Visit Kazakhstan – Where Old Meets New on the Ancient Silk Road

Till twenty years in the past Kazakhstan was one of many nice unknowns, a comparatively undiscovered area of the previous USSR. However immediately, many vacationers are excited to go to Kazakhstan.

Positioned alongside the traditional Silk Highway, this land of huge plains, stunning mountains, clear lakes and clear rivers was thought of fundamental, unwelcoming and distant to all however a number of of the hardiest journey vacationers.

At present, Kazakhstan is an ethnically numerous republic with a singular tradition combine on the border between Europe and Asia.

It’s affluent, trendy, and stylish in locations, unspoiled, cultural, and quiet in others. It borders the Caspian Sea, the one inland sea on the planet and is known for its caviar; it’s also the nation which gave the world tulips, apples and domesticated horses.

Historical past of Kazakhstan

Prior to now Kazakhstan was broadly divided in two – the world of the settled Silk Highway within the south, and communities of nomadic horseback herders who lined the remainder of the nation.

This case continued till the early twentieth century when the Kazakh folks, underneath Soviet rule, suffered severe hardships.

An estimated 1.5-2 million died of starvation, some folks fled to China, while others, primarily intellectuals, had been repressed by the regime; that is undoubtedly the place the picture of an unwelcoming and chilly land originated. Nonetheless, in December 1991 Kazakhstan was proclaimed an impartial state, and circumstances began to vary.

Locations to go to in Kazakhstan – Its Cities, Cities & Countryside 

As massive as Western Europe and 4 instances the dimensions of Texas, Kazakhstan is completely numerous. North, south east and west, there are alternatives to get pleasure from all the pieces from 5 star lodges to conventional Kazakh tent houses – yurts, the place company can study native customs, life-style and traditions.

There are mountain trekking and wildlife reserves, excessive touring adventures and possibilities to check out the traditional custom of looking with birds of prey. There are additionally alternatives for these fascinated about historical past and tradition.

Kazakhstan is keen to draw international guests, so people who take time to go to, are handled with huge respect and real hospitality.

Go to the south of Kazakhstan

The south is wealthy with historical historical past and tradition. It’s famend for its medieval structure, mausoleums and historical burial mounds, it additionally the situation of Kazakhstan’s equal of Cape Canavera — the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

• Almaty, town of the apple tree, was the nation’s capital between 1929 and 1998, and is the biggest monetary and cultural centre within the south. It’s one among Kazakhstan’s most stunning cities located on the foot of the Zailisky Alatau Mountains, a base for exploring and winter sports activities. 

• The Shymbulak ski resort affords exhilarating runs on deep snow between November and April, and through the spring, summer season and autumn, there are strolling and climbing alternatives via the gorges and foothills in addition to possibilities to calm down by crystal clear lakes.

• The huge steppe of Baikonur is the situation of the Baikonur cosmodrome, the biggest of its variety on the planet. This was the place cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was blasted into house in April 1961 to grow to be the primary man to orbit the earth; it’s also the place the primary satellite tv for pc ‘Sputnik I’ was launched into obit. Till a number of years in the past excursions of the location weren’t out there to international guests, however immediately everybody can view the launch complicated, house shuttle ‘Buran’, Gagarin’s launch web site, in addition to a small museum which homes pictures of each expedition launched. There are additionally items of Gagarin associated memorabilia, together with his uniforms and a souvenir of soil from his touchdown web site.

The location is positioned in a semi arid and unpopulated space with hyperlinks by street and rail. It’s advisable to rearrange visits via a specialist tour firm resembling Nation of Tourism Ltd or Kendala Adventures, as permits are in excessive demand, particularly main as much as launches.

Locations of the Silk Route in Kazakhstan

Probably the most extremely populated area of Kazakhstan, Shymkent, is the third most populated metropolis within the nation. Town was based through the twelfth century as safety for the city of Sayram, an vital cease on the Silk Route 10km to the east, however the city quickly grew to grow to be a central market city for commerce between the settled folks and the nomads.

Two different superb examples of an vital cities on the Silk Route are Turkestan (Yassay) and Taraz.

Taraz is greater than 2,000 years previous and referred to as town of retailers. It has historical archeological monuments such because the fretwork lined twelfth century mausoleum of Aishai-Bibi, a UNESCO protected monument, and the distinctive 16 rib umbrella dome of the eleventh century Babadja-Khatun mausoleum, the one one among its variety in Central Asia. Lastly is town of Turkestan, 1500 years previous, and the ultimate resting place of the Muslim poet and humanitarian, Hodzha Ahmed Yassavi. 

Go to Western Kazakhstan

Western Kazakhstan is the crossroads between Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea, the Volga, and the Ural Rivers make it a main space for looking, angling, and water sports activities. Right here, it’s also potential to witness the second lowest land stage on the earth, the Karaghiye Despair; 132 meters under sea stage. There are clear springs, seaside resorts and canyons the place excessive vacationers will recognize mountaineering on placing cliffs.

It’s not simply southern Kazakhstan that was influential within the Silk Route, the west and the Caspian Sea had been additionally massively vital. Small settlements – Caravanserais, survived right here at Sartash, Ketyk, and Alta. There’s additionally the legendary sacred mountain of Sherkala, the place ruins of a fortress belonging to Jochi, eldest son of Genghis Khan, can nonetheless be seen.

In addition to a thriving seaside resort, the world round Aktau is the house to galleries of rock carvings attributed to nomads relationship again between the tenth and 2nd centuries BC, and an underground necropolis created by Beket-Ata, the Muslim prophet to whom all creation was open. 

Ustyurt Nationwide Biosphere Reserve is a land of desert landscapes, lowlands, plateaus and a haven for uncommon animals. Ustyurt moufflon, cheetah, jackal, fox, saiga, gazelle, and lengthy spined hedgehog are all discovered right here. In addition to the reserve, Ustyurt additionally options the ruins of historical settlements and cemeteries on the banks of the Lifeless Kultuk, that are thought to belong to nomadic tribes from the 4^th century BC.

Go to Northern Kazakhstan

Northern Kazakhstan is one other area which supplies wonderful outside alternatives resembling biking, boating, and off-roading, as properly nature reserves and well being resorts.

One of the vital fashionable resorts for each locals and guests is Borovoye. Generally known as the Switzerland of Kazakhstan, and similar to its namesake, it has a wealthy number of eating places, bars, retailers and nightlife. It’s a pure oasis with lakes, and unspoiled inexperienced forests, tenting websites and spa resorts on the lakeside. Guests in search of a distant expertise can cross the small mountainous isthmus to achieve Huge Chebach Lake, which is an ideal, unhurried wild expertise.

The capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, is a cosmopolitan and architectural metropolis. Set on the banks of the Ishim River, town has all the pieces from opera and ballet to trendy structure such because the Baiterek Tower, the image of town. On the prime of the 97 meter tower there may be an remark deck with a chicken’s eye view for miles round. There’s additionally a restaurant, artwork gallery, and a big aquarium decrease down.

Go to Central Kazakhstan

Central Kazakhstan is a big and comparatively undiscovered area of the nation, and placement of the distinctive Blakhash Lake; one of many largest lakes on the planet.

Balkhash Lake is the biggest undrained reservoir after the Aral and Caspian seas. It’s distinctive due to the completely different mineral composition of its water within the jap and western elements, and it’s additionally a phenomenon due to its fish. There are an unimaginable quantity of fish within the lake; trout, marinka fish, carp, white amur, barb fish, bream, barbel fish, catfish and plenty of others. Yearly between 8 and 10 thousand tons of fish are caught right here.

The central area can also be residence to Bektauata Mountain Massif which contains of bizarrely formed rocks. In clear climate the massif might be seen for a whole lot of kilometers, giving it the nickname ‘the lighthouse of Balkhash’. Daylight penetrates deep into its caves, the place cavers discover grottoes and crystal cellars. Over 1000’s of years the pounding parts have eroded the granite to create incredible rock formations with names just like the Mushroom, the Chest, and the Turtle.

Go to Jap Kazakhstan

Jap Kazakhstan is distinguished by the Altai and its wooded foothills, the Irtysh River and lakes; that is the border with China, Mongolia and Russia. The mountain ranges of Rudnyi, Southern Altai, Kalby, and Saur-Tarbagatai play a substantial a part of the area’s panorama.

Snow capped Belukha Mountain is the very best mountain in Altai and Siberia. It’s the kingdom of ice and snow, with unimaginable thundering avalanches and clear, glowing waterfalls. Berkutaul, that means residence of an eagle, is the neighboring mountain and one other of the of the Southern Altai’s fashionable peaks. At 3,373 meters, this space can also be residence to the endangered Snow Leopard, among the most illusive animals on the planet.

Markakol Reserve is one other land of animals. Siberian stags, ermine, brown bears, elk, foxes, lynx, sable, the uncommon crimson wolf and birds resembling falcon, grouse, black stork, and herring gull can all be discovered within the woods. There are enticing rocky mountains lined with greenwoods, fir forests, and sub alpine meadows, wealthy in flowers and uncommon medicinal vegetation.

Kiin-Kerish, which accurately translated means proud magnificence is a pure metropolis constituted of tertiary clay; an extremely stunning and distinctive place with distinctive orange, white and crimson constructions. The principle function of Kiin-Kerish is small layers of sand and clay with imprints of vegetation from its historical tropical previous and the fossils of rhino, crocodile, turtle and salamanders.