Kazakhstan - Astana - Астана - Akmola - Akmolinsk - Tsel

[mendeleyev]

Astana, capital of Kazakhstan (Астана)








Astana (Kazakh and Russian: Астана; former names include Akmola, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd and Aqmola), is the capital and second largest city (after Almaty) of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 600,200.





After Kazakhstan gained its independence in 1991, the city and the region were renamed "Aqmola". The name was often translated as "White Tombstone", but actually means "Holy Place" or "Holy Shrine". The "White Tombstone" literal translation was too appropriate for many visitors to escape notice in almost all guide books and travel accounts.

In 1994, the city was designated as the future capital of the newly-independent country, and again renamed to the present "Astana" after the capital was officially moved from Almaty in 1997.





Astana is the capital and business center of Kazakhstan. Astana city (former Tselinograd, also spelled Celinograd, until 1961 Akmolinsk) lies along the Ishim River at the junction of the Trans-Kazakhstan and South Siberian railways.





A unit of Siberian cossacks from Omsk founded a huge fortress on the upper Ishim in 1824, which later became the town of "Akmolinsk". During the early 20th Century, the town became a major railway junction, causing a major economic boom that lasted until the Russian Civil War.





The word Astana in Kazakh literally means Capital.[3] In Kazakh and Russian, it is pronounced "As-ta-na",





Much of the city is very new as the country moved the capital to Astana from the historic capital city of Almaty.

[mendeleyev]

Anthems and songs


Begin your journey:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/u4p-oiFOkHE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/u4p-oiFOkHE</a>


National Anthem:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/12tGtMA4tqk&amp;NR=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/12tGtMA4tqk&amp;NR=1</a>



We've laughed at Borat, but lets get serious.  Here is a video commercial about the REAL Kazakhstan:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/HPv_T8B4R4M" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/HPv_T8B4R4M</a>


Here are some really nice videos showing Astana, the capital city:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/aZRoPjWVYdw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/aZRoPjWVYdw</a>


Of course the city is not the only thing of beauty in Astana. There is the national stage representative of the Kazakh people, a young lady who sings in several languages including Russian, English and Kazakh. Here she is, Дильназ Ахмадиева. 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJ6UCMVHN14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/eJ6UCMVHN14</a>

[mendeleyev]

Here is an excellent link to hotels of Astana.


Winters in this part of Asia can be very cold.













(All photos on this page by Ilya Varlamov, http://zyalt.livejournal.com/1009138.html)

[mendeleyev]

British based Journeyman Pictures presented this excellent documentary on Kazakhstan:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lfzj9owHRkg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/Lfzj9owHRkg</a>


One can see photos of President for Life Nursultan Nazarbayev everywhere. The Kazakh name of the city, Astana, is a generic term and for a reason as the city will be renamed for Nazarbayev after his death.





Entrance to a metro station, below, is limited to crossing the street underneath as the Metro isn't scheduled to be completed until late 2017.






(All photos on this page by Ilya Varlamov, http://zyalt.livejournal.com/1009138.html)

[Isthmus]

Anyone been to Astana recently, in the last year or two?

[Isthmus]

So no one has (ever) been to Astana ?   

[mendeleyev]

Several times and I'm guessing that Tom has also.

This is the new capital built to move the government more towards the centre of the country as Almaty is on the southern border.

[mendeleyev]

(photo by Ilya Varlamov, http://zyalt.livejournal.com/1009138.html)

[AkMike]

I've been thru the airport in route to Timertau. We never wandered around the town though

[GuppyCaptain]

Hmmm. I often wonder where my path will lead in this upcoming adventure. Perhaps to this interesting country. Thanks for posting!

 

[Justmd]

So no one has (ever) been to Astana ?   

I have been more than a few times...

[Isthmus]

So no one has (ever) been to Astana ?   

I have been more than a few times...

Since that post I spent a week in Astana (last year)  Prefer Almaty in any event,  much more interesting city I think.