• KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01145 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00184 -0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.10460 0.19%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28575 0%
27 July 2025

Viewing results 85 - 90 of 624

Kazakhstan Launches Central Asia’s Largest All-Season Tourism Project Near Almaty

Kazakhstan is embarking on the largest all-season tourism initiative in Central Asia with plans to develop a world-class ski resort near Almaty. The expansive project will stretch from Talgar in the east to Kaskelen in the west, creating an integrated mountain tourism corridor. Ambitious Plans for the Almaty Mountain Cluster The plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster (AMC) envisions up to 700 kilometers of ski trails, 58 lifts, modern hotels, glamping sites, biking paths, and cable cars. By 2029, the project aims to accommodate up to 34,000 visitors daily and create more than 10,000 jobs, positioning the AMC as the region’s premier year-round destination. International collaboration is central to the project, with concepts presented by global firms including Horwath HTL (U.S.), Stem International (France), and PGI Management (Andorra). French consultant Vincent Tassard stressed the value of year-round tourism and sustainable practices such as renewable energy and digital environmental monitoring. PGI President Joan Viladomat introduced the “Almaty SuperSki” concept, featuring 65 kilometers of trails across the Kok-Zhailau tract and Kumbel peak. Environmental Sensitivities and Renewed Approaches The inclusion of Kok-Zhailau revives a previously suspended development. In 2019, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev halted construction following strong public and environmental opposition. The land was subsequently returned to Ile-Alatau National Park to protect its biodiversity and recreational value. This time, developers promise greater environmental accountability. The AMC’s central zone, including Shymbulak, Butakovka, Kimasar, Oi-Karagai, and Pioneer, will serve as a pilot site for sustainable tourism design. Inclusive Design and Eco-Tourism Expansion The initiative also includes broader improvements to local tourist sites. The Medeu ECO Park concept has been introduced with facilities for family recreation and preserved landscapes. The Gorenlik visitor center and Jumbaq Jol trail are operational, and a suspension bridge, capable of accommodating 10,000 people daily, is slated to open in July. Almaty SuperSki project leader Thomas Tor Jensen highlighted the fact that half of the ski runs will be suitable for beginners and the entire infrastructure will be accessible to people with disabilities. Supporters such as Askar Valiev, Secretary General of the National Ski Association of Kazakhstan, and representatives from ECO Network and PANA ASIA, emphasized the importance of balancing economic goals with environmental protection. Valiev noted that Shymbulak is currently overburdened and in need of upgraded facilities for athletics training. Others stressed the need for transparency, compliance with ecological norms, and safe conditions for the increasing number of tourists. Economic Growth and Government Backing Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the project's strategic role in Kazakhstan’s modernization efforts. “This project will completely change the economic landscape not only of Almaty but of the entire country,” he stated, asserting that every dollar invested would yield double in tourism revenue. Tourism currently accounts for 3.9% of Almaty’s gross regional product and employs more than 83,000 people. In 2024, the city welcomed over 2.3 million tourists, including 680,000 international visitors. The sector is growing rapidly: tourism revenues rose 30% last year, with tax contributions doubling.

Rediscovered Correspondence from the Man Behind the “Great Game”

A recently uncovered letter written by Captain Arthur Conolly, the British officer who coined the term "Great Game," has captivated historians and scholars of 19th-century geopolitics. The correspondence offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the officer whose ill-fated expedition to Central Asia would become emblematic of the imperial rivalry between the British and Russian empires. The letter dates from April 1841, when Conolly stopped on the bank of the Amu Darya River, the northern boundary of Afghanistan, en route to Bukhara. Partly written in code, the missive, addressed to the Austrian General, August Giacomo Jochmus, commander of the combined forces of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and Austria during the Syrian War of 1839–1841, reveals new details about Conolly’s observations regarding Central Asia’s complex power dynamics. The letter was discovered in the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art in Moscow. While the term "Great Game" would only gain prominence much later through Rudyard Kipling’s Kim, Conolly's writings shine a light on the precarious nature of imperial ambitions. His correspondence often reflected a mix of hope and foreboding, as he championed diplomatic engagement to win influence in the region while recognizing the human cost of such rivalry. The newly discovered letter includes remarks on the state of local governance, tribal allegiances, and the risks posed by Russian territorial advances. These insights could reshape the contemporary understanding of British intelligence operations and frontier policies at the height of imperial competition. "Travel has its charms and excitements, but it also has its disenchantment,” Conolly wrote, “and if I get safely back from Peshawar, I shall be glad to spend a quiet month with you in your Divan upon the shore of the Bosporus." Conolly’s fate remains a tragic footnote to his legacy. Captured and executed in 1842 by the Emir of Bukhara while attempting to negotiate the release of fellow British officer, Charles Stoddart, he became both a cautionary tale and a symbol of imperial zeal. This rediscovered letter serves as a poignant reminder of the personal stakes involved in the sprawling global chessboard that defined 19th-century diplomacy.

The Photographs of Prokudin-Gorsky: A Glimpse of a Lost World

Using the emerging technology of color photography, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky (1863–1944) undertook several photographic expeditions to capture images of the Russian Empire. Most of his work took place between 1909 and 1915, though some photographs date as early as 1905. At the time, the Russian Empire stretched roughly 7,000 miles east to west and 3,000 miles north to south. It encompassed one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface, making it the largest empire in history, spanning what are now eleven time zones. [caption id="attachment_32008" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Abutment for a dam and house belonging to the government. [Kuzminskoe] Prokudin-Gorsky, Sergey Mikhaylovich, 1912[/caption]Tsar Nicholas II supported Prokudin-Gorsky’s ambitious endeavor by granting him travel permits and access to various modes of transportation, including trains, boats, and automobiles. His journeys are preserved in photographic albums that include the original negatives. One album also features miscellaneous images, including scenes from other parts of Europe. The photographs capture a broad array of subjects: religious architecture and shrines (churches, cathedrals, mosques, and monasteries); religious and secular artifacts (such as vestments, icons, and items linked to saints, former Tsars, and the Napoleonic Wars); infrastructure and public works (railroads, bridges, dams, and roads); a variety of industries (including mining, textile production, and street vending); agricultural scenes (like tea plantations and field work); portraits, which often showed people in traditional dress, as well as cityscapes, villages, natural landscapes, and blooming plants. Besides being a photographer, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky was a chemist who is renowned for his pioneering contributions to color photography in the early 20th century. In 1901, he traveled to Berlin to study photochemistry before returning to Russia, where he outfitted a railroad car as a mobile darkroom with the support of Tsar Nicholas II. As he traveled across the Russian Empire, he documented its people and landscapes, eventually earning recognition in Russia, Germany, and France. In 1906, he was appointed head of the photography section of Fotograf-Liubitel, Russia’s leading photography journal. One of his most famous works is a color portrait of Leo Tolstoy, taken in 1908. “By capturing the result of artistic inspiration in the full richness of its colors on the light-sensitive photographic plate, we pass the priceless document to future generations,” wrote Prokudin-Gorsky. As a nobleman, inventor, professor, and pioneer of color photography in Russia, Prokudin-Gorsky had a deep sense of national identity and heritage. Although he was unable to complete his grand project due to the outbreak of World War I and increasing social unrest across the Russian Empire, he still managed to capture photographs in regions such as the Urals, Siberia, Crimea, Dagestan, Finland, and Central Asia, as well as along the Volga and Oka rivers. Unfortunately, much of his photographic archive was lost in the aftermath of the 1917 Revolution. Prokudin-Gorsky created unique black-and-white negatives using a triple-frame method, taking three separate exposures through blue, green, and red filters. This technique allowed the images to be printed or projected in color, often for magic lantern slide presentations. The complete collection of 1,902 triple-frame glass...

Love and Politics: How the Wives of Alash Founders Sparked a Controversy

A controversy that may appear perplexing to outside observers has ignited debate across Kazakh society. The target of online backlash is journalist Maya Bekbaeva, known for her extensive work promoting Kazakh history, from the era of Khan Jochi, son of Genghis Khan, to notable Soviet-era figures. Two years ago, Bekbaeva released a documentary highlighting the wives of prominent Kazakhs who fought for autonomy within the Russian Empire. A fragment of the film, selectively edited, surfaced on YouTube last week, triggering widespread public reaction. A Controversy with Cultural Implications The edited clip suggested that the founders of the Alash party routinely married Russian women because Kazakh women were “uneducated” and unable to compete, a claim that quickly drew backlash. The storm was fueled by a Facebook post from journalist Mukhtar Tumenbay, who encountered the clip and shared it with commentary that drew a flood of emotionally charged responses. Some commenters accused the film of inciting interethnic tension, implying that Alash leaders chose Russian partners due to the inaccessibility of “proud and chaste Kazakh women.” Bekbaeva responded by clarifying that the excerpt had been misleadingly edited. She reiterated that the film was intended to inspire modern Kazakh women to pursue education and societal advancement. “You could always talk to [those women] about various things. That’s something we should remember when raising girls, don’t rush them into marriage; let them learn and prove themselves. Love prefers equals,” she said, emphasizing the film’s deeper message. Revisiting Alash and Alash Orda To understand the roots of this debate, one must revisit the early 20th century. Following its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Empire entered a period of upheaval. Peripheral regions, including modern-day Kazakhstan, began resisting colonial policies such as the Stolypin reforms, which facilitated the resettlement of Russian and Ukrainian peasants to Kazakh steppe lands, disrupting nomadic traditions and livelihoods. A pivotal moment came on May 16, 1907, when Bakhytzhan Karataev, a descendant of Khan Abulkhair and a law graduate from St. Petersburg, delivered a speech in the State Duma defending the rights of the steppe people. His ideas eventually laid the groundwork for the formation of the Alash party in 1917. Founded by Alikhan Bokeikhanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, and Mirzhakip Dulatov, the Alash movement advocated for autonomy and reform. That same year, the All-Kazakh Congress in Orenburg approved the creation of the Alash Orda Provisional People's Council, a precursor to the modern Kazakh state. The Wives Behind the Leaders Among the Alash founders, two were indeed married to Russian women. Akhmet Baitursynov’s wife, born Alexandra Ivanova, converted to Islam and adopted the name Badrisafa. She supported Baitursynov through exile, imprisonment, and repression, becoming one of the first women deeply involved in the national movement. Alikhan Bokeikhanov married Elena Sevostyanova, daughter of an exiled Narodnik. Despite his mother’s opposition, Elena was Christian, the couple remained together until her death. Some speculate that Bokeikhanov may have converted to Christianity for her, as she was buried with Orthodox rites. Political analyst Daniyar Ashimbayev notes that until...

Uzbekistan Plans to Restore Khiva’s Outer Fortress, Draw Tourists

The walls of Dishan-Kala, the remnants of a 19th century fortress in the Uzbek city of Khiva, have been deteriorating for many years. Now the Uzbek government plans to restore destroyed sections of the walls, remove some nearby buildings that are cluttering the historical structure and turn the site into a major tourist attraction.  The goal is to transform Dishan-Kala, the outer fortress, into a landmark similar to Ichan-Kala, the walled inner town at Khiva that is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to multiple cultural sites, exhibition sites and artisan shops. Some 1 million foreign tourists and 3.5 million local people visited Ichan-Kala in 2024, and it is expected to draw 2 million foreigners and nearly 5 million domestic tourists by the end of this year, the Uzbek Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change said in a statement on Tuesday.  The new development campaign aims “not only to preserve Dishan-Kala but also to unlock and enhance its full tourism potential,” the ministry said.  Uzbekistan’s growing tourism industry depends in large part on its rich historical legacy in places such as Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, but the development of the industry has sometimes conflicted with concerns about the preservation of ancient sites. Last year, despite UNESCO’s concerns, Uzbekistan pushed ahead with plans for a big tourist complex next to the historical center of Bukhara, a jewel of medieval architecture in Central Asia. In 2021, UNESCO’s world heritage committee referred to development and tourism pressures in Khiva. It also said it regretted the demolition of large areas of Dishan-Kala, noting that it had served as the residential neighborhood for the fortified inner city and that the links between the two parts of ancient Khiva should be strengthened.   Built in 1842, the fortress walls of Dishan-Kala are currently in a state of neglect. Some 2,000 meters of its 6,200-meter wall have been destroyed, and another 2,500 meters are in “critical condition,” the ecology ministry said.  “For many years, illegal constructions sprang up around the wall, leaving virtually no space for access or movement along its perimeter,” it said.  Photos of Dishan-Kala show trash and piles of debris alongside crumbling walls, in contrast with the well-maintained Ichan-Kala area. The plan is to remove 55 residential and other buildings near the Dishan-Kala walls and install parks, landscaping and a pedestrian alley. 

From Classic to Avant-Garde: How “Night at the Museum” in Almaty Bridged Eras

Last Sunday evening marked a notable event in Almaty’s cultural calendar. The A. Kasteyev State Museum of Art opened its doors after hours for the annual “Night at the Museum,” coinciding with International Museum Day on May 18. This day traditionally underscores the importance of museums as spaces of memory, dialogue, and inspiration. This year’s theme, “Tradition and Modernity in a Changing World,” was embodied in a dynamic and multifaceted program that transformed the museum into a vibrant dialogue between different eras and cultural layers. [caption id="attachment_31947" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] @TCA/Andrey Alimov[/caption] Visitors entering the museum in the evening found themselves immersed in an atmosphere where classical art harmoniously coexisted with contemporary interpretations. The space itself took on a new dimension, allowing the audience to engage with art beyond its typical daytime context. The evening’s program catered to a wide audience. In addition to the museum’s permanent collection, which features masterpieces of Kazakh and global art, guests participated in a variety of special events. Themed tours exploring the interplay of tradition and modernity offered deeper insight into the works on display, revealing new dimensions in the creativity of both Kazakhstani and international artists. [caption id="attachment_31955" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] @TCA/Andrey Alimov[/caption] Musical performances added to the ambiance, with live music enhancing the emotional experience and reinforcing the power of artistic expression. A standout feature of the night was a fashion show held in the museum’s central hall, where models showcased traditional Kazakh costumes with hand embroidery and gold accents, reimagined with a modern flair. These designs underscored how elements of cultural heritage continue to inspire and evolve in contemporary settings. The Kasteyev Museum, Kazakhstan’s largest art institution and a key player in Central Asia’s cultural scene, was established in 1976 and named after Abylhan Kasteyev, a pioneering figure in Kazakh visual art. The museum’s collection exceeds 25,000 pieces, spanning ancient decorative and applied arts to works by 20th- and 21st-century masters. It features not only Kazakh artists, but also significant works from Russian, European, and Eastern traditions. Through exhibitions, educational initiatives, and cultural events, the museum plays a central role in preserving and promoting artistic heritage. [caption id="attachment_31953" align="aligncenter" width="960"] @TCA/Andrey Alimov[/caption] “Night at the Museum” has grown into more than just an event, it is a celebration of art that unites generations, perspectives, and creative approaches. For one night, visitors experienced a space where history meets the present, and art became more accessible, resonant, and profound. It is noteworthy that similar events took place across Kazakhstan’s major cities. Official data indicates the country is home to around 300 museums, which collectively receive approximately 6.5 million visitors each year.