Top 10 Reasons to visit Almaty
Each city is famous for its attractions for which you always want to return there again and again. Since Almaty is one of the developing cities of the country, the town attracts tourists for many reasons. The list of the reasons to visit the southern capital is very diverse but below you will see top 10 of them and hopefully they will increase your desire to come to Almaty.
Mountains
The calling card of Almaty is mountains. The Almaty citizen, like no one else, has the opportunity to travel to nature at any time of the year. Almaty is located at the foot of the Tien Shan ranges and well known for its large and wide mountains that even in the heat of summer have snow capped peaks. That`s why it must be the first reason to visit Almaty. The number of mountain destinations is diverse and each of them is breathtaking. Here is the list of the most popular astonishing mountainous places: Peak Furmanov, Kok Zhailau, Butakovka, Shymbulak, Bear Gorge and Turgen Gorge. Each of these points is amazing and has own significance. For instance, Peak Furmanov attracts people with the swings that are right on the edge of the mountains; Butakovka has its waterfall which mostly looks beautiful in winter time when it is frozen; Shymbulak is also famous with its marvelous entertainments like restaurants and ski resort.
Ski Resorts
We all have the imagination of skiing and snowboarding as soon as we hear the word «mountain», and Almaty offers the range of ski resorts. The most popular ski resorts for many tourists and the most visited among the Kazakh population are Shymbulak Ski Resort, Tabagan Mountain Resort and Ak Bulak Mountain Resort.
Shymbulak Ski Resortis one of the most beloved places in Almaty which is located in the picturesque gorge of the Zailii Alatau at a height of 2260 meters above sea level. If you want to see the place brimming of snowpack in winter and flower meadows on the lower slopes full of wild poppies in summer, then welcome to Shymbulak!
Another mountain resort which is situated in the Talgar region near the city is Tabagan.Despite Tabagan was opened in 2005 and not as popular as Shymbulak but is still counted as a good place for a vacation in the mountains. Tabagan is not only about mountain sports, it provides a range of entertainments such as water-recreation complex that have pools, gym, jacuzzi, massage rooms, saunas, solarium and the bathhouse.
Last but not least – Ak Bulak Mountain resort. Ak Bulak is the place where you can enjoy the crystal clear air, the majestic beauty of the mountain peaks and escape from the city bustle. The district of the resort has charming mountain scenery what you can have a rest looking at.
Affordable prices
Almaty is one of those cities that develop day by day at the speed of light. Even though it is supposed to be a densely populated and wealthy city, you can avoid high prices everywhere and find a cheaper option. As soon as you arrive in the city, you will be very surprised that some of the main attractions, mainly mountains such as Medeu, Shymbulak, Bukreeva Peak and others, can be visited for free. This is another reason why many foreigners visit Almaty. Compared to other Asian cities, Almaty is very economical for tourists from all over the world.
Historical city
The Great Silk Road, which used to be the main link between the two sides of the world – east and west, passed through the Kazakh lands, or rather, along the southern part of the old Kazakh land. Almaty was the center of trade in handicrafts and agricultural goods on the Silk Road, and also had an official mint. The city is first mentioned in books from the 13th century as «Almaty». Another historical fact was the Golden Man, found in 1970 in the area of the Issyk Kurgan. There are many factors that make Almaty a very historical and at the same time interesting place to visit.
Grand Canyon’s younger brother
Everyone knows the Great Canyon, which is one of the main attractions of America, Arizona. In Almaty there is a younger brother of this canyon, which is called Charyn. The result of the natural destruction made by the Charyn River creates a very impressive landscape. It is one of the most visited and memorable places in Almaty, which fascinates all residents and tourists of the city. Over time, the canyon acquired colorful formations of various shapes and sizes. Although it is much smaller than the Grand Canyon, it is the same beauty as the Grand Canyon.
Museums
If you like eccentric small museums, then Almaty has some interesting places where you can get to know the city better and get an excellent source of knowledge. Museums not only give us knowledge, but also introduce us to the history, culture, civilization, religion, art, architecture of this place. Almaty has several famous museums: the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Ykhlas, the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the State Museum of Arts of Kazakhstan named after A. Kasteev, the House Museum of M. Auezov and the Archaeological Museum of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. With the help of these places you can find out how people of ancient times lived, what they used to live and what they did. Therefore, museums are also called the repository of history.
Night Almaty
«Almaty never sleeps», — say the locals, because the nightlife here is very lively. There are plenty of bars, clubs and pubs. However, in addition to these places, there are also pedestrian streets that are crowded even at night. These include Panfilov, Tulebaev and Zhibek Zholy streets. In these places, people enjoy night walks, listening to various performances by talented youth. Besides that, on Tulebaev Street on the facades of buildings you can see commemorative plaques that belong to scientists, musicians and politicians.
Divine Lakes Kolsai and Kaindy
Once you are in Almaty, you just must visit Kaindy and Kolsai lakes, where you will immerse yourself in the surreal atmosphere of nature. This is the place where the ridges of the Zailiysky Alatau and Kungei-Alatau are connected. It is believed that natural diamonds of picturesque Kazakhstan are hidden in these lakes. The place is very famous for its crystal clear water. The water in the lakes constantly changes its color, depending on how the sun’s rays fall on it. From gently blue to richly emerald green, as if the surrounding fir trees gave all their best colors to the lake. The lakes are one of the most popular and visited destinations among both tourists and residents of Almaty.
Multinationality
Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of over 2 million people, which is about 11% of the country’s total population. The southern capital can proudly assure that different nationalities and religions closely coexist here in peace and respect for each other. This is the place where Europe meets Asia, and this is clearly seen in the diverse, dynamic lifestyle of the citizens and the special colorful urban environment. The city is multinational and the largest number of inhabitants are Kazakhs, Russians and Uighurs.
Hospitality
It is generally accepted that Western people are very friendly and hospitable, and Kazakhs are no exception. Almaty residents are kind and always happy to help other people. A typical resident of the southern capital is described as a person demonstrating a high culture of behavior, friendly and open. This is one of the reasons why tourists visit this city and return here again. The fact is that anyone who visits this city will be charged with the positive of the city itself. Therefore, you will always be welcome here, and the service will amaze you with its perfection, because everywhere you go, you will face smiling and kind people.
