Best Of Almaty

Kolsay Lakes National Park (Kazakh: ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????, Kölsai kölderi ulttyq parki) is located on the north slope of the Tian Shan Mountains, southeast Kazakhstan (10 km from the border with Kyrgyzstan). Often referred to as "Pearls of Tien Shan", the park's main feature are the Kolsay Lakes located between the Raiymbek District and Talgar District of Almaty Region. The scenic Lake Kaindy is also within the park.[1] The park boundary is 120 kilometres (75 mi) southeast of Almaty. Lakes of landslide-tectonic origin, approximately formed in 1887 and 1911 on the Kaindy and Kolsay rivers.

Lake Kaindy is located in the south of Kazakhstan, within Kolsay Lakes National Park. It is located 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, 130 kilometres (81 mi) east of Almaty. The lake was formed as the result of a major limestone landslide triggered by the 1911 Kebin earthquake forming a natural dam. It blocked the gorge and was filled by mountain river water. Lake Kaindy is about 400 meters long, reaching depths of nearly 30 meters at its deepest point. Altered by limestone deposits, the water maintains a bluish-green color.

The lake contains trunks of submerged Picea schrenkiana trees that rise above the surface of the lake. The area is often referred to as a "sunken forest". The cold water helps preserve the tree trunks, which are overgrown with algae and various other water plants.[3] In recent years, Lake Kaindy has become a popular international tourist destination.[citation needed] The lake is also known for ice diving and trout fishing in the winter season.[4][5]

The uniqueness of the lake lies in the fact that after the emergence of a natural dam that blocked the gorge, the water that filled the dam formed the lake and did not destroy the spruce trees growing in this place along the river. (The Kaindy river flows into the lake, passing through a two-sided rock face about 20 meters high). The upper part of the trees protruding from the water lost their side branches and bark, and the wood turned white. When you look at such a panorama, you get the feeling that you are looking at a submerged squadron: the bare trunks of trees resemble the masts of submerged ships. The lake surface itself changes color regularly and is often a very beautiful blue color. This strange color is caused by lime and other minerals that were in the water a hundred years ago. But as soon as you get closer to the lake, the water becomes crystal clear, and sometimes you can even see trout in it. Despite the low water temperature, Kaindy lake is popular with diving enthusiasts.

Charyn National Park (Kazakh: ????? ?????? ?????? ?????, Saryn ulttyq tabigi parki) officially, Charyn Canyon National Nature Park is a national park in Kazakhstan, stretching along the Charyn River, including Charyn Canyon. The Canyon, with its thinly stratified red sedimentary rock, is said to resemble the Grand Canyon in the US; it is however smaller - 50 km from end to end. About 125,050 hectares (309,005 acres; 1,250 km2; 483 sq mi) in size, the park occupies portions of Enbekshikazakh District, Raiymbek District, and Uygur District of Almaty Region. It is about 200 km east of the city of Almaty.[1][2] The park was established in 2004 to protect the geological attractions of the canyon, the ecological fragility of the river and desert system (including relic Sogdian Ash groves), and surrounding archaeological sites; portions are also set aside for recreation.

Kök Bazaar is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Since its inauguration in 1875, the market has been an important trading point in Almaty. The market currently sells spices, prepared foods, produce, textile, furniture, and a wide variety of different objects, including antiques.

In 1875, the Gostiny Dvor, which consisted of two low pavilions stretching along Torgovaya Street, was built on the territory of the shopping area, designed by the architect Jan Kozell-Poklevsky. The customer and sponsor of the construction was the Semipalatinsk merchant Sadyk Rafikov, one of the most influential people in the city of that time.

During this period, this complex was called "Gostiny Dvor and its merchants". It received visiting guests, entrepreneurs, trade agents from all over Central Asia, neighboring countries and even from island Japan. The market remained a monument not only to the commercial and industrial prosperity of the region, but also to architectural and urban planning art. Its stone shops, entertainment and entertainment attractions, storage sheds, shopping arcades, flowing irrigation ditches and fountains, erected for prayer by Muslim merchants. In its trade and other qualities, the bazaar was not inferior to the best markets of Turkestan. Visiting merchants set up their mansions along the perimeter of the business square. From the Kök Bazaar, the city began to grow to the southwest.[9]

In 1887, a major earthquake happened in Verniy, as a result of which the city was severely destroyed. There was practically nothing left of Gostiny Dvor. After the earthquake, Gostiny Dvor was rebuilt, but lost its former importance as the city's main trading place, as the city authorities began to organize additional new bazaars focused on one type of product throughout the city: this is how hay, vegetable, horse and livestock markets appeared.[10]

With the emergence of collective farms in the second half of the 1920s, large-scale trade in agricultural products, vegetables, and fruits resumed. In 1927, the Gostiny Dvor was rebuilt and acquired a new name Central Collective Farm Market. But among the people, the name Kök Bazaar stuck more.

In the 1940s, the bazaar consisted of long, rectangular rows of canopies with wooden stalls. The bazaar also sold live cattle, dairy products, apples of the Almaty Aport variety. Fruits and vegetables were brought from the neighboring collective farms. During World War II, the bazaar was the only place where it continued to sell goods for money, and not give out by cards. But the prices were very high due to the war.

In the 1970s, the wooden market was demolished. In its place, in 1975, a covered building appeared in the style of brutalism. The main architect of the project was Mark Pavlov. The bazaar was designed as a structure of several levels. The main pavilion had 800 seats, the summer market had 200 seats, and the parking lot had 400 cars.

This chocolate factory is 75+ years old and have factory outlet near green bazar. They have hundreds of variety of chocolates and candies in the stole apart from pure honey and few other things. One must visit this store and must have some spare time due to heavy rush of visiters and ques. But everything is systematic, the staff is cooperative and helful, ofcourse short of time. So, advise you to first decide what and how much you want to buy and then get into any of the que. 100+ type of chocolates and believe me, ultimate flavours with good quality and reasonable rates. they have all range of chocolates and candies. No bargaining. A must visit place for shopping for kids. Now lotte owns majority stake in the company.