KARAGANDA
Karaganda is not only a center of mining and the coal industry, but also a city of culture, art, memory, and hope. Here, it’s easy to learn to appreciate simple things: the quiet of old courtyards, the orderly streets, and the warmth of human encounters. “The place where the yellow acacia grows”—that’s how Karaganda sounds in Kazakh—is a very young city, founded less than 100 years ago. Karaganda is one of Kazakhstan’s most important industrial centers, whose history is closely linked to coal mining and the development of the mining industry. During Soviet times, the city acquired the status of Kazakhstan’s coal capital.
Recommended attractions:
The Karaganda Regional Museum of History and Local Lore is the largest museum not only in Karaganda but in the entire republic, opened in 1932. Currently, the museum’s 14 exhibition halls and storerooms contain approximately 140,000 exhibits. The museum is divided into four thematic sections, including archaeology and ethnography, general history, and contemporary history.
The monument to the phrase “Where, where? – In Karaganda!” – a monument to this famous phrase, renowned far beyond Kazakhstan, is today one of Karaganda’s most unusual and easily recognizable landmarks. The expression “Where, where? – In Karaganda!” originated during the Soviet era and over time became popular throughout the Russian-speaking world, becoming a popular joke.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima is the largest Catholic church in Kazakhstan, a beautiful, majestic building. Although the church is a modern construction, its appearance is reminiscent of a medieval castle. This religious building in Karaganda is a unique remake of the famous Cologne Cathedral, a unique structure and a magnificent example of Gothic architecture.
Gagarin Square and the “Conquerors of Space” monument are located in the historical part of the New Town and form a complete architectural ensemble in one of the most beautiful historical parts of the city. The square’s composition includes the Shalkyma Concert Hall, the buildings of the Bolashak Academy, and the “Conquerors of Space” monument, which includes a sculpture of a cosmonaut resembling Yuri Gagarin.
The Begazy Memorial Complex is one of the largest Bronze Age memorial complexes, a unique historical and archaeological monument in Kazakhstan. Associated finds indicate that the necropolis dates back to the 9th–8th centuries BC. It was primarily the burial site of members of the nobility—tribal chieftains and spiritual leaders.
Karkaraly National Park is one of Kazakhstan’s specially protected natural areas. The region’s conservation value stems from the exceptional diversity of landscapes found in Central Kazakhstan.
The Dombauyl Mausoleum is an architectural monument and one of the oldest structures in Kazakhstan. Shaped like a yurt or haystack, it resembles a miniature Egyptian pyramid. The walls, made of stones mixed with clay, are very thick, at least two meters, and the dome is over five meters high.
We also recommend visiting the Karlag Museum, the Miners’ Palace of Culture, the Ecological Museum, the Shunak Meteorite Crater, and the Aksoran “Roof of the Steppes.”