Nearby, in the city’s hinterland, you’ll find Ala Archa. Both remain resolutely local and though you’ll find souvenirs to take your fancy, those haggling will most likely be local. The other, Osh Bazaar, feels more oriental and has a more human scale. One is the largest in the whole of Central Asia and is called Dordoi Bazaar. Its two bazaars have enduring popularity with travelers. Landmarks are conveniently concentrated in and around Ala-Too, the city’s main square. Yet, it too is a planned city, laid out in Soviet times. It’s an eminently walkable city, packed with charming restaurants and hidden gems that make a place special. A gentle breeze often blows, cooling the wandering explorer lost in its labyrinthine alleyways. It’s those trees which make the summer heat bearable, casting a dappled shade to mitigate the discomfort that you’d expect from temperatures that regularly top 40☌. Today, visitors will encounter a city center stuffed to the gills full of the small parks and tree-lined streets that led to it receiving that coveted epithet. Bishkek – the capital of Kyrgyzstanīishkek was once famous as the greenest city in the Soviet Union. Nowhere else you will see such a mix of nomadic culture with modern high-tech ideas. In 2017, World Expo came to Astana, at that time named Nur-Sultan, with a focus on meeting the world’s future energy needs. Kazakh cuisine is presented alongside food from across the globe. You’ll find Starbucks and McDonalds alongside a host of familiar names in commerce and business. Without equal in Central Asia, Astana embraces the West. In summer, temperatures in the city soar to 40☌, and in winter plummet by as many degrees below zero. Its dimensions reflect this, from its tall skyscrapers to its huge shopping malls and museums. Larger than life Astana has big ambitions. These masterful professionals blended modern materials such as glass and steel with the traditions of the nomads who roamed these lands for centuries, incorporating references to legends and classic symbolism into decorative elements. Replacing Almaty as capital in 1997, this vibrant corner of Kazakhstan was planned and built by a legion of globally renowned architects such as Norman Foster. Astana – the capital of KazakhstanĪstana is one of the youngest capitals in the world. Either way, read our brief guide to help you confirm you’re making the right decision. You might be planning to visit them all, or trying to make the tricky choice between them. They might share a common geography, but their historical legacy and cultural differences set them apart. Each is unique, something that will be apparent to anyone who visits more than one of them. In 1991, they secured their independence, and since then they’ve been on a journey, developing their fledgling political systems, growing their economies, and consolidating on the potential for tourism earnings. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, collectively known as the “Stans”, were once part of the Soviet Union. Five countries with one common past – that’s how to describe the five nations that comprise the region of Central Asia.
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