Over 360,000
tourists visited the Karagandy region last year, with 16,000 of them being
foreign visitors. In 2023, experts expect a significant increase in the tourist
influx due to the growing interest in the city and the creation of new places
of accommodation for tourists.
Zhenis Yermukanov,
Correspondent:
‘Where, where? In
Karagandy!’ The world's first monument to this iconic phrase was unveiled there
and instantly included in the Guinness World Records. As a result, Karagandy
sparked even more interest. Discover the other famous sights this city of
miners has to offer. We will tell you about them and show you.
Tour guides
recommend starting the acquaintance with the city of Karagandy from the mine
museum, which is very symbolic. Here, visitors can learn about the history of
the city’s formation, closely linked to the development of the Karagandy coal
basin. Additionally, the museum showcases special equipment used by miners
during the extraction of minerals.
“As the company's
profile is related to inbound tourism, we welcome small groups of foreign
tourists who are eager to explore the local production or have a specific
interest in the coal industry, and we provide them with tours in English,” said
tour guide Mariya Brezitskaya.
Karagandy is a
powerful industrial center of the country, and the coal industry is one of the
drivers of the region's economic growth. The mine museum enables its visitors
to immerse themselves in this world and feel like a part of it. In a mine shaft
elevator, they can descend underground to a depth of 15 meters, where special
equipment is installed. Before the descent, tourists receive mandatory
instructions.
The underground part of the museum covers an area of
more than a hundred square meters. All the equipment showcased there is exactly
the same as what is used in active mines. The most crucial aspect is that it is
fully operational. Experienced guides showcase the exhibits and the work of the
underground mining equipment to tourists.
The Karagandy Ecomuseum provides its visitors with
detailed insights into the diverse natural resources of the country and the
region. It is worth reminding that Kazakhstan ranks among the top ten largest
coal producers in the world, securing. the eighth position in terms of reserves.
There are a large number of mineral deposits in the Karagandy region. The
region is also renowned for its prominent people, including Alikhan Bokeikhan,
Saken Seifullin, Nurken Abdirov, Kassym Amanzholov, as well as other political
and cultural figures. The great Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbaiuly
also holds a special place in the history of the region.
“There is
information that the great Abai was born in the Karkaraly district and later
moved to Semei. Thus, we can assume that the poet was a native of our region.
Currently, our local historians and researchers are studying the discovered
documents that could confirm this fact. It is known that Abai spent most of his
childhood here in Karkaraly. The family of Kunanbai often stayed in the house of
the famous merchant Khaliolla Bekmetov, situated in this area. Abai dedicated
many of his poems to this land,” Temirlan Serik, Junior Researcher at the Karagandy
Regional Local History Museum, said.
Another equally recognizable sight of Karagandy is
the children's railway, which first started operating in 1956. It was later
transformed into a popular attraction - the Hogwarts Express. Fans of the Harry
Potter universe can ride along the most attractive places in the city park. It
bears noting that the train employees are railway students.
