"AKMOLA -> TSELINOGRAD -> ASTANA" Top 5 Page for this destination Astana by Pablos_new

Astana Travel Guide: 38 reviews and 67 photos

Summer 2003

New Capital of Kazakhstan

Akmola

TselinoGrad

Astana

Akmola, which could be translated from ancient Turk as "white grave" was a small willage in endless Kazakh steppe. In 1950-s Khruschev made a call: Everyone should go for uprising of virgin lands. And millions of peasants, mainly from Russia and Ukraine, moved with families into this wild and deserted country. For many of young people this was real chalenge and there were really very many volunteers and enthusiasts came here to build new life. Administrative center of the new region could not have such an unpleasant name and new town was named: Tselinograd. "Tselina" in Russian and Ukranian means "Virgin lands" (Virginia ;-))).

Headoffice of the local Oil and Gaz monopoly

After fall of the Soviet Union there was a wave of renaming of all Russian names (not only Soviet ones) in Northen Kazakhstan (even ancient Russian town Guriev was renamed). Name Akmola was returned, but not for too long time. To prevent splitting Kazakhstan into to parts (Russian-speaking and Kazakh-speaking), president Nazarbaev desided to move capital from Almaty (Alma-Ata) to the north. Name Akmola again apeared to be rather unpleasnat for that. And new giant and modern megapolis appeared on the world map - Astana.

I Kazakh this means just "a capital".

Last visit to Astana: Sep 2007
Intro Updated Mar 17, 2008
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Reviews (12)

Aquarium of Astana Things to Do (3)

In 2006 a big aquarium with real sea sharks opened in Astana. Worth to visit this place - this is the most "far from the... more travel advice

Busness trip accommodation Hotels (1)

Good hotel, though nothing special to say. Just calm place to spend a night or two in a business trip. Sauna and... more travel advice

On the way from airport Favorites (4)

This picture was taken on the way from airport to the city. You can see new mosque (under construction) and some big... more travel advice

Construction of new mosque Favorites (4)

Very interesting building of a new mosque will be completed soon. You can see that it is very big. more travel advice

Restaurants (3)
See All Best sushi restaurant I ever visited.

Off The Beaten Path (1)
Swan island

Comments (7)

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fabrice Mar 17, 2008 at 1:52 AM

fascinating country , we have to visit , because we never hear about it
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GyuriFT Sep 4, 2006 at 4:13 AM

I also remember the "khruschevka" buildings being called... "khruschobina" - describes them also pretty well :-/
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victorwkf Jun 30, 2006 at 2:35 AM

Good insight into the new capital of kazakhstan :)
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yumyum Feb 16, 2005 at 6:22 AM

I'm not sure whether I want to go there. Thanks for the info.
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andal13 Aug 27, 2003 at 4:03 PM

Good information, Pavel; after reading your "weather" tip, I will never complain again of the weather in my country!!!
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globetrott Aug 27, 2003 at 1:13 PM

an interesting location, Pavel !
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unravelau Jul 29, 2003 at 4:24 PM

A gorgeous photo to start you off here, I will be back. Thank you.