amusement park at the top of a mountain with amazing views of the city observed on the cable car ride over is one of the best experiences here. Aside from plenty to keep you entertained for a few hours, this venue also presents some of the best backgrounds to snap those pictures for the memory reel. Get on the Ferris wheel for even more picturesque views or opt for thrills riding the fast coaster which is the only roller coaster here.
Huns Ethno Village: To truly immerse yourself in Kazakh culture, the ethno village is the spot. Right from the traditional welcome with a song and sweets to tasting delicacies, learning more about life in yurts and experiencing the arts and crafts, as well as skilled horsemanship and archery, the venue tries to provide a comprehensive view of their nomadic lifestyles and history. The traditional attire only adds to the charm of it all.
If you decide to move away from the city for a few days then notable destinations for a weekend away include Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake and Kaindy Lake, and Saty village. Considering Kazakhstan has one of the lowest population densities in the world, you will feel absolutely no rush in experiencing the area, whether you choose to spend time in its natural beauty or decide to take in the cityscapes.
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