Sights of Almaty - photo, prices and reviews of tourists

Despite the fact that Almaty (Alma-Ata in the Soviet era) has almost lost its status of the official capital of Kazakhstan almost two decades ago , it is still the largest and most interesting city in this country. In connection with this, today the title of the southern capital of Kazakhstan is firmly entrenched for Almaty. We suggest to make a short walk through the memorable places of this magnificent city, stretched at the foot of the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau.

Almaty: historical information

This city is located in the southeast of the Republic of Kazakhstan and has a long history. So, according to researches of scientists, the first people here appeared more than two thousand years ago. Later in the territory of the modern Almaty region, several urban settlements were established, one of which was called Almaty. It was from him later the name of the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Near the city passed the Great Silk Road, connecting Europe with China. In those days, the local cities flourished. In the XIII century, Almaty fell into decay, like many other settlements in various countries in connection with the invasion of Genghis Khan. The new life in the future capital of Kazakhstan was inspired by the soldiers of the Russian Empire, who founded the military fortification in the middle of the 14th century. The city began to develop very quickly, mainly due to the numerous immigrants from Russia. This village was called Verny. Ten years after the arrival of Soviet power in Kazakhstan, the city, with minor changes, returned the old name. At the same time, Alma-Ata became the capital of the Kazakh SSR. This city remained the capital after Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991. Then it was decided to rename it to Almaty. The city lost its status as the official capital in 1997.

Today Almaty is the largest economic, financial and cultural center of Kazakhstan. More than two million people live here. The attractions of Almaty and Almaty region deserve special attention. We propose to learn more about interesting places in the southern capital of Kazakhstan.

Almaty, Kazakhstan: attractions

Many foreigners who come to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and in particular in Almaty, note the enormous natural wealth of this country. After all, there are high scenic mountains, and a magnificent canyon, rivers and lakes. In addition, special attention should be paid to the historical and architectural sights of Almaty and the Almaty region. These include the Medeo high-mountain skating rink, Kok-Tube hill, where you can see a magnificent view of the entire southern capital, parks, fountains, museums, monuments and other constructions of the city. So, if you have a map of Almaty with sights in hand, then you will see that the interesting places here are concentrated not only in the central part of the city, but are scattered in various areas of it. So, we suggest to get acquainted more closely with the main places, visiting which will be interesting for tourists.

Kok-Tube

As a rule, locals visit the sights of Almaty with their guests starting from Kok-Tube. This name is worn by a hill, whose height is 1130 meters, as well as the park zone located on it. It should be noted that Kok-Tube is not only a landmark of the city, but also a place of republican importance, because there is a three-hundred-meter television tower, which can be seen in all panoramic photographs of Almaty. You can get to Kok-Tube either by a special shuttle bus or by cable car. Typically, tourists prefer the second option, as on the way from the funicular booth offers a magnificent view of several areas of the city. For travel by cable car, you will have to pay 2 000 tenge in both directions, and on the bus - 500 tenge. In addition, you can make a pedestrian ascent to the hill, but few dare. On Kok-Tube you can stroll through a small park, look at the magnificent panorama of Almaty, observe the inhabitants of the mini-zoo, buy souvenirs for memory, dine at the national restaurant, and take a photo at the Beatles monument. Thus, if you study the sights of Almaty and consider which one to visit first, then we recommend giving preference to Kok-Tube.

Palace of the Republic

Attractions in Almaty necessarily include the Palace of the Republic. It is located at the intersection of the avenues Dostyk and Abay. This architectural structure is the pride of the city for several decades. There are various concerts of local and foreign performers, various solemn events, etc. At one time the architects of the Palace of the Republic (then called the Palace of Culture) were awarded the USSR State Prize.

Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen

Many sights of Almaty are inextricably linked with historical events of the Great Patriotic War. These include the Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen, located in the Medeu district of the city. The park is spread over a vast territory of 18 hectares. It was founded in the XIX century and had various names. The park received its modern name in honor of 28 fighters who performed a feat in the defense of Moscow during the Great Patriotic War. The territory of the park is very green and well maintained. In addition, he is known for a number of his buildings, such as the Memorial of Glory, the Ascension Cathedral, the Museum of Folk Instruments.

Ascension Cathedral

Sights of Almaty, photos of which can be seen in various guidebooks and postcards, always include the cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen. This wooden structure, erected at the beginning of the last century, is truly unique. Thus, the cathedral was among the few buildings in Almaty, which stood up as a result of the devastating ten-point earthquake that occurred here in 1911. After the arrival of Soviet power in Kazakhstan, the cathedral ceased to be used for worship services, and the museum of local lore was placed in its building. The Russian Orthodox Church was returned to the temple only in 1995. Today, regular services are held here, and numerous tourists come here to admire the beauty of this magnificent structure.

Memorial of Glory

This object is also located on the territory of the Park named after 28 Panfilov guardsmen. It was built in 1975 in honor of the thirtieth anniversary of the Great Victory. Then the Eternal Flame was lit here.

The most popular sights of Almaty for tourists: the Medeo ice rink

This sports complex is located near Almaty in the same name of Medeo and is the most high-mountain skating rink around the world. It is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. The Medeo rink is famous for its cleanest ice, on which 126 world records were established. It was built in 1972. With the gaining of independence by Kazakhstan, the Medeo ice rink was launched, which later became very famous, the international music festival "Asia dausy" or "Voice of Asia". In 2009, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out in the sports complex, and it again opened its doors not only for athletes, but also for residents and guests of Almaty. By the way, in winter every day thousands of people come here who want to skate. The entrance fee for Medeo costs 1800 tenge. If you have no skates with you, you can rent them for a fee.

Independence Monument

If all of the above mentioned sights of Almaty appeared even in the days of the Soviet Union, then the Independence Monument, majestically towering on the central square of the city, is already a tribute to a new milestone in the history of the country's development. This is a large-scale object that reflects the entire history of the formation of Kazakh statehood. In its center is a tall pillar, on top of which there is a figure of the "Golden Warrior".

Fountains

In the summer time on the territory of Almaty you can see a huge number of working fountains of various shapes and sizes. In total there are 120 such objects in the city. The first of them appeared in Almaty in 1948. Every year on May 25 in the city is Fountain Day, when at nine o'clock in the evening on the territory of the whole metropolis fountains begin to work. Enjoy the water splashes and beauty of these buildings from May 25 to September 15.