SEVEN REASONS TO VISIT SHYMKENT

Shymkent is a city that all Kazakhstanis know about, even those who have never been in it. And each one definitely has a couple of friends or acquaintances from Shymkent.

This is a special city with a special atmosphere. The city’s residents are proud of this fact in the first place. In a word, Shymkent and its inhabitants can be dearly loved, you can’t like, but you definitely can’t remain indifferent.

Here are seven of the most obvious reasons why you should definitely come to the country's third metropolis and see everything with your own eyes.

1. Shymkent - the most ancient city of Kazakhstan.

The official age is 2200 years. And this fact was confirmed by archaeologists. First, researchers came to the conclusion that the first settlements on the territory of present-day Shymkent appeared at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries.

However, the latest finds of archaeologists give reason to believe that people lived here in the VI-VII centuries. By the way, the Persian historian Sharaf ad-din Ali Yazdi first mentioned Shymkent in 1425 in the book “Zafar Name” (“Book of Victories”) when describing the military campaigns of Timur.

The heart of the ancient city is the citadel. Today, archaeologists, restorers and builders work here.

According to the drawings of the Russian military, the citadel, military barracks and the complex of buildings of the Kokand ruler are being restored.

And if everything goes according to plan, then this summer an open-air archaeological park and museum will appear in the city.

Visitors in the literal sense will be able to "feel" antiquity with their hands, to observe the work of archaeologists.

Already today, a curious city dweller or tourist who came to the settlement can see the cultural layers of the Karakhanid period (X - XII centuries), the Timurids era, when the city was part of the Uzbek ulus and the grandson of Khromy Timur Ulugbek ruled there (1404).

2. Shymkent is the most flourishing city of Kazakhstan.

They are not stingy with flowers. The tulip is depicted on the coat of arms of Shymkent, this flower is city’s symbol.

Every year in Nauryz the city meets with lush bloom of tulips. Red, white, yellow, pink, violet - a million colorful buds bloom when they meet spring.

Is it possible to miss such a floral splendor?! Tulips are being replaced by roses and many other garden beauties. Shymkent blooms until late autumn.

3. Shymkent is the most hospitable city in Kazakhstan.

Southerners love and value guests. And not one of them will be surprised if the aunt of the second-niece of the second cousin comes to stay with her.

Shymkents are hospitable not from showing, but from the breadth of the soul. Most of all, this fact delights foreigners.

Qonaqty sozben toygyza almaisyn - this is a Kazakh proverb that says that the guest will not be full with words, as if born in the south of Kazakhstan.

It is not necessary to be familiar with the owners of the house in order to become their guest: everyone is welcome here.

They will cover Dastarkhan generously, show honor and respect, will be offended only if you eat a little.

4. Shymkent is the warmest city in Kazakhstan.

The sun shines on average 300 days a year, and summer lasts from May to October. The heat of +50 does not frighten Shymkent residents as much as 15-degree frosts.

Showers, thunderstorms, snowfalls, which can cover most of the republic, often bypass the south of Kazakhstan.

It will not be possible to freeze here, and the cup of fragrant green tea in any teahouse will always save you from the heat.

5. Shymkent is famous for the most delicious cuisine in Kazakhstan.

Southerners know a lot about food. Beshbarmak and pilaf festivals, which have already become traditional, could appear only in Shymkent.

Perhaps, the Shymkent who did not like to eat tasty food was not born yet. And at the same time, preferably, inexpensively.

Therefore, the local public catering for the sake of the client is simply obliged to meet these desires. Shish kebab from 400 tenge per stick, pilaf 500-600 tenge per serving - you can satisfy your hunger in Shymkent for very little money.

Caucasian, Uzbek, Uigur, Pan-Asian, European cuisine - each Shymkent has his own list of favorite cafes and restaurants where he can feed a dear guest. And yes, toyuhana for 500 and even 1000 places - they really exist.

Very popular institutions. Only gourmets such as Shymkents could take on the revival of ancient recipes of national cuisine.

You can try them, for example, in the Sandyq restaurant. The menu contains forgotten dishes of the Kazakh people, prepared according to the unique recipes of nomads.

Traditional Asian cuisine in all its taste diversity is represented by the Jeti tandyr chain of cafes, the Bahchi Saray oriental restaurant and many others.

6. Shymkent is one of the most developing cities in Kazakhstan.

And the map of iconic places of interest to tourists is replenished with new objects. Going to Shymkent, you definitely need to: visit the Shymkent arboretum, where over 600 species of various trees and shrubs representing the flora of various geographical zones of the world grow on 120 hectares; immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Shymkent Arbat; to see the city from a bird's flight, making a circle on the 50-meter Altyn Ay Ferris Wheel; Take a city tour with a red double-decker bus; dine in the famous "Aral" - the first typical restaurant in the city, built in 1949 and revived in 2020.

Restorers managed to preserve both the architectural style of the “Stalin Empire” and the atmosphere of one of the iconic places of the city.

7. Shymkent is an extreme and a good portion of adrenaline.

The trip to an amazing city itself will completely recharge you with unforgettable emotions. And if you combine it with extreme entertainment?!

Double effect provided! Tandem paragliding in the vicinity of Shymkent, parachuting, organized by the Parachuting Federation at the Berkut military sports base, paintball, go-karting - you can try everything!

And what reasons do you know to go to Shymkent?