Hostels in ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN

City Astana- The Pace and Pulse of the Kazakh Capital

Interestingly the name Asthana, means capital city in Kazak language. Located at the steppe region around Ishim River, this city is the second coldest capital city in the world.

History
The origin of this city dates back to 1824, when the Russians built a fortress. It was named Celinograd between the years 1961 - 1991 and was made capital of the Soviet Virgin Lands. The Virgin Lands Campaign led by Nikita Khrushchev in the 1950s, turned the state into a second grain producer for the Soviet Union, which in turn resulted in a heavy influx of Russian agricultural workers at this time. During the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, many Russian-Germans who were deported under Joseph Stalin were also resettled here.

Popular places:
Bayterek, is considered as the most famous landmark in Astana.  This tower symbolizes a poplar tree, where the magic bird Samuruk laid its egg. On top of the sphere of this tower there is an imprint of President Nursultan Nazarbayev's hand. People who visit this place keep leave the imprints of their hands and make a wish. There are art galleries, museums and theatres in this capital city. A Kasteyev State Museum of Arts has an impressive collection of decorative art pieces and paintings that would shed light on the history of this city.

Duman, is yet another attraction of this city, which consists of an oceanarium, 4D theatre, dome area, souvenir shops and cafes. Visitors can see more than 2000 types of marine animals from all over the world. Set out on an interesting under water voyage in the motion theatre.

Places of entertainment
Astana has a lively night life and many restaurants and cafes where you could sample some of the finest cuisines. There are shopping options and various tourist attractions including the pyramid of peace, which is 77 meters in height.  It has an opera house, a museum and conference rooms. Designed by the British architect Norman Foster, it is an important landmark of this city.

The State Museum of National Musical Instruments is another popular place of tourist interest. It has an interesting collection of Kazakh musical instruments collected from within and outside the country. Housed in a unique Russian wooden building, this museum has many important collections including the personal dombras of poets, zhyrau and composers, such as Dina and Abai.

Getting around:
Regular public transport bus services are ideal to go around the city, a guide to smooth travel on the buses is to keep some small notes and change handy to pay for your journey. Taxis are also available

Accommodation   Options:
Budget Hotels, inns, Bed & Breakfast, youth hostels, motels, inns and guesthouses are some of the accommodation options in this city.

Currency:
Tenge is the currency of Astana, which is easily available with Banks and with any authorized travel agencies, be sure to check the news and internet for the latest exchange rates.

Astana group accommodation | Cheap hostels & budget hotels