To Alma-Ata. How to get to Almaty

Almaty or Alma-Ata?

In recent years, the controversy surrounding the two names of the southern capital of Kazakhstan has flared up with even greater force. On October 18, 2004, the Medeu District Court of Almaty satisfied an unprecedented claim against the newspaper "Arguments and Facts Kazakhstan", which until recently used the name Alma-Ata, and ordered the editors of the newspaper "AiF Kazakhstan" to henceforth comply with the spelling of the city as Almaty. In connection with this, there is some resonance in society today regarding these two names.

This article, written in question-and-answer style, was written in an attempt to systematize the disparate arguments for and against the names of Almaty and Alma-Ata and help the average person decide on this rather complex and confusing issue.

The questions present the main arguments against the name of Almaty, and the answers, respectively, contain counterarguments.

Everything is very simple. "Alma-Ata" is in Russian, and "Almaty" is in Kazakh. Each language has its own way. Just like “Moscow” - in Russian, “Maskeu” - in Kazakh.

Guardians of the Soviet name Alma-Ata often cite parallels with Moscow-Maskeu, which is fundamentally wrong.

Maskeu is truly a Kazakh variant, a Kazakh transliteration of Russian Moscow. Those. the same name (Moscow), but in a different language (Maskeu).

Moscow and Maskeu - this is essentially same name, but on different languages.

Just like Pari - Paris, Roma - Rome, Toshkent - Tashkent, Kiev - Kyiv, Ashgabat - Ashgabat, Baki - Baku, Shupashkar - Cheboksary, etc.

BUT in the case of Almaty/Alma-Ata such analogies are not appropriate.

Alma-Ata is not a Russian transliteration, not a “Russian” name for Almaty, but a completely different, separate word, independent of Almaty.

Almaty is translated from Kazakh as " Apple ", while Alma-Ata is again a set of Kazakh words" Apple-Grandfather ".

Alma-Ata - like Almaty, is also a Kazakh name, only incorrect, given by mistake.

Alma-Ata has nothing in common with Almaty other than the common word “alma”, these are different names (like, for example, KARATAU and KARASU, AkTOBE and KokTOBE - despite some common words, the names are completely different).

Therefore, one cannot be a “Russian version” of the other.

If Moscow and Maskeu - This same name, but on different languages, then Almaty and Almaty - This different names, but one language.

Then where did the name Alma-Ata come from?

Alma-Ata is artificial a name invented literally in half an hour by Russian-speaking party workers from Tashkent at a meeting of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in what was then Verny (now Almaty) on February 5, 1921.

According to the resolution adopted at this meeting by the Presidium of the TurkCEC, the city of Verny henceforth bore a new name - Alma-Ata. A member of the regional revolutionary committee, A. Lepa, summed up the meeting of the Turk Central Executive Committee: “In commemoration of the historical undertakings for Semirechye for the liberation of the Muslim poor, rename the city of Verny to the city of Alma-Ata by the name of the area in which it is located ".

The initiative of the Bolsheviks certainly deserved respect - they decided to return the city with the colonial name Verny to its historical name. But why was Verny renamed “after the name of the area in which it is located” in Almaty , if this very “terrain” for centuries was called nothing more than Almaty ?

At the historical meeting of 1921, the Kazakh Bolsheviks who participated in the Presidium: Dzhandosov, Atabaev, Baribaev, Asfendiyarov, Sydykov and others proposed returning the city to its historical name - Almaty . But Russian-speaking Bolsheviks from Tashkent of higher rank - Burnashev, Lepa, Pozdnyshev, Subbotin and others did not accept him. These Bolsheviks, whose anthem, as you know, “we will destroy the old world to the ground, and then we will build ours, we will build a new world,” separated the root from the name Almaty “ Alma "(apple) and added to it" - Ata "(grandfather), "borrowed" from the neighboring city of Aulie-Ata (now Taraz), apparently considering that it would look better this way.

From the very beginning, the new name Alma-Ata was presented exclusively as Kazakh and historical - “the name of the area in which it is located.”

Such linguistic experiments, which changed Almaty to Alma-Ata, are not surprising; it was fashionable in that revolutionary era of change. Let us at least remember the popular names Dazdraperma and Lagshmivar.

Alma-Ata is not the Russian name of the city, but a Kazakh one, only given to the city out of ignorance, by mistake.

But “Alma-Ata” has such a beautiful translation - “Father of Apples”.

If so...

"Almaty " - the name is ridiculous both morphologically and semantically - just a bunch of words " Apple-Grandfather ", an incomprehensible hybrid of two Kazakh words that defies semantic translation.

Statements that Alma-Ata supposedly means " Grandfather of apples " (not Father) or " Apple grandfather " - are absolutely not true.

In this case, the correct phrases would be: “Grandfather of Apples” - “Almanyn” Atasy” or “Alma Atasy”, and “Grandfather of Apples” - “Almaly Ata” - this is how adjective-noun combinations are made in the Kazakh language.

There is another “justification” for Alma-Ata, they say, this name is in honor of the name of the grandfather-ancestor (ata).

But the Tashkent Bolsheviks did not know that Alma could only be a grandmother. But the city of Aulie-Ata was nearby, so they decided to name it according to consonance.

There are the following places named after the names of the “grandfathers”-ancestors: Askhat-Ata, Kadyrbay-Ata, Cholpon-Ata, Aulie-Ata, Bapen-Ata, Koshkar-Ata, etc.

Then if "Alma" is a female name, then Alma-Ata is " Grandfather Alma "- according to this logic it will be, sorry, transvestite (!)

"Alma-Ata" is more beautiful and sounds better. “Almaty” hurts the ear and doesn’t bend.

Yes, it doesn't lean. Just like many other equally beautiful cities and names, such as Tbilisi, Sochi, Delhi, etc. Not to mention the Kazakh names used in Russian: Burkitt, Kamysty, Atyrau, Aktau, Kok-Tobe, Medeu, etc.

It’s stupid to argue that “Apple-Grandfather” is more beautiful than “Yablonevy” or vice versa. These are all very subjective judgments. Moreover, the first is an artificial set of words, and the second is the historical name of the area.

In addition to euphony and inflection, especially important meaning and correctness titles. In this case, the true meaning of Alma-Ata - "Apple-Grandfather" - is ridiculous and absurd, and "a transvestite grandfather named Alma" is even offensive. There can be no question of correctness.

Moreover, even in Soviet times, city residents very rarely pronounced the name of the city as Almaata, Almaatinka, Almaatinets, and more often they simply said Almaty, Almatinka, Almatinets, i.e. without rolling out the double "a" separated by a hyphen. Which, again, proves the obvious artificiality of the name Alma-Ata.

The point here is not in abstract “beauty” and far-fetched “euphony”, and not even in the inclination of Alma-Ata, but in a banal habit, reluctance to change and, of course, a certain amount of nostalgia for the past . To people born in the city of Alma-Ata, this name seems the most beautiful. Your humble servant is a second-generation Almaty resident himself, so I personally understand that many Almaty residents are nostalgic for the Soviet name, with which they have many warm memories. But turning back the wheel of history is pointless. Almaty today is the largest city in the country, the southern capital, the metropolis of independent Kazakhstan, an economic and cultural center, and the fashionable capital of youth. Over these 11 years, since the name was changed to the new old Almaty, the city has changed beyond recognition. It has both new pros and cons, but it develops every new day, and it has its own unique culture and its own rhythm. There are Almaty residents who are already accustomed to the name Almaty, and those who have completely new memories associated with this Almaty, and those who have fallen in love with this name. The old Soviet city of Alma-Ata will not return from returning the city to its former name. . This is self-deception. Just as Soviet Alma-Ata would never again become the Verna fortress of the century before last, so modern Almaty of the third millennium will never again be the Alma-Ata of 1986.

But “Alma-Ata” is an established name adopted in the Russian language.

Some Russian-speaking journalists in Kazakhstan, using the name "Alma-Ata", refer to the resolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN) and the Order of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation dated August 17, 1995 No. 1495, which states that in Russian it is recommended to use the name "Alma-Ata". Ata." This sometimes becomes the last straw for journalists to have the right to use the incorrect name “Alma-Ata”. The creepy and obsessive activity developed recently on the pages of some newspapers by these journalists makes the situation around the hyphen a matter of principle.

As can be seen from the above, not all Kazakhstanis fully understand the difference between Almaty and Alma-Ata, that these are completely different names, without any “national” characteristics. Then what can we say about the awareness of the foreign Russian Academy of Sciences in these subtleties of the language?

Let us remember that in the Russian Empire there lived such peoples as the Veliross, Little Russians, Kyrgyz-Kaisaks, wild-stone Kyrgyzs, Taranchis, Chukhons, Sarts. The empire disappeared - the Little Russians with the Sarts and the Kaisaks with the Chukhons disappeared. Many toponyms also disappeared, including the well-known Verny. The Russian language survived this very well. This is about “established” names.

The Russian language would not be what it is now, “great and powerful,” if it were not a flexible language. It just so happens that over the past 500 years the Russian language has changed dramatically several times. The last 10 years have seen much more dramatic changes driven by globalization and internal changes.

The same RAS several years ago officially confirmed that in the Russian language the names Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Yakutia and the Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic should now officially be written as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Sakha and Mari El, and all these changes, in the opinion of the RAS, do not in any way contradict the grammar and phonetics of Russian tongue (!).

The rules and principles of the Russian language change depending on political changes , and the example of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Mari El and Sakha is proof of this.

Moreover, on August 17, 1995, the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation issued the above-mentioned Order No. 1495 “On the spelling of the names of states - former republics of the USSR and their capitals,” in which the corresponding spellings Tallinn/Tallinn, Ashgabat/Ashgabat and Alma-Ata/Almaty were streamlined. But also pay attention to what the government has authorized the relevant departments " take into account, if necessary, the wishes of counterparties regarding the spelling of the mentioned names ", later the same wording was repeated in the "Brief Guide to the Formulation of Acts of Federal Bodies of State Power" (M., 1997, p. 84). © http://www.slovari.ru/lang/ru/rls/ussrnames. html

Name " Almaty "mentioned in the list permitted to counterparties .

Those. According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the use of the name "Almaty" in Russian is permitted if the counterparty, in this case the state of Kazakhstan, so desires.
Therefore, all the talk about the incorrectness of Almaty in the Russian language is completely groundless.

In the case of the notorious journalists, we are dealing with a deliberate and even aggressive reluctance to “take into account the wishes of counterparties regarding the writing of the mentioned names.”

So, the state’s demands to comply with the onomastics adopted in Kazakhstan are absolutely normal and legitimate.

If "Alma-Ata" is an incorrect Kazakh name used in Russian, then what is the real Russian name for Almaty?

A city with the name Almaty has not existed on the territory of Kazakhstan for 11 years. It was renamed Almaty - a new name and not related to the previous one.

So the question of the real “Russian” name of Almaty is as complicated as, for example, the question of the real “Russian” name of the capital of Kazakhstan - Astana. Is this the current name of Astana? Soviet Tselinograd? Or royal Akmolinsk? Or what is the real “Kazakh” name, for example, of the northern capital of Russia - St. Petersburg? Leningrad? Or maybe Petrograd?

All these new names appeared due to political changes, regardless of linguistics, therefore they cannot be either “Russian” or “Kazakh” variants of each other.

Same with renaming Verny > Almaty > Almaty.

If Alma-Ata is originally a Kazakh name, then the alternative Russian name (not a transliteration) of the Kazakh Almaty is most likely Verny, used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The fortification and then the city lived under this name for more than sixty years, when Kazakhstan was a colony of Tsarist Russia. But the return of this colonial, and partly negative (Loyal to the Tsar, Russia) name in modern Kazakhstan is a more than complicated issue. This is equivalent to if, for example, the British, Portuguese and Belgians demanded that old colonial African names be written and spoken: Salisbury instead of Harare, Lourenço Marques instead of Maputo, Leopoldville instead of Kinshasa.

In principle, the Russian language does not have its own phonetic version of Kazakh Almaty , such as Moscow and Maskeu - English and Kazakh versions of Russian Moscow, or, for example, Chimkent, Issyk and Baikonur - Russian versions of Kazakh Shymkent, Esik and Baikonur.

Both names - Verny and Alma-Ata - are essentially different, separate names that have nothing to do with Almaty.

By the way, in 1867, when the Vernoye fortification received the status of a city, the city was initially renamed Almatinsk, but the name did not stick, and according to the report of the Steppe Commission, the city soon received the name Verny.

Where did the name Almaty come from? And what does it mean?

Alma + you : Alma - this Apple", -You is a typical adjective suffix in Kazakh place names.

For example, in Kazakhstan there are (names taken from the 1990 Atlas of the Kazakh SSR in Russian): rivers Kayrakty (Tochilnoye), Ashchytasty (Gorkokamennoye), Bulanty (Losinnoye), Moyynty (Sheynoye), Buldyrty (Mutnoye); mountains Burkitty (Berkutnoe), Bakty (Sadovoe); Lake Balykty (Rybye) and the settlements of Aktasty (Belokamennoe), Bakbakty (Oduvanchikovoe), Kamysty (Kamystovoye), Arshaty (Archovoye) ... and of course Almaty (Yablonevoye).

Almaty is the historical name of the area in which the modern city is located. Almaty - "Apple" - was named after the apples that have been growing in these places since ancient times.

Moreover, this was the name of a medieval city and a later settled settlement, which were the predecessors of modern Almaty.

Almaty was first mentioned on silver dirhams of the Chagataid state of the late 13th century. On the coins it is written in Arabic script: “This dirham was minted in the city of Almaty” and the minting date is 684 according to the Muslim Hijri calendar (i.e. 1285-86). You can read more about medieval Almaty coins in the article by Russian orientalist and numismatist V.N. Nasticha: Almaty - 13th century mint.

The statesman, writer and poet of the first half of the 16th century, Zahir ad-din Muhammad Babur, at the very beginning of his work “Babur-name”, mentions Almaty, along with Almalyk and Yangi (Taraz), among the large cities north of the Fergana region.

The medieval historian Mirza Muhammad Haydar Dulati, in his work “Ta”rikh-i Rashidi,” reports a major battle for the Mogul throne, which took place in 1508 (914 AH) “in Almaty, a famous place in Mogolistan.”

The presence of an ancient settlement and a medieval city on the site of modern Almaty is confirmed not only by written sources, but also by archaeological excavations of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Why then is Alma-Ata considered the Russian version of Almaty and how is it really?

In Soviet times, from 1941-1993, the name Almaty (in Kazakh) was in use in parallel with Alma-Ata (in Russian). This fact gives the false impression that Almaty is supposedly the “Kazakh” name, and Alma-Ata is the “Russian” name of the same city.

Photo: Transport interchange at the intersection of Tashkent-ya, Saina and Sev-Zap Ring streets from the times of the USSR.

You probably noticed that since Soviet times the names of city rivers have been written precisely as Bolshaya and Malaya Almatinka (and not Alma-Atinika), and not otherwise. The same is with the Almaty (and not Alma-Ata) lake, the Almaty (not Alma-Ata) gorge, etc. The root of all these names is the same - the historical name of Almaty, and not the artificial Alma-Ata.

The tradition of using the name Almaty in Russian begins long before the founding of the Vernaya fortress in 1854

Major M.D. Peremyshlsky, the founder of Verny, is one of the first to use "Almaty" in Russian. In his reports during the advance of his detachment beyond the river. Or the foundations of the Zailiyskoye (later Vernoye) fortification, he writes from a place called Almaty:

G. Corps Commander

In my report dated July 18, No. 140, I had the honor to report on the crossing of the river. Or...
...The wooded area of ​​the gorges from which the Issyk flows forced me to immediately begin to survey them. After inspection, I moved towards Talgar and, having examined its peaks, I am currently overlooking Almaty.

G. Corps Commander

I had the honor to inform Your Excellency about my intentions to survey the peaks Almatov. Having examined the first and second with engineer-lieutenant Aleksandrovsky Almaty and the valley between them, we found due to the convenience of obtaining timber, a large amount of beautiful, arable land, cut by ditches, pastures and hayfields, far superior to the tracts on Issyk and Talgar, which is why we proposed Almaty site of future settlement.

In all royal and Soviet sources, the place where Verny was founded is called Almaty (Kazakh settlement of Almaty, wintering site of Almaty, parking lot of Almaty, Almaty River, etc.). P.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky wrote about Verny, on the site of Almaty. C.H. Valikhanov calls the Vernoye fortification “Almaty village” and “Almaty picket”.

Thus, the Kazakh name Almaty migrated into the Russian language in the form of names of rivers, lakes, gorges, Cossack villages and other names that have survived to this day.

In 1921, after the fall of the Russian Empire, the historical name of Almaty could have regained official status, but “thanks to” the illiterate Tashkent Bolsheviks, the city of Verny was renamed into something awkward - Alma-Ata.

In 1941, Almaty became the official name in only one Kazakh language. All others continued to use the incorrect 1921 name.

And only after gaining sovereignty the whole world learned the real and historical name of the capital of Kazakhstan - Almaty.

In the text of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted on December 28, 1993 at the ninth session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the twelfth convocation, in the section Fundamentals of the Constitutional System in paragraph nine on the Coat of Arms, Flag, Anthem and Capital it was indicated: " The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the city of Almaty", which meant the abolition of the name Alma-Ata and its renaming to the new Almaty .

Legislative acts of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted on January 28, 1993 and the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan" dated September 15, 1995, determined the new name of the city as Almaty.

The city with the Soviet name Alma-Ata was officially renamed the new old Almaty. Just like Frunze, they renamed Bishkek, Tselinograd to Akmola, and Leningrad to St. Petersburg. Those. the Soviet name was changed to a completely different, historical name. There can be no talk of “Russian options”.

The return of the real name of Almaty to the city in 1993 is not a mistake and an insult, as some “former people” want to present today, but a manifestation of the gratitude of descendants and a triumph of historical justice.

For a more understandable chronology of the names of Almaty and Alma-Ata, the following table was compiled:

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Almaty and Alma-Ata are two different names independent of each other. Both were used in both Russian and Kazakh languages. Therefore, it is absurd to call them “Kazakh” or “Russian” versions of each other.
2. It is precisely the fact that the artificial name Alma-Ata is both not Russian and incorrectly Kazakh, i.e. It’s generally not clear what, it encourages one to accept something that lends itself to logic. Almaty is a completely logical name.
3. Almaty is a historical name with a 719-year history (since its first mention on a Chagataid coin in 1285-86).
4. The meaning of the artificially invented and illiterate Alma-Ata is a set of words “Apple-Grandfather” or “Grandfather Alma”. Almaty, according to all the rules, is translated as “Apple Tree”.
5. The Russian language does not have its own phonetic version, the transliteration of Almaty. In Russian it will be “Almaty,” as Peremyshlsky wrote back in 1853. The alternative Russian name is rather Verny, rather than the original Kazakh Alma-Ata. The name Almaty was used in Russian for the longest time (since the mid-19th century) and in parallel with Verny and Alma-Ata with all the “derived” names of city rivers, lakes, villages, etc.
6. Alma-Ata is not a “Russian” name, but a Soviet one. It is incorrect to call the city by the old Soviet name Alma-Ata, which, apart from the general word “alma”, has nothing to do with Almaty. Continuing to call Almaty by the Soviet (and not “Russian”) name Alma-Ata is equivalent to calling, for example, St. Petersburg by the Soviet name Leningrad, Volgograd by Stalingrad, Bishkek by Frunze, Taraz by Dzhambul, and Astana by Tselinograd, i.e. . absolutely incorrect in official usage. These names appeared in Soviet times because of ideology (Leningrad, Stalingrad, Tselinograd, Frunze, etc.), or because of the absurdity of the Bolsheviks (as in this case from Almaty - Alma-Ata). None of the above names is a “Russian variant” of the other. And all these names, as well as Almaty and Alma-Ata, are different and in no way connected with each other.

The city of Alma-Ata was officially renamed Almaty in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated January 28, 1993. and the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan" dated September 15, 1995.

The current official name of the city is Almaty.

Alma-Ata, as well as Verny, is the old name of the city of Almaty, which has nothing to do with the current name to call it “Russian” or any other version of Almaty.

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A beautiful, cozy, green “city of great opportunities”, which has won the fame of the largest financial, economic and cultural center. Here, the original national flavor is in harmony with the sophisticated European style. Tourists can visit Almaty at any time of the year, but it is better to plan a trip from April to May, when it is not so hot.

Almaty – “the southern capital”

The southern capital of the country is protected from the north by the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. This is the most comfortable, rich, and, most importantly, globalized city. The natural wealth of the metropolis is amazing. Beautiful lakes, picturesque rivers, luxurious canyons, mesmerizing mountains - it seems that everything is here. Particular attention should be paid to historical and architectural sights, which are not concentrated only in the city center, but are scattered in its most diverse areas.

There is something for everyone to sit on unusual benches in the park, admire the characteristic decoration of the Almaty center - figures of animals and birds, enjoy the city landscapes surrounded by greenery. More than 8 hectares of urban territory are allocated for gardens, parks, boulevards and public places.

When planning a trip to Almaty, you should get a map or guidebook in advance. Such foresight will help you navigate the metropolis and quickly find the right place.

How to get there

There are several ways to get from Russia to Almaty.

Airplane

This method is the most convenient as it saves time. Aeroflot and Kazakh Air Astana fly directly from Moscow every day. The entire journey will take about 4 hours 20 minutes. If you take a connecting flight, it will take longer.

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Almaty and back

The airport is located 16 km from the center of Almaty. You can get to the city by regular bus, shuttle bus or taxi.

Train

Direct trains from Moscow to Alma-Ata have recently stopped running. You can get to the southern capital in this way only with transfers in Karaganda, Novosibirsk, Petropavlovsk or Astana.

Automobile transport

Those wishing to travel to Almaty by bus will have to change trains 4 times. In terms of time, such a trip is comparable to traveling by train.

If you are planning a trip by car, it is better to use the shortest route, which lies through Samara, Orenburg and Chimkent. Its length is 3940 km.

Where to stay overnight

There are many hotels in Almaty of decent quality and at reasonable prices.

Rahat Palace, Rixos Almaty, Ritz-Carlton are luxury five-star hotels. The combination of exquisite taste, rich interior and high-quality service is worthy of all praise. It offers spacious elegant rooms, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant.
“Kazakhstan”, Grand Tien Shan, “Voyage” are well-established hotels at an affordable price. Air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV, a fitness center, a restaurant, a steam bath, an on-site swimming pool - there is everything for a comfortable stay.

Hostels are the most budget option. You can rent a separate room or just a bed. The most popular are Loco, Nomads, Sky Almaty.

Where to eat in Almaty

Food lovers will not be disappointed. There are very few establishments that serve exclusively Kazakh dishes. The menus of most restaurants and cafes can boast of dishes from European, Japanese, Kazakh and other cuisines. There are cafes that are open 24 hours a day.

• The colorful Alasha restaurant has a rich interior, delicious dishes and high-quality service. The price corresponds to the status.
• The Kaganat dining room will provide tasty and inexpensive food.
• In the “Territory of Delicious Food” and “As-Kazan” establishments you can eat a satisfying meal at an affordable price. They prepare excellent lagman, the national dish of the Kazakhs.
• Those who want to sit in a warm, friendly company can go to the local pubs “RestoBar”, Mad Murphy’s Irish Pub, “Chukotka”, where they can have a delicious meal and experiment with exotic cocktails.

When planning dinner at an expensive establishment, you need to be prepared for the excessive sluggishness of local waiters. This is a peculiar feature of the service of these places.

What's interesting to see

Almaty is an important cultural center of the country. When planning an excursion tour, you should definitely pay attention to the Palace of the Republic - a legacy of the Soviet era.

The Central State Museum is of interest to tourists, where you can get a closer look at the historical Kazakh culture. There are about 2,000 exhibits on display here, among which a copy of the “Golden Man” occupies a special place.

The Ascension Cathedral, built in 1907, is also worthy of attention. This wooden structure survived even during a devastating earthquake. During Soviet times, a local history museum was located here. At the end of the 20th century, the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Since then and to this day, regular services have been held here.

The Independence Monument is a relatively young attraction, dating back to a new milestone in the history of the country’s development. This object is a reflection of the entire history of the formation of Kazakh statehood.

If you drive 15 km south from the city, you can admire the beauty of a unique natural site - Big Almaty Lake. This supplier of fresh water for local residents dates back to the Ice Age and is hidden in a picturesque mountain gorge.


By going to the top of Mount Kok Tobe, you can not only breathe fresh air, but also appreciate the impressive panorama of the Kazakh metropolis. Those interested can purchase a ticket for the funicular, which runs between the center of Almaty and Kok Tobe. On the mountain areas there is a cafe, a park, a mini-zoo, a souvenir shop, and an unusual “Apple” fountain.

The City Botanical Garden is a quiet, calm and cozy place. It is recommended to go here for a walk with children.

You should not ignore the Park of 28 Panfilovites, with the Memorial of Glory built here.

The high-mountain skating rink "Medeo" is considered not only the largest in the world, but is also famous for its purest ice. It was here that 126 world records were set. Go ice skating with the whole family - what could be better? Alternatively, you can go to the Shymbulak ski resort. There are trails here not only for professionals, but also for beginners.

Almaty is considered the city of fountains. There are about 120 of them here. At the end of spring, the city even celebrates “Fountain Day,” marking their ceremonial inclusion. It is recommended to visit the “Nedelka” and “Oriental Calendar” fountains, which guests of the city will find especially interesting.

There will be no shortage of cultural programs. Tourists can visit theaters, museums, art galleries, philharmonic societies, etc. Children's Art Houses are perfect for a walk with the whole family.

Almaty is a magnificent city located at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. A clean, modern and distinctive “city of great opportunities” is sure to make a lasting impression on tourists and guests.

It is most noticeable in Almaty, where at times you feel as if you are in Europe - there are so many luxury shops lining the streets and foreign cars stuck in rush hour traffic.

Immersed in greenery, Almaty, located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau, the “calling card” of the city, was and remains one of the most charming “Soviet” creations in Central Asia. Today, Almaty's prosperous middle class also owns expensive suburban real estate, and fully stocked supermarkets, gourmet restaurants, chic bars, nightclubs and even the latest ski resorts help this segment of society enjoy life to the fullest.

How to get to Almaty

By plane

Aeroflot and Kazakh Air Astana fly daily from Moscow to Almaty International Airport (travel time 4 hours 20 minutes, round trip ticket costs 19,600 RUB). Residents of St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk can also get there without transfers (Air Astana, 5 hours). Any other options with a transfer increase travel time and ticket prices.

From airport to city

The airport is located 16 km from the city center. You can leave from there by regular bus No. 79 (every 15-20 minutes, the driver has a ticket), a shuttle bus (every half an hour) or a taxi. The price of a trip by official taxi is 3500 KZT, by private taxi it is 1.5-2 times lower. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

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By train

Direct railway communication between Moscow and Almaty has been interrupted since June 2017. You can get there only by changing trains in Karaganda, Petropavlovsk, Astana or Novosibirsk. The minimum travel time including transfers is 76 hours. You can travel from St. Petersburg to Alma-Ata with one transfer through Novosibirsk (110 hours) or Saratov (112 hours).

By bus and private car

Fans of long-distance bus trips can travel from Moscow to Alma-Ata by successively changing 4 intercity buses - first to Ufa, then to Yekaterinburg, Astana and, finally, to Almaty. In terms of time - 91 hours, such a trip is quite comparable to a train.

The shortest road route from Moscow to Alma-Ata, 3940 km long, goes through Samara, Orenburg and Chimkent. Some manage to travel it in 50 hours.

It is better to plan your trip so that the time of crossing the border does not coincide with weekends or holidays

Transport

The main type of public transport in Almaty is buses, running on 82 routes from 6:00 to 23:30. The main carrier is Green Bus Company (office site). She also manages the city trolleybus fleet (8 routes). A metro line with 9 stations runs through the city center; train intervals are 8-13 minutes. Travel on all types of transport is paid with a contactless card “Onay!” (office site). It can be bought at the airport, railway stations, Sayran bus station, newsstands and communication shops. A single ticket can be purchased from the conductor or driver, but the trip in this case will cost 1.5 times more.

Intercity buses depart from the Sayran bus station (Tole bi street, 294) to Astana, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Karaganda, Pavlodar and other cities of Kazakhstan. Suburban trains from the Almaty-1 and Almaty-2 railway stations go to the city of Kapshagai, where the country's largest gambling zone is located.

A taxi in Almaty is inexpensive - the cost of a trip around the city is 500-1000 KZT. I bombed a lot in private cars. You need to look for a free car at metro stations, bus stops and shopping centers. If there is no meter, the price must be agreed upon in advance.

Bicycles for rent

Almaty Bike has developed a city bicycle rental service in Almaty (office site). To use it, you need to enter your bank card details on the website and receive an SMS with a code to unlock the bike. You can pick up/return your bike at any of the 200 bike stations. The rental cost consists of a subscription fee and a tariff depending on the duration of the trip - the first half hour is free.

By returning your bike to the station every 30 minutes, you can ride completely free.

For out-of-town trips, it is better to rent a bicycle from the Extreme chain of stores. As a deposit, you will need an amount equal to the cost of the bicycle or an identification document.

Maps of Almaty

Rent a Car

A car is an indispensable assistant when traveling around Almaty. There are offices of international (Avis, Hertz, etc.) and local (AutoExpress, Tandau ST) rental companies at the airport and in the city center. Kazakh traffic rules are practically no different from Russian ones. Except that outside populated areas the speed limit is 110 km/h, and on highways - 150 km/h.

Many parking lots in the city center are paid, but compared to Moscow, the prices can be called symbolic. The cost of gasoline is also 1.5 times lower than in Russia. But fines for violating traffic rules are much higher.

Local drivers slow down even when the green light is blinking, but honk at belated passers-by and motorists who did not move at the moment of switching from red to green.

Even after ceasing to be the capital, Alma-Ata could not get rid of morning and evening traffic jams. At times they completely block the city center, including public transport.

Almaty Hotels

Almaty hotels attract with reasonable prices combined with good quality of service. The most numerous - “three rubles” at 10,000 KZT per double room per day - are quite affordable for even the most budget tourists. Most of them have a restaurant, some even have a swimming pool or wellness center, and there is free Wi-Fi and parking everywhere. The most popular 4* hotels among tourists are distinguished by more spacious rooms, designer interiors, the presence of restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, massage rooms and, of course, a higher cost - 18,000 KZT per night.

The pleasure of living “at 5 stars” already costs 33,600 KZT in the old, well-deserved Rahat Palace and three times more expensive in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton. Most of the “fives” belong to international hotel chains, which guarantee service to the highest Western standards.

For those wishing to settle into the comforts of home, there are plenty of offers to rent out apartments. You can find them in any area of ​​the city - from a modest 40-meter one-room apartment on the outskirts for 7,000 KZT to a luxurious 4-room apartment in the center for 70,000 KZT.

Skiing

Surrounded by the high Tien Shan Mountains, Almaty is the winter sports capital of Kazakhstan. 16 km from the city, at an altitude of 1691 m, there is the Medeo sports complex with the world's largest skating rink with an area of ​​10,500 square meters. m. It is known for its unique ice, thanks to which almost 200 world records were set at the skating rink. The complex can simultaneously accommodate up to 3,000 people. It is open for skating from October to May, ticket price adults/children 1800/800 KZT, skate rental adults/children 1000/500 KZT for 2 hours.

You can get to Medeo by city bus No. 12, which departs from the Kazakhstan Hotel.

A 4.5 km long gondola-type cable car connects Medeo with the Chimbulak ski resort. It is built into a common system of 7 lifts, which allows you to climb to the Talgar Pass - the highest point of the resort (3180 m) in half an hour. The Chimbulak trails are interesting for both beginners and experienced skiers; their total length is 20 km. There is a halfpipe for snowboarders and a mogul track. The cost of a single ride on the Medeo - Chimbulak cable car in both directions: adults/children: 2500/1500 KZT, opening hours 9:30-18:00 (on weekends until 19:00). The cost of a one-day ski pass for adults/children is 6500/3000 KZT (on weekends 9500/4500 KZT).

17 km east of Almaty, in the picturesque Kotyrbulak Gorge, there is another ski resort, Tabagan. The length of its trails of various levels of difficulty is 37 km. The slopes are well suited for snowboarders, and there is the opportunity to ride on virgin soil. The cost of a ski pass for a day is 4000 KZT. An additional bonus of the resort is the Aqualandia water and health complex with swimming pools, jacuzzi, saunas and massage rooms. There is no public transport to Tabagan. Taxi from Almaty from the Sayakhat bus station (Suyunbay Ave., 15) - 1500 KZT.

Shopping

Like any modern metropolis, Almaty has large shopping and entertainment centers where people come not only for shopping. The most famous Mega Alma-Ata (office site) with a multiplex, ice arena, bowling alley, children's entertainment park and stores of the world's leading brands. Next in popularity are Dostyk Plaza (office site) with a huge range of high-quality goods and the premium Esentai Mall (office site) with an art center and boutiques of luxury brands Prada, Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana, etc.

As a rule, shopping centers are open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Small shops - on weekdays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 20:00. Traditional sales last from early January to February and from June to early September.

For seasonal fruits, dried fruits, spices, nuts and grape sugar, you should look at the Green Market with the special atmosphere of an oriental bazaar (53 Zhibek Zholy Ave.). There is also a very good selection of national souvenirs that fully reflect the nomadic traditions of the Kazakhs. Leather vessels for storing kumys or water - subs and torsyki - are original and inexpensive; warm felt slippers with curved toes are practical; backgammon decorated with fine carvings or inlays are good.

Tourists from Europe willingly buy skullcaps and chapans - national Kazakh clothing made of camel hair. Felt, glass and silver-plated apples look quite appetizing. You can even buy a yurt, albeit made of ceramics.

Cuisine and restaurants of Almaty

Almaty will not disappoint lovers of good food. In its restaurants, cafes and other catering establishments with Kazakh, European, Japanese and other cuisines of the world, everyone will be fed and watered. Moreover, regardless of his taste preferences, the thickness of his wallet and even the time of day - some of them work around the clock. Almost every restaurant - be it the expensive, colorful restaurant "Alasha" or the budget chain canteen "Kaganat" - will definitely have popular dishes of Kazakh cuisine on the menu.

First of all, “beshbarmak” - finely chopped boiled meat with noodles and strong broth, milk soup with meat “ak-sorpa”, boiled or fried dumplings “tushpara”, Kazakh pilaf “palau” with a lot of meat. Fish lovers can order “koktal” - a dish of large carp or carp smoked along with potatoes and vegetables. Mandatory components of any Kazakh meal are fermented milk products: kumiss, ayran, sheep cheese “irimshik”. You can have a snack on the go with traditional shawarma, pies and pancakes with various fillings, hot dogs and burgers.

Shawarma in a street stall costs 300 KZT, breakfast in a cafe-confectionery - 1000 KZT, lunch in a cafe - 2500 KZT, dinner in an expensive restaurant - 10,000 KZT.

When going to dinner at an expensive establishment, you should take into account one of the features of the local service - the extreme sluggishness of the waiters. And don’t be surprised if there is no alcohol on the menu - this is quite in the spirit of Muslim traditions.

Guides in Almaty

Entertainment and attractions

Having lost its capital status, Almaty continues to remain an important cultural center of the country. In its sights one can easily discern eastern steppe motifs and Soviet neoclassicism, diluted with the high-tech of new high-rise buildings of a rapidly renovating city.

Only memories remain of the ancient settlement of Turkic nomads - their mounds are buried under residential buildings. But the Ascension Cathedral, which looks like a fabulous Russian tower, is perfectly preserved. It was built from blue Tien Shan spruce without a single nail for the residents and soldiers of Fort Verny, from which the city began. At the end of the 1990s. a new Central Mosque (office site) was erected on the old foundation - the largest in Kazakhstan. The diameter of its golden dome is 20 m, and the height of the large minaret is 47 m.

On the main Republic Square in Almaty, surrounded along the perimeter by administrative buildings of the Soviet era, there is the Independence Monument - a 30-meter stele crowned with a winged leopard, on whose back stands the Golden Warrior. The snow leopard is the state symbol of Kazakhstan, just like the Golden Warrior, a unique archaeological find made in 1969 during excavations of the Issyk mound near Almaty.

The Central State Museum displays a reconstructed figure of a warrior wearing clothing made from hundreds of gold plates. He belonged to the royal family of the ancient Saka tribe, who roamed the steppe in the first millennium BC. In addition, the museum exhibition includes about 200,000 more exhibits - from Scythian gold and silver utensils to Turkic military armor and a Kazakh yurt.

In Almaty there is an exact copy of the Golden Warrior; the original “moved” to Astana when the capital of Kazakhstan was moved there.

An obligatory point of acquaintance with the city is the ascent to Mount Kok-Tobe, where a cable car leads from the Palace of the Republic on Dostyk Avenue. In addition to the Koktobe TV tower, there is a small zoo and the Apple fountain - one of the symbols of Almaty. The name of the city is translated from Kazakh as “Father of Apples”. The first seedlings were brought here in the 19th century by a peasant settler from the Voronezh province, Yegor Redko. From their crossing with the local wild apple tree, the famous Alma-Ata variety aport was born.

• Are there tours to the Charyn Canyon during the New Year holidays?

Weather

The climate of Almaty is temperate continental. It is due to the location of the city in a foothill basin at an altitude of 600-950 m above sea level. Winter is snowy, long and cold. Snow can fall as early as October and last until mid-April. And even in May there are snowfalls.

The coldest month is January. Spring comes with more rainfall, especially in April. Summer is hot and stuffy. Early autumn is perhaps the best time to visit Almaty. The driest month is September. Due to the peculiarities of the relief, the ecological situation here leaves much to be desired all year round. Smog is a frequent and prolonged phenomenon.