IT’S NOW EASIER THAN EVER to visit this particular ’stan after
the country introduced visa-free travel for Singapore and
Malaysia. But should you? Emphatically yes, says Lonely Planet
destination editor Megan Eaves: ‘Kazakhstan’s greatest draw is
its incredible natural scenery – it’s a country the size of Western
Europe with the population of the Netherlands, so there’s lots of
open space. The country lies on the ancient Silk Road, and you
can get a taste of that history in the city of Turkistan – a
14th-century Sufi pilgrimage site.’ You can’t go to Kazakhstan
without seeing the new capital, Astana, and its quirky
architecture, such as the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre
(pictured). Says Megan, ‘Highlights include the Bayterek Tower,
meant to embody a folktale about a mythical bird who laid a
golden egg on top of a tall poplar tree.’Kazakhstan
All eyes on
Lonely Planet’s
Central Asia guide
(US$34.99)
features
a section on
Kazakhstan;
or download the
individual chapter
(US$4.95; shop.
lonelyplanet.com).